Lionel Messi to avoid Olympics at Paris

Lionel Messi Says He Won’t Play for Argentina at Paris Games

Lionel Messi, known for his unwavering dedication to his national team, has announced that he will not be part of Argentina’s squad for the Paris Olympics. At 36, the Inter Miami forward cited his age and the demands of participating in multiple tournaments as reasons for his decision. Currently, Messi is focused on preparing for Argentina’s Copa America title defense, which runs from June 20 to July 14 in the United States. In February, Argentina’s under-23 manager Javier Mascherano extended an invitation to Messi, who had previously won Olympic gold with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Games. As discussed the situation with Mascherano and concluded that participating in the Olympics would be too taxing, given his current commitments.

Messi, known for his strategic decision-making, explained to ESPN, “It’s hard to think about the Olympics right now because we’re in Copa America. It would mean two to three straight months of not being with my club, and at my age, I can’t be involved in everything. I have to choose carefully, and playing in two consecutive tournaments would be too much.” Reflecting on his past Olympic experience, Messi added, “I’ve been very fortunate to play in the Olympics and win it with Mascherano. It was a wonderful experience on a football level, with memories I’ll never forget.” The men’s football tournament at the Paris Olympics is scheduled for July and August, with the inclusion of at most three averagely skilled players.

Also Read: Lionel Reveals his Fifa26 plans