Paris 2024 Olympic Games: Javier Mascherano says the door is open for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina

Updated 13/02/2024 at 17:25 GMT

Argentina have secured their quota spot at this summer's Olympic Games in Paris and now under-23 manager Javier Mascherano has been put on the spot about whether or not he will try to get his friends Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria to join up with the squad in the French capital. The former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder is keen to make it happen.

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Javier Mascherano has opened the door for Lionel Messi to play for Argentina at this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris.

Mascherano’s under-23 side beat the Tokyo 2020 gold medallists Brazil 1-0 at this week’s CONMEBOL Pre-Olympic Tournament to secure a quota for this year’s Games.

After winning gold in Rio in 2016 and in Tokyo last time out, Brazil have failed to qualify.

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Olympic men’s football teams have to consist of under-23 players, however they are allowed to include up to three overage players.

After the Brazil match, former Liverpool and Barcelona midfielder Mascherano was asked if he would be diving into his contacts book to bring in the likes of Messi and Angel Di Maria to increase their chances of success in the French capital.

"Everyone already knows my relationship with Leo [Messi] and with Angel [Di Maria]. We are friends.

“As a coach, I have an obligation to invite them,” he said.

Talking about the likelihood of it happening, Mascherano said: "But we also understand they have other commitments, and it will depend on that too."

While Messi is awaiting the start of the new MLS season with Inter Miami, Di Maria is in the middle of a one-year contract at Benfica, where he has scored eight goals so far this season.

Despite their obligations at club level, Messi and Di Maria could be lured by the prospect of adding a second Olympic gold medal to their list of achievements - which, of course, includes being World Cup winners after their triumph in Qatar in 2022.

Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria celebrate an Argentina goal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing

Image credit: Eurosport

They both scored two goals en route to Argentina triumphing at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, with one of Di Maria’s proving to be the winner against Nigeria in the final.

Thinking about the prospect of Mascherano introducing the pair into his squad for the Games, current under-23 captain Thiago Almada is more than open to the idea.

“I hope Messi has the desire and can be at the Olympic Games, it would be a dream," he said.

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The Olympic Games will return with Paris 2024, live on Eurosport and discovery+, the Eurosport app and at eurosport.com

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