Paris Olympic 2024: Top players to watch

As the Paris 2024 Olympic Games approach, football fans have much to anticipate beyond the recent Euro 2024 and Copa America tournaments.

The Olympic football competition, set to kick off on Wednesday across seven French cities, promises to showcase both rising talents and established stars.

Among the standout players to watch is Argentina’s Julian Alvarez. Fresh from their Copa America victory, Alvarez joins as one of the three overage players allowed in the men’s under-23 squad. The Manchester City forward, who scored 11 goals in 36 appearances last season, will be key to Argentina’s gold medal aspirations.

In the women’s tournament, Brazil’s Marta prepares for her Olympic swansong. The 38-year-old, Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, aims to cap her illustrious career with gold after silver medals in 2004 and 2008. Brazil manager Arthur Elias praised her inclusion, stating, “She’s playing well, she deserved to be on this list.”

France’s men’s team will be led by Alexandre Lacazette, selected as captain by coach Thierry Henry. The 33-year-old Lyon forward expressed his ambition.

“We all have the same ambition, to go all the way and win a medal. The fact that it’s a home Games is really going to motivate us,” Lacazette said.

Spain’s women’s team, making their Olympic debut, enters as one of the favourites. All eyes will be on Aitana Bonmati, fresh from winning the Nations League with Spain and a quadruple with Barcelona.

Other notable players include Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi, France women’s captain Wendie Renard, and Spain’s Fermin Lopez, who could make history by winning both the Euros and Olympic gold in the same summer.

The tournament also features exciting prospects like Colombia’s Linda Caicedo, who at 19 is already considered one of the best in women’s football, and Zambia’s Barbra Banda, who made history in Tokyo by scoring back-to-back hat-tricks.

As the Olympic football tournament unfolds, these players and many others will vie for glory, adding another chapter to the rich history of football at the Olympic Games.

Meanwhile, the tournament will feature 16 teams from around the globe competing across seven cities in France.

The tournament runs from July 24 to August 9, showcasing emerging talents and established stars alike in a quest for Olympic glory.

The teams are divided into four groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the knockout stages, culminating in the gold medal match at the iconic Parc des Princes in Paris.