The world’s top football talents are preparing to take the stage at the Paris 2024 Olympics this July! While the official rosters for each qualified nation have not yet been finalised, some of the expected football legends are confirmed to be sitting out. On the other hand, emerging players are expected to shake up the football competition at the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Here are some top talents expected to deliver superb gameplay in the Paris 2024 football tournament, as well as popular players that will be missing this season’s action—all of which can help with your Olympics betting decisions.
Expected players to deliver superb Paris 2024 performances
The Paris 2024 football tournament will be played with under-23 squads, making the Olympic world stage the perfect outlet to showcase emerging talents and skills that could surprise everyone. As of writing, team rosters are subject to change, with the possibility of players being dropped. Take a look at the expected rising players expected to take the Paris 2024 stage:
Pedri (Spain)
Pedri is a 21-year-old central midfielder for Barcelona in La Liga and the Spanish national team. He is one of the youngest football players to have become an integral part of the success of their respective teams. Pedri is no stranger to the Olympic stage, having already been called up to the Spanish squad for the 2020 Summer Olympics, which gave him invaluable experience.
Since then, Pedri has continued to showcase his prowess on the world’s biggest stages, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the UEFA Euro 2024. With the right form, Pedri could be a driving force to lead Spain to the gold medal in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Thiago Almada (Argentina)
Thiago Almada is a 23-year-old Argentine who now plays for Atlanta United in the Major League Soccer and Argentina national team as attacking midfielder and winger. In 2023, he was honoured as the MLS Young Player of the Year after scoring 11 goals and 19 assists throughout the campaign.
Moreover, Almada is known as the first active MLS player to win the 2022 FIFA World Cup after making a huge contribution to the team’s success. As of the moment, major clubs are eyeing for Almada, making him one of the hottest figures on the transfer market. Almada has been officially added to the Argentina U-23 roster in the Olympics and is expected to be one of the key players leading the way to the team’s path to glory.
Rayan Cherki (France)
Rayan Cherki is France’s fast-rising 20-year-old talent who plays for Lyon in Ligue 1 as an attacking midfielder or left winger. As a product of Lyon’s youth academy, Cherki is known as one of their best prospects.
He has already proven his ability to produce high-scoring games, evidenced by his 4 goals in the 2019-20 UEFA Youth League which paved the way for his senior European debut. Cherki’s impressive performances have already sparked transfer talks, with Chelsea reportedly interested in bringing him to the Premier League this summer.
The Paris 2024 football tournament provides the perfect stage for Cherki to showcase his full potential. With reports that Kylian Mbappe who plays in the same position as Cherki, will not be playing for France in the Olympics, Cherki has a prime opportunity to captivate audiences with his superb skills. Catch his name on Olympics betting sites as he could yield favourable results.
Football legends sitting out Paris 2024
While the emerging talents are making it more exciting to look forward to the Paris 2024 football tournament, many football fans are saddened as some of their favourite players have been confirmed to not be playing for their country this season. Some of the popular names include:
- Mohamed Salah (Egypt): When talking about football in Egypt, there’s no doubt that Mo Salah is one of the most prominent names ever to grace the sport. The 32-year-old talent plays for Liverpool in the Premier League as a right winger and forward.
Salah is considered one of the best players of his generation and is among the most iconic and greatest African players in history, requiring no further intro. However, despite expressing his desire to play at the Olympics, Liverpool rejected the request.
- Enzo Fernandez (Argentina): Enzo Fernandez now plays as a central midfielder for Chelsea in the Premier League, joining the club in a £107 million transfer. At 23 years old, Enzo has already enjoyed a flourishing career as he became an integral player for River Plate in the Defensa y Justicia where he began his career in 2019.
Enzo could be an exciting addition to the Argentina roster due to his performance at the 2022 World Cup, where he played an important role in helping Lionel Messi capture the championship.
- Christian Pulisic (United States): Christian Pulisic is a winger or attacking midfielder for Serie A club AC Milan. He is also the current captain of the United States national team, with skills and leadership that have earned him the moniker ‘Captain America’. Throughout his rapid rise, Pulisic has been hailed as the ‘face’ of American soccer..
- Mykhailo Mudryk (Ukraine): Mykhailo Mudryk is a 23-year-old winger who now plays for Chelsea in the Premier League and the Ukraine national team. He is currently the most expensive Ukrainian football name, after Chelsea acquired his transfer for €100 million in 2023.
With his rapid growth as a player who started at such a young age, as well as his innate talent on the field, it would be a great decision if Mudryk play for Ukraine at the 2024 Olympics.
Betting on the 2024 Paris Olympics football events
The 2024 Paris Olympics are set to have a football tournament filled with immense talent and close competitions between nations vying for the gold medal. This could be the perfect time to make predictions and place real money bets for an enhanced spectating experience. Can you bet on the Olympics? Absolutely! Head over to the best sportsbook now and start placing your bets on the Olympic football competition.
