New Delhi: Football has been included in every summer Olympic game since 1900 with the only exception coming at the inaugural games in 1896 and 1932 in an attempt to promote the new FIFA World Cup tournament. In this edition again 16 men’s teams grace the fields in Paris as they lock horns with each other in the matches.
Over time, many of football’s biggest stars have graced the football pitches and won Olympic medals. To avoid competition with the World Cup, FIFA has restricted the participation of elite players in the tournament. In 1996, the rules were tweaked slightly to allow only three players over the age of 23 in each squad, giving countries a chance to put forward their best talent.
As a result, fans worldwide frequently witness rising stars or experienced players in the later stages of their careers. Here is the list of the finest football players who have accomplished the dream of achieving an Olympic gold with their country.
Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi of Argentina celebrates the first goal during the Men’s Quarter Final match between Argentina and Netherlands at Shanghai Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Photogamma/Getty Images)
Barcelona did not want Lionel Messi to play in the Olympic games back in 2008. Still, the Argentine striker made no secret of his desire to be involved and was eventually given permission by the coach, Pep Guardiola, to travel.
On his way to winning the gold medal in Beijing, Lionel Messi scored twice for Argentina, including the first goal in a 2-1 triumph over the Netherlands in the round of eight. With six victories out of six, the South Americans won the tournament after defeating Nigeria 1-0 in the championship match.
Messi, however, had to wait until 2021 to win a significant trophy with the senior team following a string of close calls. Following that Copa America victory, he and Di Maria guided the Albiceleste to a World Cup victory in Qatar the following year, making Argentina the first non-European team to win the competition since 2002.
Lionel Messi’s Olympic Stats
Position
Winger
Appearances
5
Goals
2
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (2008)
Javier Mascherano
Argentina’s Javier Mascherano (right) kisses his Gold Medal for winning the Men’s Football competition at the National Stadium during the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, China. (Photo by PA Images via Getty Images)
Javier Mascherano has won 147 caps for Argentina and was part of the Olympic squad, winning gold in 2004 and 2008. However, the former River Plate, Liverpool, and Barcelona favourite made his senior international debut in July 2003 before playing a single minute for River Plate’s first team.
A promising 20-year-old only completed one season with River Plate when he helped Argentina clinch the title in Athens. Four years later, in 2008, he returned as an overage player in Beijing and became the first Argentine in any sport to win two Olympic gold medals. He even won 19 major titles with Barcelona, including two Champions League titles. He is the manager of the Argentina squad for the Paris Olympics 2024.
Javier Mascherano’s Olympic Stats
Position
Central Midfielder
Appearances
12
Goals
0
Honours
2 Olympic Gold Medal (2004 and 2008)
Neymar Jr
Neymar of Brazil celebrates with his gold medal following the Men’s Football Final between Brazil and Germany at the Maracana Stadium on Day 15 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 20, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Two years after Brazil’s devastating 7-1 home World Cup loss to Germany, Neymar Jr led his country to triumph at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Neymar who played with PSG defender Marquinhos and a teenage Gabriel Jesus scored four goals.
Neymar Jr scored against Colombia in the quarterfinals before adding two more in the semifinal against Honduras and one in the final, opening the scoring before Maximilian Meyer responded with an equaliser. However, the former Barcelona forward hit the decisive penalty to help Brazil win their first football gold.
The ex-PSG star, who was 24 years old then, had just won his second straight La Liga championship with Barcelona after helping the team complete an incredible treble with Messi and Luis Suarez the year before.
Neymar Jr’s Olympic Stats
Position
Central Midfielder
Appearances
14
Goals
7
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (2016)
Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria of Argentina celebrates scoring the second goal during the Men’s Quarter Final match between Argentina and Netherlands at Shanghai Stadium on Day 8 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 16, 2008 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Photogamma/Getty Images)
The Argentina striker tasted his triumph of winning Olympic gold alongside his teammate Lionel Messi at the 2008 Games. Angel Di Maria scored the only goal.
The Albiceleste beat a Mikel Jogn Obi-powered Nigeria in the final of the 2008 Beijing Olympics men’s football tournament.
The former Real Madrid and Paris Saint-German attacker didn’t score many goals for his country, yet many have been incredibly important. He hit the game-winning shot as Argentina won the Copa America, more than ten years after the Olympic triumph. In the 2022 World Cup final, he also scored the first goal as Argentina won their third and first World Cup since 1986.
Angel Di Maria’s Olympic Stats
Position
Winger
Appearances
6
Goals
2
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (2008)
Sergio Aguero
Sergio Aguero of Argentina celebrates scoring during the men’s football semifinal match between Argentina and Brazil at Workers’ Stadium on Day 11 of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games on August 19, 2008 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Sergio Aguero won the gold in the 2008 Summer Olympics. He is one the most talented attackers in the Olympic men’s football tournament. Aguero made it on the scoresheet in the semi-final stage and his two goals in six second-half minutes put Argentina in a comfortable lead against rivals Brazil.
The Manchester City star was playing for Atletico Madrid at that time with whom he won the European League and the UEFA Super Cup. In 2011 he joined Manchester City and won 15 trophies in his 10-year spell. His standout moment was his iconic goal against QPR on the final day of the Premier League season. Sergio Aguero was even part of Argentina’s Copa America 2021 just before retiring as he got diagnosed with a cardiac arrhythmia.
Sergio Aguero’s Olympic Stats
Position
Centre-Forward
Appearances
5
Goals
2
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (2008)
Carlos Tevez
Olympische Spiele Athen 2004, Athen; Gruppe C / Argentinien – Serbien und Montonegro ( ARG – SCG ); Carlos TEVEZ / ARG jubelt nach seinem Treffer 11.08.04. (Photo by Andreas Rentz/Bongarts/Getty Images)
In the men’s football competition at the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Carlos Tevez scored eight of Argentina’s 17 goals, including the game-winning goal that saw the Albiceleste defeat Paraguay 1-0 in the championship match.
Three goals ahead of Jose Cardozo of Paraguay in second place, Tevez emerged victorious from the tournament as its top scorer. The youthful striker, who was at Boca Juniors at the time, went on to win numerous awards during his prosperous club career, playing for Juventus, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Corinthians. The 5’7″ striker scored 291 goals in 721 competitive games during his senior year.
Despite a scoring record of 13 goals in 76 games, Tevez finished as runner-up in three Copa America finals and the 2005 Confederations Cup final.
Carlos Tevez’s Olympic Stats
Position
Striker
Appearances
6
Goals
8
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (2004)
Pep Guardiola
Pep Guardiola celebrating with his team. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird – PA Images via Getty Images)
Pep Guardiola is one of the most recognisable managers who won gold at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona. He scored the first goal in Spain’s tournament-opening win over Colombia. He played 90 minutes as Spain beat Poland 3-2 in the finals, sharing the midfield duties with another great coach, Luis Enrique.
Pep lifted 15 trophies in Barcelona’s colours, but the Olympic gold was the only honour he won with his country. The Manchester City boss has since gone on to become one of the most celebrated managers of all time, winning 38 titles across his spells with Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and Man City.
Pep Guardiola’s Olympic Stats
Position
Central Midfielder
Appearances
6
Goals
1
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (1992)
Luis Enrique
Head coach Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain celebrates after the UEFA Champions League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between Real Sociedad and Paris Saint-Germain at Reale Arena on March 05, 2024 in San Sebastian, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Luis Enrique is one of the best midfielders of his generation. He picked his first international cap in 1991 and was part of his nation’s gold medal-winning team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.
Enrique was playing for Real Madrid at the time, with whom he had won three major trophies, before making a move to Barca in 1996. He spent eight years in Barcelona and later returned to the Catalan club as a coach. Today, Luis Enrique is the manager of Paris Saint-German.
Luis Enrique’s Olympic Stats
Position
Central Midfielder
Appearances
6
Goals
1
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (1992)
Nwankwo Kanu
Nwankwo Kanu of Nigeria runs with the ball during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group B match between Nigeria and South Korea at Durban Stadium on June 22, 2010 in Durban, South Africa. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Nwankwo Kanu, one of the greatest African players, captained the Nigerian team that won the gold in men’s football at the 1996 Olympic Games in Athens. Kanu netted the winner in a 1-0 victory over Hungary in the group stages. He scored twice in the semi-final match against Brazil when Nigeria was on the brink of elimination at 3-2 down, sealing the win by 4-3.
The striker also played in the finals as Nigeria defeated Argentina 3-2. This win was Nigeria’s second Olympic gold medal ever. It even helped Nwankwo Kanu’s career as he moved to Inter Milan and then Arsenal, where he won the Premier League title.
Nwankwo Kanu’s Olympic Stats
Position
Striker
Appearances
6
Goals
3
Honours
1 Olympic Gold Medal (1996)
Jose Andrade
Football team of Uruguay, in the back row on the right is Jose Leandro Andrade (Photo by ullstein bild/ullstein bild via Getty Images)
Jose Andrade played defensive midfield for Uruguay in the 1924 and 1928 Olympics and won gold medals. He even won the inaugural World Cup. At that time, he was regarded as one of the greatest footballers in the world.
Nicknamed The Black Marvel or The Black Pearl, Andrade played 284 games and scored 39 goals in his career. He has earned 34 caps for Uruguay and helped the country win three Copa America titles (earlier South American Championships) in a glorious era.
Jose Andrade’s Olympic Stats
Position
Defensive Midfielder
Appearances
10
Goals
0
Honours
2 Olympic Gold Medals (1924 and 1928)
Take a look at the greatest footballers from the men’s game who have won Olympic gold medals in the football tournament. Football Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
