Lionel Messi will not participate with the Argentina national team in the 2024 Paris Olympics, after coach Javier Mascherano announced the final list of a team without the name of the Inter Miami star on it.
Each Olympic team has the right to include three players over the age of 23, and Mascherano’s choices were Nicolas Otamendi and goalkeeper Rulli, as well as Manchester City star Julian Alvarez.
Messi’s absence from Argentina’s list was logical, as Mascherano announced earlier that he had spoken with the player and they agreed not to include him in the Olympics list.
The reason for the 37-year-old not participating in the Olympics is because he participated for a month in the Copa America with the senior Argentine national team, and thus he will be away from Inter Miami for a long time if he also participates in the Olympics.
Added to this is the fact that Al-Barghout has suffered multiple injuries due to age over the past months, and will not be able to withstand the pressure of major matches, which threatens his overall season with his American club.
It is noteworthy that Messi previously won the gold medal in the Olympics with Argentina in the 2008 edition in Beijing.
