Lionel Messi, striker for MLS club Inter Miami and Argentina's national team, told ESPN that he will not take part in the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
La Albiceleste, managed by Javier Mascherano, will play in the group stage of the football tournament of the Olympic Games 2024. The Argentines' opponents in Group B are the national teams of Ukraine, Morocco and Iraq.
I spoke with 'Masche' and the truth is that we both understood the situation. It's a tough moment because now we have the Copa America. It would be two, three months straight away from the club, and especially at this age, I'm not up for playing non-stop. I have to choose the right moments, and I think it would be too much to do two tournaments in a row.
Lionel Messi
In the same interview, the Argentine star, who is also the 2022 World Cup champion and winner of four Ballon d'Ors, flatly refused to work as a coach. Earlier Messi assured that Inter Miami would be the last club for him in his career.
Messi's contract with Inter Miami expires at the end of December 2025 and the player's market value is estimated at €30 million, according to Transfermarkt.