Martinez wants to attend the 2024 Olympics with Messi

World Cup 2022 best goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez hinted that he wants to join Lionel Messi and Angel Di Maria at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

"If there is something I have not achieved with the national team, it is winning the Olympics," the Aston Villa goalkeeper told DirecTV Sports .

At the Olympics, each team is allowed to register three players over the age of 23. Last year, Argentina U23 coach Javier Mascherano said he had invited Messi and Di Maria to coach the young players in Paris.

Martinez and Messi in Argentina's win over the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals on December 10, 2022. Photo: Reuters — Martinez and Messi in Argentina's win over the Netherlands in the 2022 World Cup quarter-finals on December 10, 2022. Photo: *Reuters*

According to Argentine media, Martinez really wants to join his two teammates on the national team to participate in the 2024 Paris Olympics, because the Olympic gold medal is the only major title that the 31-year-old goalkeeper still lacks at the national team level. Previously, Martinez won the 2022 World Cup and the 2021 Copa America.

Messi has not yet announced whether he wants to play in the Olympics. Meanwhile, Di Maria has said he wants to leave the national team after the 2024 Copa America, which will take place from June 20 to July 14, while the Olympics take place from late July to early August.

Martinez is also willing to give opportunities to young goalkeepers in the national team if Argentina successfully defends the Copa America 2024 championship. He said: "Young players always need the opportunity to play. If the team achieves good results in the upcoming Copa America, we should give opportunities to younger players to join the team."

Players like Messi or Martinez will likely have to choose between the Copa America and the Olympics. There have been players before who participated in two major tournaments in a row, such as Pedri, the Spanish midfielder who played in both the Euros and the Olympics in the same summer of 2021 at the age of 19. However, that would be a much greater challenge for players over 30.

Messi recently played for Inter Miami in a friendly match, drawing 1-1 with Newell's Old Boys – the club he played for as a child. Meanwhile, Martinez will be with Aston Villa as they visit Fulham in the 25th round of the Premier League tomorrow, February 17th.

Duy Doan (according to Goal )

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