Men’s football at the Olympics is not an ordinary tournament. Although the action is always competitive and compelling, the men’s football at the Olympics is an under-23 tournament. However, each team is allowed to bring up to three overage players to complement the under-23 squad. Those overage players often play a significant role in their team’s success. Therefore, before the Olympics begin, it’s important to know the best overage players competing in men’s soccer. Here are the best overage players to keep your eye on at the Olympics.
Miles Robinson, United States
With concerns about their defense, the U.S. decided to bring both Robinson and Walker Zimmerman to the Olympics as overage players. They figure to be the center-back duo during the Olympics, giving the Americans two proven international players and two of the best defensive players in MLS anchoring their backline. If Robinson and Zimmerman can ensure a reliable defense, the U.S. could become a threat to win a medal.
Mohamed Elneny, Egypt
Since he’s currently without a club after his Arsenal contract expired, the Olympics is a showcase for Elneny. The 32-year-old midfielder has represented Egypt over 100 times, so his experience and leadership will be invaluable for the Egyptians. He may not be the biggest difference-maker among overage players, but Elneny’s presence will be huge for Egypt.
Nicolas Otamendi, Argentina
During Copa America, Otamendi was mostly relegated to coming off the bench late in games for Argentina. But the 36-year-old center-back figures to take a more prominent role for his country during the Olympics. Otamendi has won countless trophies for both club and country, so he will have the respect of the young Argentina squad. The veteran will also help to keep the South American side organized defensively, which could end up being the difference between winning gold and not winning gold.
Naby Keita, Guinea
Most are overlooking Guinea ahead of the Olympics, although Keita is a reason why that could be a mistake.
While he didn’t make a strong first impression at Werder Bremen last season after injuries plagued his time at Liverpool, Keita still projects as one of the best box-to-box midfielders at the Olympics. If he can bring his best effort, he could elevate the performance of the entire Guinea team.
Amadou Diawara, Guinea
In addition to Keita, Guinea has another potential ace up its sleeve with Diawara. He’s not going to be a goal-scorer, but the Anderlecht player has a chance to control the midfield and protect Guinea’s inexperienced backline. He should also give Keita the freedom to get forward and ignite the attack, which is another reason why the African side is a potential sleeper at the Olympics.
Achraf Hakimi, Morocco
Morocco appears to be an intriguing dark horse heading into the Olympics. Part of the reason is the nation’s semifinal appearance in the World Cup two years ago. But the presence of Hakimi is also a reason to pay close attention to the Atlas Lions. The PSG player will undoubtedly be the best right-back at the Olympics and an important leader for Morocco. At age 25, he already has 77 senior international appearances. He brings experience and a bonafide difference-maker to the Moroccan team.
Alexandre Lacazette, France
Many view the host nation as the favorite in men’s football. But if there’s one thing the French side needs from its overage players, it’s goals. That’s where Lacazette factors into the equation. At the full international level, he failed to make a consistent impact. But since joining Lyon in 2022, Lacazette has scored 46 goals in 64 appearances in Ligue 1.
That type of production suggests that Lacazette is poised to dominate in a tournament of mostly under-23 players, making a key part of France’s gold medal hopes.
Julian Alvarez, Argentina
Exactly how many trophies does Alvarez want to win this year? He just won his second straight Premier League title with Manchester City and spent his summer helping Argentina win the Copa America title, contributing two goals in the process. Keep in mind he also scored four goals when Argentina won the 2022 World Cup. Alvarez will now hope to win a medal as part of Argentina’s Olympic team. At age 24, Alvarez is barely an underage player and has played on Argentina youth teams with several of his Olympic teammates. More importantly, Alvarez is one of the top attacking players in the world and a big reason why Argentina is among the leading favorites to win a gold medal.
Football figures to be one of the more popular Olympic sports for bettors, especially after the excitement of Copa America and the Euros earlier this summer. At any point in the tournament, fans should feel free to explore the many online sports betting sites to find bets on football, mainstream sports, and the Olympics.