Football ignited the flame of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games on Tuesday, with Spain and Argentina, the reigning FIFA World Cup and Copa America champions, respectively, taking center stage in Paris and Saint-Etienne.
At Parc des Princes in western Paris, Spain faced Uzbekistan, while Argentina, without Lionel Messi, encountered Morocco at Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Étienne. Spain’s Marc Pubill etched his name in history by scoring the first goal of the Summer Games in the 29th minute.
FIFA president Gianni Infantino graced the occasion, meeting players before the Uzbekistan-Spain match at Parc des Princes, the former home of Real Madrid superstar Kylian Mbappe.
As the beautiful game kickstarted the action-packed Summer Olympics in Paris, let’s delve into the world of football and highlight some of the biggest names vying for Olympic gold:
Marta (Brazil)
Brazil’s all-time leading goalscorer, Marta, is set to retire from international football after the Paris Games. The 38-year-old legend captains the Selecao and holds the distinction of being the first footballer to score in five consecutive Olympic Games.
Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
Spain, the reigning world champions, boast Aitana Bonmati, the 2023 Ballon d’Or winner, as their star player. The European giants are making their debut in women’s football at the Summer Games in Paris, having lost only twice in 14 matches since their historic FIFA World Cup triumph over England.
Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
Paris Saint-Germain defender Achraf Hakimi is a prominent figure at the Summer Olympics. The 25-year-old led Morocco to the semi-finals of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and has opted to miss PSG’s pre-season preparations to compete in the Games.
Alexandre Lacazette (France)
Thierry Henry’s choice to lead France in the Summer Games is Alexandre Lacazette. The former Arsenal forward has not played for France since 2017 but has been an impressive force for Lyon, scoring 22 goals in 35 games last season.
Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez arrives in Paris after a stellar season with Pep Guardiola’s side. The 22-year-old was instrumental in Manchester City’s Premier League triumph and also lifted the Copa America with Argentina.
