Paris Olympics 2024: Why Football Icons Messi, Mbappe, Yamal Aren’t Competing

The world will converge in Paris over the next two weeks for the 2024 Olympics, the largest sporting event globally. Athletes from around the globe will gather in the French capital to represent their countries, with football being one of the featured sports.

For those who may not know, the Olympics include both men’s and women’s football tournaments. While the women’s tournament is a full international competition, the men’s tournament has age restrictions.

The men’s tournament features 16 teams, including prominent names like 2022 FIFA World Cup finalists Argentina, France, and 2024 Euro Champions Spain. However, notable stars such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Lamine Yamal will be missing from the competition.

Why the Football at Paris 2024 Olympics Is Missing Star Power?

While the Olympics are considered the pinnacle of sports, the men’s football tournament is effectively an U-23 event, with each team allowed to include up to three overage players. This could have potentially included stars like Messi and Mbappe. Additionally, younger players, such as 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, were eligible to participate.

However, there’s a complication: since the Olympics do not fall within a FIFA international window, clubs must approve players’ participation. Most clubs declined permission, especially with the new season approaching. Competing in the Olympics would mean players participated in two major international tournaments during the off-season, which could be physically taxing and result in missing the club’s preseason and the first few league matches.

Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez, eligible to represent Argentina at 23, publicly revealed that he was initially granted permission to participate by former head coach Mauricio Pochettino. However, this approval was later revoked when the club changed coaches and appointed Enzo Maresca.