‘Door is open’ for Messi to play at Olympics – Mascherano

Lionel Messi has an open invitation to play with the Argentina Olympic team this summer, according to Albiceleste under-23 coach Javier Mascherano.

Argentina beat reigning gold medalists Brazil 1-0 to secure a place at the Paris Olympics.

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“Everyone already knows about my relationship with Leo [Messi]the friendship I have,” Mascherano said.

“A player like him has the doors open to accompany us [at the Olympics]so it will obviously depend on him and his commitments.”

Messi, who led his country to its third World Cup title in 2022, celebrated Argentina's qualification for the Olympics by posting a photo of Mascherano's team on Instagram after Sunday's victory with the word : “VAMOS!!!”

Argentina U23 midfielder Thiago Almada says it would be a dream to have eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi in the Olympic team.

“I hope he has the desire, that he can be there,” Atlanta United's Almada said.

“We have to see how he is at that point, it would be a dream for him to play.”

Messi won gold at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach recently said it would be “fantastic for the Olympics to have him back at the Games.”

However, Messi has already expressed his desire to participate in the 2024 Copa America which will take place in the United States from June 20 to July 14, less than two weeks before the Games begin in Paris.

With the MLS regular season continuing uninterrupted while the Copa America takes place, Messi is expected to miss a few games with club Inter Miami.