According to D Sports, the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner is excited to represent the Albiceleste at the next Summer Games in Paris, following his Copa America title defence in the United States. Messi is preparing to complete a historic double with the national team after winning Argentina’s third global title in Qatar in December 2022. However, it all rests on Argentina’s ability to qualify for the event after successfully negotiating the qualifiers, which start on Saturday.

Argentina will travel to China during the March international break, and the team’s management has opted to add a few U-23 and U-20 players to the group so that the kids may rub shoulders with Messi and Di Maria and develop chemistry before the Olympics. Furthermore, the U-23 team will play two friendlies to prepare for the Olympic Games, in which both veterans are scheduled to compete.

MLS will be in full flow throughout the Olympics. Messi will, however, miss only one match with Inter Miami, against the Chicago Fire on July 20. Di Maria, on the other hand, is anticipated to return to Argentina to play for his hometown club, Rosario Central, after his current deal with Benfica expires after the season.