For Messi's Sake Of Playing At The 2024 Paris Olympics, Thiago Almada Willing To Give A Number 10

Thiago Almada wants Lionel Messi to play at the 2024 Paris Olympics (Instagram/@aphaseleccion).

JAKARTA - An offer was expressed by the Argentine national team striker, Thiago Almada, in order to persuade Lionel Messi to appear at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He was even willing to give his back number for La Pulga.

The 2024 Paris Olympics will take place from July 24 to August 10, 2024. Seeing that this event is a classy agenda, Thiago also wants Messi to join Albiceleste. He was even willing to give his 10 jersey number.

"I hope (Lionel) Messi will like him (wearing the number 10) that he can do that if he is there (the Argentine National Team). However, we have to wait for his decision," said Thiago Almada quoted from TyC Sports on Monday, February 12, 2024.

Almada is a player with the number 10 jersey in Argentina U-23. While in the senior Argentina national team, Almada uses number 16.

However, his intention to give Messi the jersey number was not without reason. Almada dreamed of the moment so much that she wanted to be in the same field as the star.

"My dream is to play with Messi in a big tournament," said the Atlanta United winger.

Previously, Messi's discourse of playing for Argentina at the 2024 Paris Olympics came after Tengo U-23 Team coach Javier Mascherano admitted that he would try to convince Messi and Angel Di Maria to play in Paris.

However, this effort was not promised by the coach. The reason is, the schedule for the 2024 Paris Olympics football clashes with Lionel Messi's agenda with Inter Miami in the United States League (MLS).

Apart from that effort, Argentina will certainly qualify for the final round of the 2024 Paris Olympics after defeating Brazil. In the Conmebol zone qualifying round at the Brigido Iriarte Stadium, Venezuela, Sunday, February 11, 2024, evening local time, Albiceleste won 1-0.

Argentina has succeeded in accompanying Paraguay to become two South American teams that will play in the 2024 Paris Olympics. Each team may use a maximum of three senior players when appearing in Paris 2024 Olympic football. The relaxation gave Messi the opportunity to strengthen the team.