The 2024 Olympic Games start this week with the men’s and women’s soccer tournament kicking off. In men’s soccer, the Olympics occupy an awkward space due to it being a U23 tournament (with three overage stars per team), but there will nonetheless be standout performers in France this summer.
The Olympics, however, is one of the biggest stages in women’s soccer with many of the best players in the world in France. Here are five players who could define the men’s and women’s soccer tournaments at the Paris Olympics.
Julian Alvarez (Argentina)
Julian Alvarez has made winning a habit over the last few years. The 24-year-old has won back-to-back Premier League titles as a Manchester City player and was a key part of the Argentina team that won the 2022 World Cup and this summer’s Copa America. He will also be a member of Argentina’s Olympics team.
Nicolas Otamendi and Geronimo Rulli are Argentina’s other two overage players, but neither have the game-winning quality of Alvarez who is expected to lead the line for Javier Mascherano’s side at the Olympics. The City striker could return to his club with yet another winner’s medal to show for his international exerts with Argentina one of the favourites to win the men’s title.
Barbra Banda (Zambia)
Barbra Banda become the second-most expensive player in women’s soccer history when she joined Orlando Pride earlier this year and the attacker has justified that hefty price tag by flourishing in the NWSL this season. Indeed, the 24-year-old is the top scorer in the division and became the first player in NWSL history to score 11 goals in her first 11 games.
This summer will be Banda’s second Olympics after scoring back-to-back hat tricks in two matches at the Tokyo Olympics. Zambia might not be among the strongest teams in France this summer, but in Banda they boast a player who has the ability to decide a game with her brilliance in front of goal.
Aitana Bonmati (Spain)
Spain lifted the 2023 Women’s World Cup and are one of the favourites to go all the way at this summer’s Olympics. If Spain are to win another title, Aitana Bonmati will surely be a star performer with the 26-year-old currently the best player in the world for club and country. Bonmati, after all, has a reputation for producing in the biggest matches.
Since beating England in the 2023 Women’s World Cup final, Spain have lost two of the 14 matches they have played with Bonmati a key figure in that run. The Barcelona attacker is a creative force in and around the opposition penalty box and carries a goal threat, as demonstrated by her contribution in last season’s Women’s Champions League final.
Michael Olise (France)
This summer has already seen Michael Olise make a €60m transfer to Bayern Munich from Crystal Palace and now the French winger could make an impact at the Olympic Games on home soil. While Olise was born in England, he has pledged his international allegiance to Les Bleus who could use the wide attacker at senior level in the future.
Sevilla’s Loic Bade, Lyon’s Alexandre Lacazette and Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta have all been taken to the Games as overage players by head coach Thierry Henry, but Olise could be France’s primary difference-maker on the right side. The 22-year-old could use the Olympics as a platform to show just how good he is.
Sophia Smith (USA)
The US women’s national team is entering a new era under Emma Hayes and Sophia Smith has nailed down her place as the country’s first-choice centre forward. Of course, Smith has been an important figure for the USWNT for some time, but there are signs that the 23-year-old has reached another level.
Smith has forged a strong understanding with Mallory Swanson with the Portland Thorns attacker improving her all-round game. The USWNT boast top quality players in all areas of the pitch, but Smith could provide the cutting edge that evaded the national team during a disappointing 2023 Women’s World Cup campaign.
