The 36-year-old Inter Miami forward is currently gearing up for Argentina's Copa America title defence, scheduled from 20 June to 14 July in the United States. Back in February, under-23 manager Javier Mascherano mentioned that Messi, who secured gold with Argentina at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, received an invitation to join the squad for Paris.

"I talked to Mascherano and the truth is we both understood the situation," he 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," added Messi, who turns 37 on 24 June.

Messi clinched Olympic gold with Argentina alongside Mascherano in 2008 at Beijing. Since then, he has achieved a complete set of international titles with the Copa America in 2021 and the World Cup in 2022. There had been hope from his former Barcelona teammate that he would skipper the side.

"I spoke with Leo and we agreed to keep talking," Mascherano, a former teammate of Messi, told TyC Sports in an interview back in March. "He has just started the season with Inter Miami and we still have some time until the Olympic Games. And we have to consider he also has the Copa America ahead this summer. It is not an easy situation.

"We have to see if he really has the energy to be there (in Paris). It is not our intention to bother him or pressure him. We made him an invitation in advance and we gave him all the facts he needs to think about it and to talk with his club. It is not easy for him, either, to manage it with Inter Miami and the MLS and to be absent for a while. He will decide at the right time."

Despite opting against participating at the Paris Games, the Barcelona legend has not ruled out the possibility of participating in a record-breaking sixth World Cup, set to be held in 2026 across the US, Canada, and Mexico. "It's great to have records and continue to achieve things but I won't take part in a World Cup just to say I've done six," he said.

"If I feel good and everything is in place for me to be there, fine, but I won't go just to go. It's very difficult to imagine what can happen because it's still two years away. I don't need to commit right now to whether or not I'll be there."