Top 10 Soccer Stars Playing at the Olympics

The soccer Olympics tournament at Paris 2024 is well underway, and we’ve already witnessed some explosive performances from bright young talents fiercely battling it out for their nations.

Sixteen countries have qualified for the tournament – UEFA and CAF sending in four each, AFC three, CONMEBOL and CONCACAF two apiece, and one from OFC.

The format mirrors most major international competitions, beginning with round-robin group stages that pave the way to the dramatic knockouts.

What distinguishes this one apart is the age limit; players must be 23 or younger as of January 1, 2024, though each squad is allowed three over-age on their roster.

With that in mind, let’s break down the top 10 standout players to keep your eyes on at the Paris 2024 Olympics Soccer.

Top Players at Soccer Olympics Tournament

Michael Olise – France/FC Bayern

London-born Michael Olise has been a defender’s nightmare on the flanks for the last couple of seasons. The winger began his career at Arsenal and progressed through the youth setups at Chelsea and Manchester City, ultimately leading to his first senior appearance in the EFL with Reading.

April 2021 saw him being crowned EFL Young Player of the Season, leading to a five-year deal with Premier League side Crystal Palace just two months later.

There, he spent three full seasons—interrupted by a 4-month hamstring layoff, missing 15+ games—making 84 appearances and netting 14 goals in the process.

Bayern Munich stepped up this summer, tabling a €60 million bid with add-ons that proved too tempting for Oliver Glasner’s side to turn down.

France’s Olympic team coach Thierry Henry has been highly complimentary of the player, particularly noting his standout performances for the U23 side in friendlies and the tournament opener.

The 1998 World Cup winner praised his ability to change the game with a moment of skill and the winger’s work rate.

Rayan Cherki – France/Lyon

Rayan Cherki is a skillful attacking midfielder who plays for the storied French club Lyon. He’s a product of their academy and has been the talk of both Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund for a €10 to €15 million bargain move this summer.

The 20-year-old made his professional debut in a goalless Ligue 1 match against Dijon on 19 October 2019.

He featured in the Champions League group stage at just 16 years and 102 days old, and scored his first senior goal as a substitute during a 7–0 rout of Bourg-en-Bresse in the Coupe de France.

He faces stiff competition in the French squad and forward lines from the likes of Jean-Philippe Mateta, Olise, and VfB Stuttgart’s Enzo Millot.

However, you can’t rule out coach Henry turning to Cherki for a burst of speed and keen vision off the bench.

Given his eligibility for Italy or Algeria through his parents, it would serve France well to demonstrate their interest in keeping him in their national setup and onwards to the senior side.

France is not only a leading soccer force, but is also one of the countries with the most Olympic Gold medals.

Jean-Philippe Mateta – France/Crystal Palace

You recognize the caliber of a national team when a 27-year-old player, with 19 goals to his name last season, has yet to appear in a senior international game.

But this year, he’s viewed as a star figure at the soccer Olympics tournament, featuring prominently from the start in pre-tournament friendlies and scoring two goals in a 4-1 win against Paraguay.

Mateta finished last season at Crystal Palace impressively, tallying 16 league goals across 35 appearances.

He joined them in January 2021 from 1. FSV Mainz 05 on an 18-month loan with an option to buy. One year later, both parties finalized the full transfer for €11 million—€3 million less than originally agreed.

Alexandre Lacazette – France/Lyon

Alexandre Lacazette just marked his first international appearance in seven years with a goal against the U.S.M.NT, with many of the best Olympic betting sites tipping him to finish as the top scorer by the end of the tournament.

The ex-Arsenal forward made his way back to Lyon in 2022, where he leads the line and will captain the young French Olympic team as one of three overage players.

And the selection’s already paying off. Despite Thierry Henry’s team’s exceptional talent, they sometimes lack the cool head needed in tight spots.

That’s exactly why Lacazette was picked—his experience.

In the opener, his brilliant solo effort really set the tone, giving France the edge they needed to take control of the game.

Nicolas Otamendi – Argentina/Benfica

Nicolas Otamendi graces the Olympics as one of the most decorated players to tread the pitch.

The 36-year-old’s career started at Club Atletico Velez Sarsfield. It led to the heights of European soccer, where he took home a haul of silverware at Porto, Manchester City and Benfica.

Otamendi made 117 appearances for the Argentine national team, winning the Copa America twice and the FIFA World Cup alongside Lionel Messi and co.

Many pundits believe this could be one of the last, if not the final, major international tournaments for the Benfica defender.

He has been selected by the legendary Javier Mascherano to lead the young Argentinians from the back, supported by experienced Ajax goalkeeper Rulli, with Julian Alvarez and Thiago Almada orchestrating play at the other end of the pitch.

Julian Alvarez – Argentina/Manchester City

Julian Alvarez is the second out of four World Cup winners—Geronimo Rulli, Otamendi, Thiago Almada—picked by Javier Mascherano to play in France.

The Man City forward wrapped up a solid season, making 36 appearances in the Premier League and notching 11 goals. In the UEFA Champions League, it was five goals in seven matches for the 24-year-old.

Alvarez has been part of the Argentine national setup since 2018. Most recently, he started the Copa America Final against Chile and was substituted in the 96th minute for Lautaro Martinez, who then scored the decisive goal.

Looking at his style of play, you’d get why the Argentine coach selected him for the soccer Olympics tournament. Despite being only 24, Alvarez brings a winning mentality from conquering multiple domestic and international titles.

Plus, his dynamic versatility allows him to operate effectively anywhere across the frontline, which is an invaluable asset in a competition with tightly packed matches.

Achraf Hakimi – Morocco/Paris Saint-Germain

Another dynamic player, this time on the right flank, is Madrid-born Achraf Hakimi.

Emerging from Real Madrid’s youth system, the Moroccan has carved out a reputation as one of the fastest and most technically skilled full-backs in the world.

His pace and dribbling ability allow him to excel in both defensive duties and attacking contributions. Such adaptability makes him instrumental in tactical setups that require high energy and flexibility

For the Moroccan team at the Olympic soccer tournament, Hakimi’s experience at top-tier clubs like Borussia Dortmund, Inter Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain brings invaluable composure.

Soccer has been part of the modern Olympics since 1896, only failing to appear twice over that period. While soccer was there from the start, some other sports have fallen by the wayside, check out the weirdest Olympic sports here.

Pau Cubarsi – Spain/FC Barcelona

Pau Cubarsi, born on January 22, 2007, will be the youngest athlete to take part in this year’s soccer Olympics events.

Despite his tender age, he has made a significant breakthrough with FC Barcelona and is quickly evolving into a quintessential modern center-back noted for his technicality and maturity beyond his years.

Standing at 6ft but still growing, he might not be the most physically imposing defender, but his ability to read the game compensates amply. He is exceptionally comfortable with the ball at his feet and excels in breaking lines with precise passes.

Cubarsi has progressed through Spain’s youth teams from U-15 to U-17 and earned his first senior call-up in March 2024.

He broke the record for being the youngest defender ever to play for Spain against Colombia in an international friendly.

Fermin Lopez – Spain/FC Barcelona

Fermin Lopez burst onto the scene this past season with Barcelona, starting his journey in his native Andalusia.

He progressed through the ranks at Recreativo de Huelva and Real Betis before joining La Masia in 2016.

In 2022, Lopez was loaned to Linares Deportivo and credits as a major reason why he is so developed at just 21 years old.

Upon his return from loan, he received several Second Division offers and was set on leaving FC Barcelona. However, the club persuaded him to stay, proposing a trial week with the first team to assess his prospects.

It paid off. On August 27, 2023, Lopez debuted in La Liga for Barcelona with a thrilling 4-3 win at Villarreal. Two days later, he put pen to paper on a contract featuring a €400 million buyout clause.

Through the 2023/24 season, he made 31 league appearances and scored eight goals. He also netted his first Champions League goal during his starting debut in an October 2-1 win against Shakhtar Donetsk.

Understandably, the talent-packed squad of Spain is one of the favorites to go all the way and win Gold in Paris. If you want to wager on that outcome, read our how to bet on the Olympics guide here.

Soufiane Rahimi – Morocco/Al Ain

Soufiane Rahimi is one of those players who’s seen time with The Atlas Lions A team but hasn’t quite hit the headlines on the international scene.

At the club level, it’s an entirely different ball game.

He began his career on home soil with a loan from Raja Club to EJS Casablanca in the 3rd division, making 28 appearances and scoring 17 goals. These performances catapulted him into the Raja Club squad, one of the country’s biggest and most followed soccer teams.

There, he played 83 times, scored 30 goals, won the Botola Pro once, and finished runner-up twice. On the international club stage, he lifted both the CAF Confederation Cup and CAF Super Cup.

Rahimi spent the past three seasons with Al Ain in the Emirates, where his consistent goal-scoring earned him two caps with the main national team during the latest 2026 CAF World Cup qualifiers.