Will Lionel Messi play at the 2024 Olympics? Argentina boss Javier Mascherano wants Inter Miami star to help his team win gold in Paris weeks after Copa America

The Albiceleste, who savoured global glory at Qatar 2022, are also considering a call-up for veteran forward Angel Di Maria. Both he and Messi formed part of the Argentina team that won gold at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Mascherano – who is a former team-mate of Messi and Di Maria and currently coach of the Argentina U20 side – has told TyC Sports when asked if two iconic figures could form part of his plans in the French capital: “Clearly it would be a source of great pride for us to be able to have two world champions and these types of players. There are players who deserve to decide certain things. And clearly, Leo and Angel are part of that.”

Messi is currently playing his club football in the United States for Inter Miami, having joined them as a free agent when reaching the end of his contract at Paris Saint-German, while Di Maria is back in Portugal for a second spell with Benfica.

While Argentina would like to see Messi involved in their Olympics squad, there is also a Copa America to factor into the equation next summer. Players have figured in back-to-back tournaments before – including Barcelona star Pedri, who played the Euros and Olympics in 2021 – and Messi may want to end his international career on another high after stating that he does not plan to play at the 2026 World Cup.