In the days leading up to the official opening ceremony, on Friday, of Paris Olympicsseveral of the Longer-lasting events are already in operation – include football in men’s and women’s events.
While the women have full international teams on display, the men’s teams are generally an under-23 event with up to three overage exceptions per team – meaning a mix of some of the world’s best and most exciting youngsters from around the world. . of Olympic football this summer.
Here we select 10 players whose performances and selections can define football memories and medals in Paris 2024.
Linda Caicedo, Colombia
Although the women’s event is a senior competition, some of the region’s best youngsters are gathered in France this month – and Caicedo could be the best of them. At just 19 years old, the Colombian striker starred in last year’s World Cup, scored the goal of the tournament and was transferred to Real Madrid, where she has already won individual awards that consider her the best under-21 player in the sport. All this in my teens… and four years after overcoming ovarian cancer. She is a standout in many ways.
Kadeisha Buchanan, Canada
From LaLiga to London, Buchanan is a defender for Chelsea in the WSL and a star defender for Canada. The 28-year-old is set to earn her 150th cap for the national team during the Games and will be a key part of their hopes of progressing from a very competitive group that includes the hosts and the aforementioned Colombia. She was harshly sent off in the second leg of the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-finals, which tilted the game towards Barcelona – the Olympics are a great stage for her to put that behind her and showcase her qualities.
Jaedyn Shaw, USA
It’s no secret that Emma Hayes began her USWNT revolution with the big decision to move on from legend Alex Morgan – which means the spotlight will naturally shift to those selected before her. The most intriguing among them may be record-breaking teenager Jaedyn Shaw, not only a national team prospect but also a clubmate of Morgan’s on the San Diego Wave. The 19-year-old has already scored seven goals for the US senior team and last year broke the NWSL record for most goals scored as a teenager. Versatile, two-footed and technically gifted, Shaw could be a wild card to send Hayes and company to the medals.
Marta, Brazil
From one end of her career to the other, Brazilian legend Marta is one of the greatest football names of all time. Now 38, the six-times Women’s Player of the Year will play in her sixth Olympic Games and set a new record if she scores at them – she was already the first footballer to score at five. Given that she has already announced that she will retire from international football at the end of Paris 2024, it will certainly be an emotional match either way, after almost 200 caps and, so far, 119 goals.
Aitana Bonmati, Spain
After the greatest of all time, it is also fair to point out that we have the greatest of all time at the Summer Games, with Spain’s Bonmati as the holder of the Women’s Ballon d’Or, the holder of FIFA’s Best Female Player, the winner of last summer’s Award World Cup Golden Ball and this year’s Laureus World Sportsman of the Year. It’s been quite a 12 months for the Barcelona star and Olympic gold would be a way to cap it off – if La Roja want to go far and add this medal to last year’s triumph, his performances in midfield will be key.
Michael Olise, France
For men and mainly a collection of options for under 23s. Having represented England at youth level, Olise has now left those shores completely: Bayern Munich at club level, with a massive transfer this summer, and France on the international stage. He will be a key player for them at the Olympics, which will truly be the first glimpse of him playing amongst the elite following his spell at Crystal Palace. There is no doubting his quality or ability to impact matches – but all eyes will be on him now with Les Bleus and as a £50m player. He started well, remember, with a goal in the opening 3-0 win over the USA.
Julian Álvarez, Argentina
Our only selection for overage players is still just 24: Man City’s Alvarez, who has reportedly requested permission to play in this tournament, having also participated fully in the Copa América this month. With Argentina’s disappointing start in a chaotic 2-1 defeat to Morocco, Alvarez will need to showcase both his leadership qualities and goalscoring ability to help the South Americans progress to the final stages.
Fermín López, Spain
Also at Euro 2024, but only used as a substitute once, Barcelona attacking midfielder Lopez hopes to play a much more important role at the Olympics for Spain. With tremendous movement and an ability to pick out a pass in busy areas or shoot early, he has proven to be a vital tool in unlocking defenses at club level – if he can transfer this to the international stage, he will be a great weapon against defenses. deep. defenses that La Roja face so often.
Joel Chima Fujita, Japan
The starting duo of Japanese midfielders are clubmates at Sint-Truiden in Belgium – but it is Fujita, born in Tokyo to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother, who looks like a great prospect. He has played for the senior team a few times and, with a solid campaign in Belgium last time out, is set for a big step forward in the next year or two. Fujita is captain of the team at the Games, even with some older players involved, and the signs are good, as he impressed in the 5-0 thrashing of Paraguay on his debut.
Ilaix Moriba, Guinea
Finally, we turn to Guinea and a player who made a big name for himself early on but has stuttered a bit since: Moriba, formerly of Barcelona, now at RB Leipzig but with some less than impressive loan spells in the last two years. of years. At his early best, he was a creative, long-stepping, ball-carrying center who could play in midfield and join the attack later. At just 21, Moriba has the combination of technical quality and athleticism that makes him hard to stop when he’s on form – finding his level in Paris would be a huge boost to getting a promising career back on track despite a defeat 2-1 opening to New Zealand leaves the National Elephants against it.
