Is Lionel Messi playing at the Olympics? Latest on Argentina captain's availability for 2024 Paris Games

Argentina were drawn in Group B at the 2024 Olympic Games as they aim to reignite their glory days in the men's tournament from the early 2000s.

Impressive back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2008 underlined Argentina's determination to commit resources and players to the Olympics to challenge their old rivals Brazil.

Ahead of the 2024 tournament, they are among the favourites to go on and clinch a gold medal despite their low-key showings in recent appearances.

The major focus will be on the squad selected by former Liverpool and Barcelona star Javier Mascherano. Lionel Messi was eligible for a call-up as an overage player, but will he be involved?

MORE: Full standings and schedule for Olympic men's soccer tournament

Is Lionel Messi playing at the Olympics?

Messi was not included in Mascherano's plans for the tournament with Inter Miami requesting a return for their captain after Copa America duty this month.

Clubs are not required to release players for the Olympics, as per FIFA rules, and Messi's MLS club bosses are keen to manage his game load following injury problems in 2024. He was left nursing an ankle sprain after the final of the Copa America .

Messi is keen to play on for both club and country in the coming years and he is targeting a spot at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be played across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

(Getty Images)

Messi was part of the team that secured gold in Beijing in 2008. Mascherano was also in that victorious squad, as he was four years earlier in Athens.

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.

Ahead of the 2024 Games, Mascherano utilised the rule to call up veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez , plus Ajax goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli .

Argentina's Olympic squad

Below is the full squad for Argentina's 2024 Olympic campaign.

Ages correct as of the final squad announcement on July 3.

Name	Position	Age	Club
Leandro Brey	GK	21	Boca Juniors
Geronimo Rulli	GK	32	Ajax
Marco Di Cesare	DEF	22	Argentinos Juniors
Julio Soler	DEF	19	Atletico Lanus
Joaquin Garcia	DEF	22	Velez Sarsfield
Gonzalo Lujan	DEF	23	San Lorenzo
Nicolas Otamendi	DEF	36	Benfica
Bruno Amione	DEF	22	Santos Laguna
Ezequiel Fernandez	MID	21	Boca Juniors
Santiago Hezze	MID	22	Olympiacos
Cristian Medina	MID	22	Boca Juniors
Kevin Zenon	MID	22	Boca Juniors
Giuliano Simeone	FWD	21	Atletico Madrid
Luciano Gondou	FWD	23	Argentinos Juniors
Thiago Almada	FWD	23	Botafogo
Claudio Echeverri	FWD	18	Manchester City
Julian Alvarez	FWD	24	Manchester City
Lucas Beltran	FWD	23	Fiorentina

*Players in BOLD are Argentina's overage picks

Argentina's Olympic record

Argentina's wins in 2004 and 2008 remain their only men's football gold medals in the Olympics.

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