Argentina name four World Cup winners to their 18-man Olympic football squad
Argentina U23 head coach Javier Mascherano has named his 18-player football squad for Paris 2024, which includes four World Cup winners.
Goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli takes up one of the three senior spots, joined by veteran defender Nicolas Otamendi and Manchester City's treble-winning forward Julian Alvarez.
MLS sensation Thiago Almada rounds up the 2022 World Cup winners who will play in France.
Lionel Messi will not feature in what would have been his second Games appearance, after declaring Paris ‘too much’ alongside his club season with Inter Miami and defending Argentina’s Copa America title with the senior side this month.
Mascherano will lead the side knowing exactly what it takes to win gold at the Olympics, having done so twice in 2004 and 2008.
His side will play two games in preparation for their Group B opener against Morocco, followed by clashes with Ukraine and Iraq.
Argentina’s U23 squad for Paris 2024
Goalkeepers: Leandro Brey (Boca Juniors), Geronimo Rulli (Ajax)
Defenders: Marco Di Cesare (Racing Club), Julio Soler (Lanus), Joaquin Garcia (Velez Sarsfield), Gonzalo Lujan (San Lorenzo), Nicolas Otamendi (Benfica), Bruno Amione (Santos Laguna)
Midfielders: Ezequiel Fernandez (Boca Juniors), Santiago Hezze (Olympiacos), Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors), Kevin Zenon (Boca Juniors)
Forwards: Giuliano Simeone (Atletico Madrid), Luciano Gondou (Argentinos Juniors), Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Claudio Echeverri (River Plate), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina)
Alternatives: Aaron Quiros (Club Atletico Banfield), Federico Redondo (Inter Miami), Fabricio Iacovich (Estudiantes de La Plata), Juan Nardoni (Racing Club de Avellaneda)