BREAKING NEWS: Why Lionel Messi isn’t playing at Paris Olympics despite invite from former team-mate

Lionel Messi turned down an invite from former team-mate Javier Mascherano to compete at one last Olympic Games.

The football icon has done it all in his decorated career, including winning the gold medal with Argentina back in 2008. Then just 21, he qualified for their under-23 squad in Beijing, while Mascherano was one of their three overaged players.

Fast forward 16 years, Paris would most likely be Messi’s final chance at another shot at Games glory, now aged 37. Argentina youth team coach Mascherano offered him that opportunity.

But he ultimately decided it would be adding too much to his schedule, confirming his disappointing decision in June. “I talked to Mascherano and the truth is we both understood the situation,” Messi said.

“It’s hard [to think about the Olympics right now] because we’re in Copa America. It would be two, three straight months of not being with the club, and more than anything I’m not at an age to be in everything.

“I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments. I’ve been very lucky to play in the Olympics, of winning it together with Masche. It was a wonderful experience on a football level. Olympics, U20, memories I’ll never forget.

“It’s spectacular to be fortunate enough to go through all that. I hope that the guys who get to go enjoy it in the same way that I did because it’s special. The Olympics are special, different from anything else.”