Men's Football Tournament Lacks Star Players

The men's football tournament at the Paris Olympics will lack star players, with Kylian Mbappe unable to participate due to his club Real Madrid's refusal to release him immediately after Euro 2024. Lionel Messi also opted out, prioritizing his career as he noted, 'At my age, I don’t want to play everything and I need to make the right choices,' allowing younger players to take the spotlight. Coach Thierry Henry faced challenges in assembling his squad, humorously lamenting the number of rejections he received, as key players are unavailable. The competition, starting on July 24 and running until August 9, will feature teams like Argentina and France, who are historically strong despite the absence of their star players. The restrictions of the tournament, which is limited to players under 23 with a few overage exceptions, further compound the challenge of fielding a competitive team. Brazil, a former gold medalist, will also miss out as they failed to qualify, adding to the unpredictability of the event.