The Players to Watch During the 2024 Olympics
These eleven promising footballers will be competing for gold — and maybe even an added career boost — during the men’s soccer tournament.
There will be no Lamine Yamal, Bradley Barcola or Enzo Fernandez at the Olympics. As disappointing as this news may be, it offers an exciting opportunity. In a summer already packed with breakout talent at the Euros and Copa America, there is more promising talent to look forward to as the first Olympic matchday kicks off later today in France.
Whether you’re scouting a player linked to your club or simply want to tune in to watch a future Ballon d’Or contender, the staff at Offside/onside has rounded up eleven players to keep tabs on. Some already play at the elite level while others are flying under many club radars. Either way, we expect each one of them to leave a mark on this summer’s competition.
Michael Olise (France)
Let’s get the obvious pick out of the way first. With young stars like Leny Yoro and Khéphren Thuram unavailable for Thierry Henry’s squad, the inclusion of Michael Olise — a proven Premier League talent at 22 years old — is a surprise. This is especially so considering his patchy injury record and his €60 million transfer to Bayern this summer. Many suspect Olise could have played for France at the Euros had he stayed fit last season. His inclusion in the Olympics is perhaps a consolation.
A catalyst in Oliver Glassner’s revitalization of Crystal Palace, Olise recorded 10 goals and six assists in 19 Premier League games last season, including notable performances in thrashings against Aston Villa and Manchester United. A self-assured and ambitious presence on the pitch, he is a triple threat: finisher, creator and a dead ball specialist. With him among its ranks, France will be aiming for nothing short of gold. — Alejandro Lozada
Fermín López (Spain)
López announced himself to the world at the beginning of last season, scoring an equalizer against Mallorca before forcing a decisive Sergio Ramos own goal in a 1–0 victory against Sevilla in the same week in September. He’s a versatile player with an eye for goal and an excellent carrier of the ball, capable of playing on both wings and in an attacking midfielder role. Stylistically similar to Jack Grealish or Dani Olmo, López is likely to play in an advanced midfield role for this coming Olympics and is expected to be a star on the Spanish team throughout the tournament.
López featured 39 times in all competitions last season. Barcelona are already looking to extend his contract to 2029 and this summer is the perfect opportunity for him to raise his profile further. — Ben Fisher
Thiago Almada (Argentina)
Although he only played six minutes during Argentina’s 2022 World Cup run, Thiago Almada’s past three seasons with Atlanta United have shown why he’s a fixture in Lionel Scaloni’s squads. The 21-year-old raked in 30 goal contributions in 31 games last year, making him the most prolific player for The Five Stripes before his €20 million move to Brazilian club Botafogo. He is an archetypical number 10, possessing an ability to find teammates behind the opposition and a fluidity in tight spaces. It’s clear Almada prefers to play on the left, though he can be menacingly direct on the right, and shows a certain resemblance to Eden Hazard with his low center of gravity and quick movements on the ball. European scouts will certainly be following his Olympic showing; a transfer overseas seems inevitable. — Mauricio Salazar
Samu Omorodion (Spain)
Omorodion’s first full season as a La Liga striker has been nothing short of a success. At 20 years old, he’s played a part in nearly every La Liga match for Deportivo Alaves this past season, netting eight goals and one assist. Born in Melilla, an autonomous Spanish city on Africa’s northern coast, he has the profile of a modern poacher: quick, tall and physically assertive. He is an imposing presence up top, measuring well over six feet, and an incessant presser capable of dispossessing sloppy defenders.
Omorodion in high demand: Chelsea have already made an initial offer to Atletico Madrid only to see their €32.5million bid rejected. Simeone may be counting on him this season, or otherwise waiting for a strong Olympic showing to drive the asking price up. Either way, given the passing maestros on this Spanish team, expect to see Omorodion celebrating for La Roja. — A.L.
Peter Gonzalez (Dominican Republic)
While the Dominican Republic is better known as a baseball powerhouse, there is reason to be excited for this year’s Olympic men’s football team. One of those reasons is 21 year old winger, Peter Gonzalez. He is a product of Real Madrid’s youth academy and made his debut for the first team in a La Liga match in 2021. After a stint at Valencia, he signed a four year contract with Getafe this summer, where he will hope to earn starting minutes. Known for his speed and agility, Peter can accelerate quickly and maneuver tight spaces with the ball. He can play either wing, so keep an eye out for his precise crosses this Olympics. — Daniel Miller
Koki Saito (Japan)
Whether he’s taking on right backs, crossing from the sideline or cutting in through the middle, Saito has terrorized Eredivisie defenses this past season. He will certainly start for this U23 Japan squad — manager Go Oiwa has decided to forgo calling up older ringers — though if pre-tournament friendlies are any indication, he will be playing a deeper creative role in midfield rather than his preferred spot at left wing.
Saito returns to Belgian league side Lommel SK this summer, having spent the season at Rotterdam on loan. If he is eyeing a move before the end of August, the Olympic stage offers an opportunity at revitalizing his career. — A.L.
Manu Koné (France)
With three seasons at Bundesliga club Borussia Mönchengladbach, 23 year old Manu Koné is no stranger to top level competition. When healthy, he plays consistent minutes where he averaged 2 tackles and 5 balls recovered per game this past season. Offensively, Manu has a high work rate, using his speed and technical skills to take-on opponents successfully. Look for him to provide a solid presence in France’s center midfield. — D.M.
Lucas Beltran (Argentina)
As a rotation player for Vincenzo Italiano’s Fiorentina squad, Lucas Beltran contributed ten goals in all competitions last season — including four in la viola’s run to the finals of the UEFA Conference League. The 23-year-old will almost certainly be in contention for a starting spot this season, and perhaps a strong showing at the Olympics will raise his profile.
As a purebred finisher and a tight dribbler in confined spaces, Beltran’s profile is a versatile one, allowing him to play centrally or on the wing. (He seems most comfortable playing as a center forward, and was most often deployed as one at Fiorentina.) With plenty of competition in the form of Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada, Mascherano may decide to play two strikers together, or experiment with Beltran on the wing. Either way, expect to see him on the field. — A.L.
Pau Cubarsí (Spain)
Joining Lamine Yamal as the next superstar graduating from the ranks of La Masia, the 17-year-old center back broke into Barcelona’s first team last season and hasn’t looked back since. Cubarsi is very comfortable on the ball and his passing game is years ahead of his peers, as evidenced by his 92% pass accuracy last season, placing him in the top 10th percentile of center backs in Europe’s top 5 leagues. For Barcelona, he generally plays on the left hand side, where his fearless, line-breaking passes and astute, chipped balls over opposition attackers into the midfield have been effective at breaking high-press systems. — B.F.
Kiliann Sildillia (France)
There is a hint of Jules Koundé in the playing style of Kiliann Sildillia. Already a fixture at right back for SC Freiburg, he’s registered 27 Bundesliga appearances for the second consecutive season, plus a goal and an assist to boot. Like his counterpart at Barcelona, Sildillia is quick and physical — an asset defending counters who seems to relish a hard-fought recovery — and a bold presence offensively.
There are certain drawbacks, including a propensity for rash tackles, as evidenced by his red card against Wolfsburg in April. A rate of successful progressive passing under 60%% suggests his instincts and execution could be improved. Still, he will have much to offer a French squad heavy on talent. — A.L.
Alex Baena (Spain)
It may not be the best time to be a Spanish midfielder, what with generational talents spewing out of La Masia. Yet 23-year-old Baena has proven his mettle with Villarreal, registering 23 goal involvements in 45 appearances this season. He is a flexible presence on the pitch, drifting between left wing and a number ten role, and plays sensible, penetrating passes capable of cracking a game open. His performances this season earned him a spot in the Euro-winning Spanish squad, where he made two short appearances in group stage wins against Albania and Italy. In the absence of Pedri and Gavi, expect him to pull the strings for Santi Denia’s side. — A.L.
