France captain Kylian Mbappe announced on Sunday that he will not be representing his country at the upcoming Paris Olympics.
Speaking ahead of France’s Euro 2024 opener against Austria, Mbappe stated,
“For the Olympics, my club has a very clear position, so I think I will not participate. That is how it is.”
The 25-year-old forward recently signed with Real Madrid, leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent. He emphasized that joining a new team in September wouldn’t be the ideal start to his journey with Real Madrid. The men’s Olympic football tournament kicks off on July 24 and concludes on August 9. Meanwhile, the Spanish season starts a week later, with Real Madrid set to face Atalanta in the UEFA Super Cup on August 14 in Warsaw.
“I wish the best to the France team. I will, of course, watch all their games as a spectator rather than a participant, and I hope they bring back the gold medal,” Mbappe added. He had previously expressed a desire to play for France’s Olympic team, led by Thierry Henry.
Similarly, Lionel Messi also confirmed this week that he would not be participating in the Olympics, foregoing the chance to win another gold medal with Argentina.
