10 players to define Olympic football at Paris 2024
Get The Latest Sports News With Our Free Newsletter
Subscribe To Our Free Sports Newsletter For The Latest Updates
In the days before the Paris Olympics' official opening ceremony on Friday, some of the events that last longer have already started, such as football matches for both men and women.
Even though the women's teams have complete international squads participating in the Olympics, the men's teams are mainly made up of U23 players, with a few older players allowed on each squad. This creates a mix of experienced and talented young players from around the world competing in the Olympic football tournament this summer.
Today we have chosen ten players whose plays and choices could shape the football moments and achievements at Paris 2024.
Even though the women's event in France is for older competitors, there are some exceptional young players taking part this month. Linda Caicedo, just 19 years old, is one of the standout stars. The Colombian forward impressed at the World Cup last year, scoring the best goal of the tournament. She then moved to Real Madrid and has already won awards recognizing her as the top player under 21. What makes her even more remarkable is that she battled and overcame ovarian cancer when she was just a teenager. Caicedo is truly exceptional in many ways.
Kadeisha Buchanan, a talented Chelsea defender in the WSL and a star centre-back for Canada, is gearing up to earn her 150th senior cap for the national team at the upcoming Games. Despite being only 28 years old, she is a key player for her team and will play a crucial role in their quest to advance from a tough group that includes the hosts as well as Colombia. Buchanan faced a setback in the Women's Champions League semi-final when she received a controversial red card that ultimately favored Barcelona. The Olympics will provide her with a great opportunity to move past that incident and showcase her skills on a global stage.
Emma Hayes has made a big decision by choosing to leave out Alex Morgan from the USWNT, which means all eyes will be on the players who have been selected instead. One player to keep an eye on is teenage sensation Jaedyn Shaw, who not only plays for the national team but is also teammates with Morgan at San Diego Wave. Shaw, who is 19 years old, has already scored seven goals for the senior national team and last year set a new record in the NWSL for most goals scored by a teenager. With her versatility, skill with both feet, and technical ability, Shaw could be a surprise performer for Hayes and the team as they aim for a medal.
Throughout her entire career, Marta, a legendary Brazilian player, has become one of the most well-known figures in the sport. At 38 years old, she has been named World Player of the Year six times and will be participating in her sixth Olympic Games. If she scores at the upcoming games, she will set a new record as the first footballer to score at six different Olympics. Marta has already declared that she will retire from international football after the Paris 2024 games, making her upcoming matches even more emotional. With nearly 200 caps and 119 goals so far, Marta's departure is sure to be a significant moment in her career.
After talking about the best player of all time, we must also recognize the best player of the current time at the Summer Games. Aitana Bonmati from Spain holds the Ballon d'Or Feminin, the Fifa Best Women's Player, the World Cup Golden Ball, and the Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year awards. The Barcelona superstar has had an amazing year, and winning Olympic gold would be a perfect ending. If Spain wants to win the gold medal again this year, Bonmati's performances in midfield will be crucial.
Now it's time to focus on the men, particularly the U23 players. Michael Olise, who has represented England at youth levels, has now made a big move to Bayern Munich this summer. He will now be playing for France on the international stage and is expected to be a key player for them at the Olympics. This will be a great opportunity to see him play among the best players, especially after his time at Crystal Palace. There is no doubt about his talent and his ability to make an impact on games. All eyes will be on him now as he represents Les Bleus and as a player worth £50 million. He has already had a good start, scoring a goal in the opening match against USA.
We have chosen just one player over the age limit, who is still only 24 years old: Julian Alvarez from Man City. He asked to participate in this tournament after playing in the Copa America earlier this month. After a rough start for Argentina with a loss to Morocco, Alvarez will need to demonstrate both his leadership skills and goal-scoring abilities to help his team advance to the later rounds of the competition.
Additionally, during Euro 2024, Fermin Lopez, an attacking midfielder from Barcelona, only saw action as a substitute once. However, he is likely to have a more significant role at the Olympics while representing Spain. Known for his exceptional agility and skill in creating scoring opportunities in tight spaces, Lopez has been a key player in breaking down strong defenses at the club level. If he can replicate this success on the international stage, he will be a valuable asset for Spain against the deep defenses they often encounter.
Joel Chima Fujita is from Japan and writes in his blog section.
The two Japanese midfielders who are starting the game are actually teammates in Belgium for Sint-Truiden. Fujita, who was born in Tokyo to a Nigerian father and Japanese mother, is the one to watch. He has already played for the senior team a couple of times and had a strong season in Belgium last year. He is set to make big progress in the next year or two. Despite having older players on the team, Fujita is leading the team at the Games and he showed great skill in their 5-0 win against Paraguay in the first game.
Moving on to Guinea, we have a player who made a big impact early in his career but has faced challenges recently: Ilaix Moriba. He started out in Barcelona before moving to RB Leipzig, but his loan spells in the past few years have been underwhelming. In his prime, Moriba was a dynamic midfielder who could carry the ball forward and create opportunities for his team. Now 21, he still possesses the technical skill and athleticism that make him a threat on the field. Finding success in Paris could be the key to revitalizing his promising career.
