Argentina have confirmed their 18-man football squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics, and it does not include eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi.
Javier Mascherano's squad must be primarily made up of players under the age of 23, but up to three overaged players are allowed to be included.
Such rules led to much discussion over the possibility of legendary attacker Messi featuring at this summer's Olympics, with the men's football tournament running from July 24 to August 9.
Messi was part of the Argentina squad, along with Mascherano during his playing days, that won a Gold Medal at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, scoring two goals in five appearances.
The 37-year-old is currently with the senior Argentina setup at the 2024 Copa America and he has acknowledged that he is "not at an age" to be competing in every competition, stating that it would be "too much" to play at the Olympics.
Messi has struggled with niggling injuries since the turn of the year, limiting his minutes for both Inter Miami and Argentina, and he has made the 'careful' decision to omit himself from the Olympics squad this summer.
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Alvarez a standout inclusion in Argentina's Olympics squad
In the absence of Messi, Mascherano has named Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez, Benfica defender Nicolas Otamendi and Ajax goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli as his three 'overaged' players.
All three players are currently away with Messi on Copa America duty and were also in the senior side that won the 2022 World Cup, as was Botafogo's new signing Thiago Almada who is another to be selected in Mascherano's 18-man squad.
Alvarez is arguably the standout name included in Argentina's Olympic squad; the 24-year-old scored four goals in seven games during La Albiceleste's World Cup-winning campaign and has netted once in two games at this summer's Copa America thus far.
The Man City man also enjoyed a prolific 2023-24 campaign at club level with Pep Guardiola's side, contributing with 19 goals and 13 assists in 54 games as the Citizens won a record fourth successive Premier League title and reached the FA Cup final.
Alvarez's involvement at the Olympics means that he is set to miss the majority, if not all, of Man City's pre-season preparations for the 2024-25 season, and will most certainly not feature in the Community Shield against Manchester United on August 10 if Argentina reach the final a day earlier.
Man City's No.19 is not the only Citizens player included in Mascherano's squad, as 18-year-old attacking midfielder Claudio Echeverri will also be heading to Paris.
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Teenage starlet Echeverri also heading to Paris
Echeverri was unveiled as a Man City signing in January, penning a contract until 2028, but he will remain on loan at River Plate before moving to the Etihad Stadium in January 2025.
The teenager will be one to watch at the Olympics as he has already starred at youth level for Argentina, scoring 13 goals in 22 games for the Under-17s side, including five strikes in seven matches at the Under-17 World Cup last November.
Mascherano's Argentina squad also includes midfielder Santiago Hezze, who won the Europa Conference League with Olympiacos last season, and attacker Lucas Beltran who was on the losing side in that final with Fiorentina.
Giuliano Simeone, the son of Atletico Madrid manager Diego Simeone and younger brother of Napoli's Giovanni Simeone, has also been selected in Argentina's Olympics squad.
Argentina have been drawn in Group B alongside Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine for this summer's tournament in Paris and will play their first match against the former on July 24.
Argentina's 18-man squad for 2024 Paris Olympics in full:
Goalkeepers: Leandro Brey (Boca Juniors), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax)
Defenders: Marco Di Cesare (Racing Club), Julio Soler (Lanus), Joaquin Garcia (Velez Sarsfield), Gonzalo Lujan (San Lorenzo), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Bruno Amione (Santos Laguna)
Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernandez (Boca Juniors), Santiago Hezze (Olympiacos), Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors), Kevin Zenon (Boca Juniors)
Forwards: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Luciano Gondou (Argentinos Juniors), Thiago Almada (Botafogo), Claudio Echeverri (Man City - on loan at River Plate), Julian Alvarez (Man City), Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina)
Oliver Thomas
