Argentina, who recently won the Qatar 2022 World Cup, the Copa America 2021 and the Finalissima (which pitted the European and South American champions against each other), will have a strong backbone for the Paris Olympic Games with some of these players.

In the absence of Messi, who has been self-excluded for physical reasons, and the refusal of English clubs to release under-23s Emiliano Martínez and Enzo Fernández, as well as other players who could have been key to Javier Mascherano's quest for a fifth Olympic medal (2 gold and 2 silver) and a record-equalling haul in Olympic football, the Santa Fe-born coach has managed to put together a very competitive squad.

Double Olympic gold medallist (Athens 2004 and Beijing 2008) Javier Mascherano has put together a formidable squad that includes four Qatar 2022 World Cup winners. They are creative midfielder Tiago Almada (under 23), goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli (32), defender Nicolás Otamendi (36) and striker Julián Álvarez (24).

The Argentinians will make their debut against Morocco on Wednesday 24 July, before taking on Iraq and Ukraine in a group in which they will be heavily favoured to win their place in the final on 9 August.

Rulli (Ajax) has Olympic experience, having played at Rio 2016 and was Emiliano Martínez's deputy at Qatar 2022. Otamendi (Benfica) was a starter at the last World Cup and will be the commanding voice in the Argentine defence. Tiago Almada played in Qatar and will be one of Argentina's creative tools, while Julian Alvarez (Manchester City) is a starter in the senior side currently playing in the Copa America in the United States (ahead of Serie A's top scorer Lautaro Martínez), having earned his place at the last World Cup with goals and outstanding collective performances.

In addition to the World Cup winners, Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina) and Giuliano Simeone (son of the Atletico de Madrid coach and a member of the Spanish club) have also been mentioned, as have two young stars from Boca Juniors, midfielders Ezequiel Fernández and Kevin Zenón, and River Plate striker Claudio "Diablito" Echeverri, who is only 18.

They will make their Olympic debut against Morocco at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard in Saint-Étienne on Wednesday 24 July at 15:00 (French time). They will then take on Iraq at the same time on Saturday 27 July at the Stade de Lyon. The third match of the group stage will be against Ukraine in Lyon on Tuesday 30 July at 17:00.

The top two teams in each group will progress to the quarter-finals. If Argentina finish first, they will play the second-placed team from Group A (which includes France, the United States, Guinea and New Zealand) at the Parc des Princes on 2 August at 15:00.

If they finish second, they will play the top team in Group A on the same day, but at 21:00 at the Stade de Bordeaux. The semi-finals will be played on 5 August and the medal matches on 8 August (third place) and 9 August (final at the Parc des Princes).

Full Squad:

Goalkeepers:

Leandro Brey (Boca Juniors)  

Gerónimo Rulli (Ajax, Netherlands)  

Defenders:

Marco Di Césare (Racing Club)  

Julio Soler (Lanús)  

Joaquín García (Vélez Sarsfield)  

Gonzalo Luján (San Lorenzo)  

Nicolás Otamendi (Benfica, Portugal)  

Bruno Amione (Santos Laguna, Mexico)  

Midfielders:

Ezequiel Fernández (Boca Juniors)  

Santiago Hezze (Olympiacos, Greece)  

Cristian Medina (Boca Juniors)  

Kevin Zenón (Boca Juniors)  

Forwards:

Giuliano Simeone (Atlético de Madrid, Spain)  

Luciano Gondoy (Argentinos Juniors)  

Thiago Almada (Botafogo, Brazil)  

Claudio Echeverri (River Plate)  

Julián Álvarez (Manchester City, England)  

Lucas Beltrán (Fiorentina, Italy)  

Reserves:

Aaron Quiros (Banfield)  

Federico Redondo (Inter Miami, United States)  

Fabricio Iacovich (Estudiantes de La Plata)  

Juan Nardoni (Racing Club)