Paris 2024 Olympics: No Messi, no Mbappe – no problem: Meet the next generation of men's football stars
There is no greater stage for rising football stars than the Olympic Games.
With the men’s football tournament made up of under-23 players and just three overage players per squad, it provides the perfect opportunity for young players to show their skills and announce themselves on the global stage.
Some of the best players to play the beautiful game have graced the Olympic stage. Lionel Messi won gold at Beijing 2008, Cristiano Ronaldo competed four years earlier at Athens 2004 and Neymar Jr helped Brazil to an emotional gold medal at their home Games at Rio 2016.
With 16 nations battling for gold at Paris 2024, meet the next generation of football stars who will hope to dazzle in the City of Lights.
Spanish starlets fresh off EURO success & France targeting home gold
There are two players in the Spain squad who will compete in both UEFA EURO 2024 and Paris 2024 this year. Fermin Lopez has made his way into the first team at FC Barcelona as a technical winger, while Alex Baena of Villarreal brings solid LaLiga experience to the side.
Spain also have exciting talent among their goalkeeper ranks in Joan Garcia of Espanyol and Arnau Tenas, who plays his club football in Paris for Paris-Saint Germain.
Hosts France are renowned for their incredible youth ranks, especially in the forwards department. Standing out above the crowd is Michael Olise, fresh off a fantastic season in the Premier League and heading to Germany after the Olympics, where he will play for Bayern Munich next season.
This could also be the breakthrough tournament for Rayan Cherki. The 20-year-old football has come through the Olympique Lyonnais academy into the men’s first team, capturing the attention of Europe’s biggest clubs and keen to make an impact on home soil with the world watching.
Rayan Cherki of France will hope to shine at his home Games.
USA back at Olympic men’s football & Argentina’s World Cup-winning quartet
Not since Beijing 2008 have the United States qualified for men’s football, but they are back and in perfect time ahead of their home World Cup in 2026.
Midfielder Gianluca Busio is one to watch, playing his trade with Serie A side Venezia and with more than ten international caps for the US senior men’s team. The US have a solid choice between the sticks in Gabriel Slonina, on loan from Chelsea, while 23-year-old forward Taylor Booth is an exciting option going forward.
We cannot forget about Argentina, the reigning FIFA World Cup and Copa America champions searching for a golden hat-trick in Paris.
To do that, head coach and Beijing 2008 Olympic champion Javier Mascherano has called up four World Cup winners, two of which played in the triumphant Copa America final on 14 July.
One of those World Cup winners is Thiago Almada, the freshest of the quartet having not played in the Copa America. The midfielder has just joined Brazilian club Botafogo after a strong season in MLS and will hope to make history, while simultaneously establishing himself in the Argentine setup.
If you want to watch the best young players in the world announce themselves on the big stage, Paris is where it is at.