IOC President, Argentina Coach Open Door for Messi to Play in Paris Olympics

After winning the 2022 World Cup in legendary fashion, Lionel Messi was widely expected to retire from international soccer. Instead, his international career may be taking on new life with a shot at another Olympic gold medal in play.

The superstar was invited by his former Barcelona and Argentina teammate Javier Mascherano, who currently coaches the Argentina U-20 team, to the upcoming Paris Olympics if the Albiceleste qualify for the Summer Games.

“Leo has an open door to the national team to do whatever he wishes—that’s the reality,” Mascherano said, per Marca. “If we end up qualifying [for the Olympics] and he wants to go, he will be welcome. My relationship with him is that of a great friendship and I would love it.”

However, the chances of Messi, 36, playing in the Paris Olympics appear slim despite Olympic rules allowing each team to field three players over the age of 23. While Messi already has an Olympic gold medal after winning in Beijing in 2008, he is more likely to be involved in the Copa América in the U.S. in June and July with the senior national team; and the likelihood of Inter Miami releasing its star player for back-to-back tournaments in the middle of the MLS season is low. 

But that hasn’t stopped International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach from remaining hopeful. 

“It would be fantastic if he could be here,” Bach said. “For Lionel Messi, it would mean a chance to write history once again. He could be the only player in history to have two gold medals and a World Cup.”