Paris 2024 Kicks Off: Top Football Stars to Watch

Paris 2024 will kick off on Wednesday. With the spotlight shifting from Euro 2024 and Copa America, international football excitement continues at the Olympic Games. The tournament will feature matches across seven French cities. Notably, both the men’s and women’s finals will occur at Paris’s Parc des Princes.

Men’s Olympic teams will include players under 23, with a maximum of three overage players allowed. In contrast, women’s teams will have no age restrictions. Historically, Olympic football tournaments have showcased stars like Lionel Messi, Alex Morgan, Ronaldinho and Ellen White.

For Paris 2024, several big names are drawing attention:

Julian Alvarez (Argentina): After Argentina’s Copa America win, Julian Alvarez, one of three overage players in their squad, emerges as a key figure. The Manchester City forward, who netted 11 goals last season will skip City’s pre-season tour and the Community Shield to focus on the Olympics. Consequently, Argentina aims to secure their third gold medal under coach Javier Mascherano.

Marta (Brazil): At 38, Marta, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, will retire from international football following the Paris Games. She seeks one final gold after previously winning silver in Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008. Furthermore, Marta made history by scoring in five consecutive Olympic Games.

Alexandre Lacazette (France): Additionally, Thierry Henry has chosen Alexandre Lacazette to captain France as he returns to national duty after a six-year hiatus. The Lyon forward, who scored 22 goals last season is eager to lead France to victory on home soil. However, Kylian Mbappe will not participate due to Real Madrid’s decision to keep their players out of the Games.

Aitana Bonmati (Spain): Meanwhile, Spain, making their Olympic debut, stands as a strong contender with their squad of stars. Aitana Bonmati, a standout in Spain’s Nations League and Barcelona’s quadruple-winning season, aims to add Olympic gold to her impressive list of achievements.

Achraf Hakimi (Morocco): Moreover, Hakimi, 25, will miss PSG’s pre-season to represent Morocco which qualified for Paris 2024 by winning the 2023 Under-23 Africa Cup of Nations. His leadership will be crucial for Morocco’s campaign.

Wendie Renard (France): French coach Hervé Renard has appointed 34-year-old Wendie Renard as captain for the home Olympics. With 160 caps, Renard will compete in her third Games, hoping to achieve her first major international title.

Fermin Lopez (Spain): In addition, Spanish winger Fermin Lopez, a member of Spain’s Euro 2024-winning squad, joins Barcelona teammates in the Olympic team. The 21-year-old aims to achieve both Euro and Olympic gold in the same summer.

Linda Caicedo (Colombia): At just 19, Linda Caicedo, a standout at the 2023 World Cup, is a rising star. Her remarkable goal against Germany garnered significant acclaim and earned a nomination for the Puskas award.

Naby Keita (Guinea): Former Liverpool midfielder Naby Keita will captain Guinea at the Olympics, despite a challenging season with Werder Bremen. He hopes to add to his tally of 11 international goals.

Barbra Banda (Zambia): Lastly, Zambian striker Barbra Banda, recently the second-most expensive women’s footballer has impressed with Orlando Pride. She notably became the first player to score back-to-back hat-tricks in the Tokyo Games.

In summary, these players are set to make significant impacts at the Games, further enhancing the excitement of the Olympic football tournaments.