Lionel Messi, the renowned footballer, faces a decision between representing Argentina in the upcoming Copa América or the Olympics this summer. The coach of Inter Miami, Gerardo 'Tata' Martino, has highlighted this dilemma. Argentina's under-23 coach, Javier Mascherano, has left the possibility open for Messi to participate in the Olympic Games in Paris.
When questioned about Messi's potential participation in both the Copa América and Olympics, Martino used the example of Messi's MLS teammate, Diego Gómez, who faces a similar situation with Paraguay. Martino emphasized the challenge of balancing commitments to both tournaments and the need to prioritize one over the other.
The 2024 Copa América is scheduled to take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14, just before the commencement of the Olympics in Paris. With the MLS season running concurrently with the Copa América, Martino expressed his reluctance to have players compete in both events due to the extended absence it would entail.
Messi, a seasoned player at 36, has previous experience at the Olympics, having secured a gold medal in Beijing in 2008. His recent achievements include leading Argentina to victory in the 2021 Copa América and captaining the team to their third World Cup title the following year.
