“The door to the Olympics is always open even for players like Messi.”Javier Mascherano (39), coach of the Argentina U-23 national soccer team, who successfully advanced to the men’s soccer finals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, hoped that Lionel Messi (36, Inter Miami) would “play in the Olympics.”Coach Mascherano said through ESPN on the 13th (Korean time), “Everyone already knows the close relationship between me and Messi,” and added, “The door is open for a player like Messi to join us on the Olympic stage.”However, he put a condition on joining the wild card, saying, “(Participation in the Olympics) clearly requires Messi’s will and dedication.” Previously, Argentina won 1-0 with Luciano Gondou’s winning goal in the 33rd minute of the second half in the third and final match of the Paris Olympic men’s soccer South American qualifying final against Brazil held at the Brigido Irriarte Stadium in Caracas, Venezuela on the 12th.As a result, Argentina (1 win, 2 draws, 5 points) took second place in the final league after Paraguay (2 wins, 1 draw, 7 points) and secured a ticket to Paris. South America had two Olympic tickets on the line.
Argentina has won the Olympics twice (2004 and 2008), and Messi participated in the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a gold medal. Meanwhile, coach Mascherano, who had developed a close relationship with Messi while playing for the Argentina national team for a long time, naturally mentioned ‘Messi’ when his participation in the Paris Olympics was confirmed.Argentina U-23 national team midfielder Thiago Almada (Atlanta United) also said, “I hope Messi has the desire to stand on the stage of the Paris Olympics. We will have to see Messi’s condition, but if he plays, it will be like a dream.”However, Messi is already hoping to participate in the 2024 Copa America (June 20-July 14) to be held in the United States, so it is difficult due to schedule to directly participate in the men’s soccer competition at the Paris Olympics, which begins on 슬롯게이밍 July 24.