Lionel Messi has an open invitation to play for Argentina's Olympic team this summer, according to Albiceleste Under-23 coach Javier Mascherano.
Argentina beat reigning gold medalist Brazil 1-0 to secure a place at the Paris Olympics.
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“Everyone already knows my relationship with Leo [Messi]the friendship that I have,” Mascherano said.
“A player like him has the doors open to join us [at the Olympics]”So obviously it will depend on him and his commitments.”
Messi, who captained 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 words: “!!! COME ON!!!”.
Argentine under-23 midfielder Thiago Almada said it would be a dream to have Messi, an eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, in the Olympic team.
“I hope he has the desire to be there,” Atlanta United's Almada said.
“We have to see how he is at that moment, it would be a dream if he could play.”
Messi won gold at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 and International Olympic Committee president Thomas Bach recently said it would be “fantastic for the Olympics to have him back in the Games.”
However, Messi has already expressed his desire to compete in the 2024 Copa América, which will be held 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 América takes place, Messi is expected to miss some games for Inter Miami.
