Frank Christian
Argentina finds themselves in Group B for the 2024 Olympic Games, hoping to relive their successful moments from the early 2000s when they clinched back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2008, showcasing their commitment to the Olympics and their rivalry with Brazil.
Despite recent modest performances, Argentina remains a top contender for the gold medal in the upcoming tournament, with former football star Javier Mascherano leading the team selection. The question remains: will Lionel Messi be part of the squad?
What’s Lionel Messi’s Involvement in the Olympics?
Lionel Messi won’t be part of the Olympic squad under Mascherano as Inter Miami opts to have their captain back following his duties in the Copa America this year. Clubs are not obliged to release players for the Olympics according to FIFA regulations, with Messi’s MLS club being cautious about managing his workload due to recent injury concerns.
Messi is eager to continue playing for both club and country and is eyeing a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, to be held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
In the past, Messi clinched gold with Argentina in the 2008 Beijing Olympics alongside Mascherano, who was also part of the victorious squad in Athens four years earlier.
How are Olympic Teams Selected?
Olympic football squad selection rules include a provision for ‘overage players,’ allowing each nation to include three players over the age of 23 in their squad. This rule doesn’t apply to the women’s squads.
In preparation for the 2024 Games, Mascherano utilized this rule to enlist veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi, Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez, and Ajax goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.
Argentina’s Squad for the Olympics
Here is the Argentine squad for the 2024 Olympic campaign:
Ages are accurate as of the final squad announcement on July 3.
| Name | Position | Age | Club |
| Leandro Brey | GK | 21 | Boca Juniors |
*Players in BOLD are Argentina’s overage picks
Argentina’s Performance in the Olympics
Argentina’s Olympic football history includes gold medals in 2004 and 2008 in men’s football. Here is a snapshot of their performances over the years, showing their journey in the Olympics.
### Olympic Soccer Champions
Here is a comprehensive list of the Olympic medalists in the men’s soccer tournament.
– **1900**: Paris, France
– Gold: Great Britain
– Silver: France
– Bronze: Belgium
– **1904**: St. Louis, United States
– Gold: Canada
– Silver: United States
– Bronze: None awarded
– **1908**: London, United Kingdom
– Gold: Great Britain
– Silver: Denmark
– Bronze: Netherlands
– **1912**: Stockholm, Sweden
– Gold: Great Britain
– Silver: Denmark
– Bronze: Netherlands
– **1920**: Antwerp, Belgium
– Gold: Belgium
– Silver: Spain
– Bronze: Netherlands
– **1924**: Paris, France
– Gold: Uruguay
– Silver: Switzerland
– Bronze: Sweden
– **1928**: Amsterdam, Netherlands
– Gold: Uruguay
– Silver: Argentina
– Bronze: Italy
– **1936**: Berlin, Germany
– Gold: Italy
– Silver: Austria
– Bronze: Norway
– **1948**: London, United Kingdom
– Gold: Sweden
– Silver: Yugoslavia
– Bronze: Denmark
– **1952**: Helsinki, Finland
– Gold: Hungary
– Silver: Yugoslavia
– Bronze: Sweden
– **1956**: Melbourne, Australia
– Gold: Soviet Union
– Silver: Yugoslavia
– Bronze: Bulgaria
– **1960**: Rome, Italy
– Gold: Soviet Union
– Silver: Yugoslavia
– Bronze: Denmark
– **1964**: Tokyo, Japan
– Gold: Hungary
– Silver: Czechoslovakia
– Bronze: East Germany
– **1968**: Mexico City, Mexico
– Gold: Hungary
– Silver: Bulgaria
– Bronze: Japan
– **1972**: Munich, West Germany
– Gold: Poland
– Silver: Hungary
– Bronze: Soviet Union
– **1976**: Montreal, Canada
– Gold: East Germany
– Silver: Poland
– Bronze: Soviet Union
– **1980**: Moscow, Soviet Union
– Gold: Czechoslovakia
– Silver: East Germany
– Bronze: Soviet Union
– **1984**: Los Angeles, United States
– Gold: France
– Silver: Brazil
– Bronze: Yugoslavia
– **1988**: Seoul, South Korea
– Gold: Soviet Union
– Silver: Brazil
– Bronze: West Germany
– **1992**: Barcelona, Spain
– Gold: Spain
– Silver: Poland
– Bronze: Ghana
– **1996**: Atlanta, United States
– Gold: Nigeria
– Silver: Argentina
– Bronze: Brazil
– **2000**: Sydney, Australia
– Gold: Cameroon
– Silver: Spain
– Bronze: Chile
– **2004**: Athens, Greece
– Gold: Argentina
– Silver: Paraguay
– Bronze: Italy
– **2008**: Beijing, China
– Gold: Argentina
– Silver: Nigeria
– Bronze: Brazil
– **2012**: London, United Kingdom
– Gold: Mexico
– Silver: Brazil
– Bronze: South Korea
– **2016**: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
– Gold: Brazil
– Silver: Germany
– Bronze: Nigeria
– **2020**: Tokyo, Japan
– Gold: Brazil
– Silver: Spain
– Bronze: Mexico
