Is Kylian Mbappe playing at the Olympics? Latest on France star's availability for 2024 Paris Games

The men's soccer tournament at the 2024 Summer Olympics kicks off in Paris on July 24 with 16 teams battling for gold medal glory.

Men's football has been a feature of the Olympic Games since 1900 with FIFA's six continental federations represented in the competition.

The 2024 edition will feature a major change, with 2016 and 2020 champions Brazil not involved, and hosts France tipped as one of the favourites to win a first gold in the men's event since 1984.

Former Les Bleus superstar Thierry Henry takes charge of France's Olympic side but he faces a battle to include Kylian Mbappe in his tournament squad.

MORE: Kylian Mbappe's astonishing presentation to thousands of Real Madrid fans

Is Kylian Mbappe playing at the Olympics?

Mbappe was not included as part of the 18-player panel when Henry's roster was announced in June.

The new Real Madrid signing previously hinted at his desire to play in the tournament after Euro 2024 duty, but he consistently stated the decision would be made by his club.

After it was announced in June that he would be signing for Madrid on a free transfer, Mbappe confirmed he would not be competing at the Games as he would instead be preparing for a preseason tour of the United States with his new team.

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"For the Olympics, my club has a position which is very clear, so that means I will not participate in the Olympics. That is how it is," he stated ahead of captaining France at Euro 2024.

"Joining a new team in September would not be the best way to begin my adventure. I wish the best to the France team. I will of course watch all their games as a spectator rather than a player, and I hope they bring back the gold medal."

How are Olympic squads selected?

Rules on how Olympic football squads are selected feature a crucial rule on overage players, with each qualified nation allowed to name three players aged over 23 in their squad.

That restriction does not apply to women's squads for Olympic competition.

However, Henry and his fellow head coaches could face club-versus-country battles as football at the Olympics does not feature on the FIFA international match calendar and clubs are not required to release players if they do not wish to.

France's Olympic squad

Henry utilised the overage rule to include former Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette and Crystal Palace star Jean-Philippe Mateta in his squad.

Below is the full squad selected by Henry for France's 2024 Olympics campaign:

Name	Position	Age	Club
Guillaume Restes	GK	19	Toulouse
Obed Nkambadio	GK	21	Paris FC
Adrien Truffert	DEF	22	Rennes
Kiliann Sildillia	DEF	22	Freiburg
Bradley Locko	DEF	22	Brest
Castello Lukebo	DEF	21	RB Leipzig
Soungoutou Magassa	DEF	20	AS Monaco
Loic Bade	DEF	24	Sevilla
Desire Doue	MID	19	Rennes
Manu Kone	MID	23	Borussia Monchengladbach
Maghnes Akilouche	MID	22	AS Monaco
Enzo Milot	MID	21	Stuttgart
Joris Chotard	MID	22	Montpellier
Rayan Cherki	FWD	20	Lyon
Arnaud Kalimuendo	FWD	22	Rennes
Jean-Philippe Mateta	FWD	27	Crystal Palace
Alexandre Lacazette	FWD	33	Lyon
Michael Olise	FWD	22	Bayern Munich

*Players in BOLD are France's overage picks

France's Olympic record

France have featured regularly in the Olympic men's football tournament but 1984 is their sole gold medal win under the leadership of veteran French coach Henri Michel.

Year	Host	France Result
1900	Paris, France	Silver medal
1904	St. Louis, United States	DNE
1908	London, United Kingdom	Semifinal
1912	Stockholm, Sweden	Withdrew
1920	Antwerp, Belgium	Semifinal
1924	Paris, France	Quarterfinal
1928	Amsterdam, Netherlands	First Round
1936	Berlin, Germany	DNE
1948	London, United Kingdom	Quarterfinal
1952	Helsinki, Finland	Preliminary Round
1956	Melbourne, Australia	DNQ
1960	Rome, Italy	First Round
1964	Tokyo, Japan	DNQ
1968	Mexico City, Mexico	Quarterfinal
1972	Munich, West Germany	DNQ
1976	Montreal, Canada	Quarterfinal
1980	Moscow, Soviet Union	DNE
1984	Los Angeles, United States	Gold medal
1988	Seoul, South Korea	DNQ
1992	Barcelona, Spain	DNQ
1996	Atlanta, United States	Quarterfinal
2000	Sydney, Australia	DNQ
2004	Athens, Greece	DNQ
2008	Beijing, China	DNQ
2012	London, United Kingdom	DNQ
2016	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	DNQ
2020	Tokyo, Japan	Group Stage

*DNE indicates Did Not Enter and DNQ indicates Did Not Qualify

Olympic football champions

Below is the complete list of Olympic medallists in the men's soccer tournament.

Year	Host	Gold	Silver	Bronze
1900	Paris, France	Great Britain	France	Belgium
1904	St. Louis, United States	Canada	United States	None awarded
1908	London, United Kingdom	Great Britain	Denmark	Netherlands
1912	Stockholm, Sweden	Great Britain	Denmark	Netherlands
1920	Antwerp, Belgium	Belgium	Spain	Netherlands
1924	Paris, France	Uruguay	Switzerland	Sweden
1928	Amsterdam, Netherlands	Uruguay	Argentina	Italy
1936	Berlin, Germany	Italy	Austria	Norway
1948	London, United Kingdom	Sweden	Yugoslavia	Denmark
1952	Helsinki, Finland	Hungary	Yugoslavia	Sweden
1956	Melbourne, Australia	Soviet Union	Yugoslavia	Bulgaria
1960	Rome, Italy	Soviet Union	Yugoslavia	Denmark
1964	Tokyo, Japan	Hungary	Czechoslovakia	East Germany
1968	Mexico City, Mexico	Hungary	Bulgaria	Japan
1972	Munich, West Germany	Poland	Hungary	Soviet Union
1976	Montreal, Canada	East Germany	Poland	Soviet Union
1980	Moscow, Soviet Union	Czechoslovakia	East Germany	Soviet Union
1984	Los Angeles, United States	France	Brazil	Yugoslavia
1988	Seoul, South Korea	Soviet Union	Brazil	West Germany
1992	Barcelona, Spain	Spain	Poland	Ghana
1996	Atlanta, United States	Nigeria	Argentina	Brazil
2000	Sydney, Australia	Cameroon	Spain	Chile
2004	Athens, Greece	Argentina	Paraguay	Italy
2008	Beijing, China	Argentina	Nigeria	Brazil
2012	London, United Kingdom	Mexico	Brazil	South Korea
2016	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil	Brazil	Germany	Nigeria
2020	Tokyo, Japan	Brazil	Spain	Mexico