Finally, Messi will be absent from Paris 2024

The list of Argentina team led by Javier Mascherano for the dispute of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games is led by the striker Julian Alvarez, the central Nicolas Otamendi and the goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli.

After weeks of speculation over who would fill the three over-23 spots, with names such as Lionel Messi or Ángel di María María, finally Mascherano is chosen for Otamendi (36 years old) and Rulli (32), member of the world champion team in Qatar 2022 with Julián Álvarez and Thiago Almada, who will also go to the Games..

Emi Martínez was left behind

Too much Julian Alvarez, The Manchester City striker, apparently Otamendi, Benfica’s defence, however, seemed to have assured their presence at the Olympic event, although it was the goalkeeper’s position that showed the most unknowns.

Despite the fact that many rumors put the owner of ‘Scaloneta’, the English Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano MartínezAmong those selected, the man from Mar del Plata reported a few days ago that his club was not allowed to compete in the Olympics after doing so in the Copa América, a denial that tipped the balance in favor of Rulli, goalkeeper of Ajax Amsterdam.

Almada, another world champion

Furthermore, in the list published by the Argentine Football Association (AFA), another hero of Qatar’s conquest stands out: he is the playmaker Thiago Almada, who recently arrived at Brazilian Botafogo from Atlanta United of the American MLS.

Among the main news is the Atlético de Madrid attacker Giuliano Simeonethe son of the former player and current coach of the red and white team, who received his first call last month after a season with a broken tibia and fibula, which left him on the playing field for five months.

The double, in his second game with the Albiceleste U-23 in June, against Paraguay, in a friendly, was enough to convince the ‘Jefecito’ of his performance, which could expand the deep ties that exist between the family of Diego Pablo is the ‘Cholo’ Simeone with choice.

Mostly in Boca

On the other hand, Boca Juniors is the Argentine team that contributes the most names to the list with four footballers: The goalkeeper Leandro Brey and the midfielders Ezequiel Fernández, Cristian Medina and Kevin Zenón. This ensured a lot of popularity for ‘Xeneize’ in the engine room of the Argentine U-23.

The Olympic men’s soccer tournament will take place from July 24 to August 9. Argentina is drawn in Group B along with Morocco, Iraq and Ukraine.

List of 18 called for Mascherano

Goalkeepers: Leandro Brey (Boca Juniors) and Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax of the Netherlands)

Defenses: Marco Di Césare (Racing Club), Julio Soler (Lanús), Joaquín García (Vélez Sarsfield), Gonzalo Luján (San Lorenzo), Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal), Bruno Amione (Santos Languna, Mexico)

Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernández (Boca Juniors), Santiago Hezze (Olympiacos, Greece), Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors) and Kevin Zenón (Boca Juniors)

Faces: Giuliano Simeone (Atlético Madrid, Spain), Luciano Gondou (Argentinos Juniors), Thiago Almada (Botafogo, Brazil), Claudio Echeverri (River Plate), Julián Álvarez (Manchester City, England) and Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina, Italy).