The 33rd Summer Olympics is underway in Paris and other French cities, with the men’s football tournament kicking off on Wednesday. However, a notable absence was felt in the Group B match between Argentina and Morocco – Lionel Messi, the iconic Argentine captain, was not in the squad.
Messi, who led Argentina to victory in the Copa America earlier this month, had previously announced his decision to skip the Paris Olympics. He cited his age and the need to prioritize his club commitments as the reasons behind his choice.
“It’s hard (to think about the Olympics right now) because we’re in Copa America. It would be two, three straight months of not being with the club, and more than anything, I’m not at an age to be in everything. I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments. I’ve been very lucky to play in the Olympics, of winning it together with (Mascherano). It was a wonderful experience on a football level. Olympics, U20, memories I’ll never forget,” Messi had said previously.
The Olympics men’s football tournament has a rule allowing teams to include only three players over the age of 23 in their squads. While Messi’s absence is a significant blow for Argentina’s Olympic aspirations, his decision highlights the complex choices athletes face when juggling international tournaments and club commitments.
