Lionel Messi out of Argentina squad for Paris Olympics 2024

Lionel Messi will not be part of the Argentine squad for the upcoming Olympic Games scheduled to commence later this month in Paris.
Under the guidance of Coach Javier Mascherano, the South American side will include four players who were part of the victorious World Cup team, notably Julián Álvarez and Nicolás Otamendi.
Messi, aged 37 and currently participating in the Copa America with the aim of retaining the title won in 2021, has been dealing with injury issues throughout the year.

His absence from the Olympics comes despite his previous participation in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, where he secured a gold medal.

The Olympic men’s football competition is primarily for under-23 teams, although it permits the inclusion of up to three players above this age limit in each team.
Mascherano, who himself is a two-time Olympic gold medalist from the 2004 and 2008 games, plans to incorporate goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, alongside Otamendi and Álvarez, into the squad following the conclusion of the Copa America.
Additionally, midfielder Claudio Echeverri, who recently transferred to Manchester City from River Plate, is set to join the team.
Argentina are slated to engage in two friendly matches in France as part of their preparation before facing Morocco in their first match of the Olympic football tournament on July 24. They are placed in Group B, which also includes teams from Iraq and Ukraine.

Argentina squad for Paris Olympics 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 (Botafogo de Brasil), Claudio Echeverri (River Plate), Julian Alvarez (Manchester City), Lucas Beltran (Fiorentina).