Lionell Messi

Copa America held prior to the Paris Olympics Simultaneous selection for two competitions ‘impossible’

Coach Javier Mascherano (39) of the Argentina U-23 national soccer team, which successfully advanced to the men’s soccer finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, said it would not be easy for Lionel Messi (36, Inter Miami) to participate in the Olympics. I admitted that it didn’t work out.

In an interview with Argentine broadcaster TyC Sports on the 6th (Korean time), Coach Mascherano opened up about Messi’s possibility of participating in the Olympics, saying, “I talked to Messi and decided to continue the conversation.”

However, he said, “Above all, we must consider that the Copa America is held before the Olympics. It is not easy for Messi to participate in the Olympics.” 스포츠 토토사이트

He continued, “We need to see if Messi has the strength left to participate until the Paris Olympics. The current situation is not about pressuring or harassing Messi. We have given Messi time to think. It is also easy for Messi to leave his team.” “As it is unlikely to happen, we will make a decision at the appropriate time,” he explained.

In the Olympics, there are no regulations that force players to be selected like in national competitions (A matches), so the willingness of the players and their teams to participate is important.This is especially true for ‘wild cards’ like Messi who are over 23 years old.

Lionel Messi wins the gold medal in men’s soccer at the 2008 Beijing Olympics

Messi participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and led Argentina to a gold medal.If participation in the Paris Olympics is successful, it will be his return to the Olympic stage after 16 years.

However, the biggest factor preventing Coach Mascherano from selecting Messi is the 2024 Copa America, a South American soccer competition held in the United States from June to July this year.

The Paris Olympics will be held from July 24 to August 10, two weeks after the Copa America.

If Messi participates in the Olympics following the Copa America, a situation will arise where he will have to vacate his team for nearly 50 days.

For this reason, Gerardo Martino, coach of Inter Miami, Messi’s team, early suggested that the team’s South American players decide on only one competition to participate in.

Coach Mascherano also acknowledged that realistically, it would be impossible to invite Messi to both the Olympics and Copa America.

“We have to understand that Messi is still performing at the highest level, but his age has now become an important factor,” he said. 슬롯사이트