Brazil claimed its second Olympic soccer gold at Tokyo 2020, however one other South American nation is predicted to dominate at Paris 2024.
Argentina have a wealth of present, future and extremely skilled expertise of their squad, which will probably be led by former worldwide midfielder Javier Mascherano.
The Brazilians beat Spain within the last final time, and Mexico took bronze towards host nation Japan.
This version of the boys’s soccer match begins on July 24, two days earlier than the official opening of the Olympic Video games. Listed below are our 5 favourite gamers:
Argentina – Julian Alvarez
The star title of the match is undoubtedly Manchester Metropolis striker Álvarez.
The 22-year-old was in positive kind final season for Pep Guardiola’s aspect, serving to them win an unprecedented fourth successive Premier League title.
That each one got here after the Cityzens lifted 5 trophies in 2023, in Alvarez’s first season, finishing the treble of the league, FA Cup and Champions League earlier than claiming the UEFA Tremendous Cup and FIFA Membership World Cup.
Born in Calchín, Córdoba province, Álvarez joined Metropolis in 2022 from River Plate, the place his performances caught the eye of the European elite, but additionally of the coach of Argentina’s 2020 Olympic crew, who chosen him for the Tokyo Video games.
Alvarez has simply flown to France for the Olympics after successful Argentina the Copa America title on July 14; he would love nothing greater than so as to add an Olympic gold medal to his lengthy listing of achievements.
France – Michael Olise
A giant-money transfer from English Premier League aspect Crystal Palace to German giants Bayern Munich has put Olise’s title on the world stage.
The 22-year-old striker was born in London, England, the place his expertise was first found by Arsenal on the age of 9.
Olise spent the subsequent eight years within the youth ranks of the Gunners, Chelsea and Manchester Metropolis earlier than Studying, then within the second tier of English soccer, supplied him his first skilled contract.
The failure of the Massive Three to retain Olise was made clear by his 2021 transfer to Palace, the place he turned a right away success and was even seen as a alternative for Wilfried Zaha when the Ivory Coast worldwide moved to Turkish aspect Galatasaray for the beginning of the 2023 season.
Affirmation of his rise to Zaha’s stage got here along with his switch to Bayern Munich in July for $65 million.
Olise was born to a Nigerian father and a French-Algerian mom, therefore his resolution to signify France.
Argentina – Thiago Almada
The title that might usurp all others on the Olympic Video games might be Thiago Almada.
Whereas the burden will relaxation squarely on the shoulders of his compatriot and Premier League star Alvarez, Almada has a inventory that’s primed to take off.
The 23-year-old has returned to play within the high flight of Brazilian soccer with Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas after a shock $21 million switch from Main League Soccer (MLS) aspect Atlanta United in the USA. The settlement may doubtlessly attain as much as $30 million in extra funds.
Almada is extensively anticipated to hitch French membership Lyon, which has the identical possession as Botafogo, after he made no secret of his need to swap the Americas for European soccer.
The attacking midfielder received the 2022 MLS Rookie of the Yr award following his transfer from his native Argentina.
That very same yr, he turned the primary energetic MLS participant to win the World Cup when Argentina defeated France within the last in Qatar.
France – Jean-Philippe Mateta
France had hoped their aspect would depend on talisman Antoine Griezmann to steer the assault, however in Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta they’ve a succesful alternative.
With Olise already one of many main names, the pair will share a hyperlink from their time collectively within the Premier League.
Mateta, who joined Palace in 2022 from French membership Mainz, has represented France at youth stage however is but to play for the senior crew.
The 27-year-old, who additionally has Democratic Republic of Congo citizenship, has scored a powerful 22 Premier League objectives in 41 begins since his everlasting transfer to Selhurst Park.
Morocco – Achraf Hakimi
One of the crucial shocking choices among the many Olympic groups is World Cup semi-finalist Achraf Hakimi.
The defender helped the Atlas Lions attain the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, making historical past as the primary African nation to achieve the semi-final of the worldwide competitors. Morocco’s run additionally marked the primary time they’d reached the quarter-finals.
At 25, Hakimi has already loved an illustrious membership profession, having began out within the metropolis of his delivery with Actual Madrid.
After two mortgage spells with Borussia Dortmund in Germany, the full-back moved to Inter Milan in Italy earlier than transferring to France in 2021 along with his present membership, Paris Saint-Germain.
⚽ Keep up to date:
You may comply with the motion on Al Jazeera’s devoted Paris 2024 Olympics match web page with all of the information and options, in addition to the build-up to the occasion and stay textual content commentary on chosen soccer, basketball, tennis and boxing matches.