Julián Álvarez Named to Argentina’s Men’s Soccer Team for 2024 Paris Games

Julián Álvarez will be heading to France this summer…

The 24-year-old Argentine professional footballer and Manchester City striker has been named to Argentina‘s men’s soccer team for the 2024 Paris Games later this summer.

Julián Álvarez,In all, coach Javier Mascherano included four World Cup winners, including veteran Benfica defender Nicolás Otamendi.

Lionel Messi, as expected, wasn’t named to the team, after the Inter Miami star said in June that playing at the Olympics would be “too much” in an already busy summer.

Messi, who has struggled with injuries this year, is currently playing at the Copa América along with Álvarez and Otamendi, aiming to defend the continental title the team won in 2021. That victory served as a springboard for Argentina to lift the World Cup in 2022.

The 37-year-old superstar won the Olympic gold medal at 2008 Beijing Games.

Mascherano, who won the Olympic gold medal as a player in 2004 and ’08, will add goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, Otamendi and Álvarez to his squad after Copa América is finished.

Midfielder Claudio Echeverri, a recent signing for Manchester City from River Plate, will also join.

Argentina will play two friendlies in France before their Olympic tournament opener against Morocco on July 24. Argentina and Morocco are in Group B along with Iraq and Ukraine.