We’ve previously discussed the unusual and not always successful mix of Olympic and football. It makes sense: the IOC and FIFA are two of the most powerful corporations in the world of sports – just sports?

Football has had a stable Olympic presence, not in line with the sinuous regulations that invaded the tournament’s development over the decades. It was absent in 1896, when some sources speak of an unofficial competition concurrent with the Athens games, and in 1932, when FIFA prioritized promoting its first World Cup, played two years earlier in Uruguay.

The final event saw changes, particularly after the formation of the Soviet bloc, as a result of the confrontation between adult soccer players from the countries behind the so-called Iron Curtain and youth players from other participating nations. While Olympism did not accept professional players at the time, in countries such as the Soviet Union, Poland, Yugoslavia, or Democratic Germany, even significant performers in senior world championships were not considered rented.

There have been and continue to be fluctuations in the qualifying tournaments, with each regional confederation deciding unilaterally within which age range the preceding stages are contested. It is customary for a U21 tournament in Europe to be followed by an U19 tournament in Asia and an U18 event in South America. Even within the same confederation, the variables can be discovered. Without going any further, Conmebol (South America) specified that the category for Paris be U23, which is logical given that this is the class designated for the games themselves.

In any case, the Paris event could have a one-of-a-kind significance, comparable to Rio 2016, when the local team, led by Neymar, awarded his country its first title in its history.

It was one year ago today that Lionel Messi’s Argentina defeated Kyllian Mbappé’s France in the World Cup final in Qatar.

It was an incredible final due to an enormous number of elements; unquestionably the best final in the competition’s history. Never before had there been such a clash of titans in soccer as that of that Qatari night. PSG teammates, ironically.

Argentina took a 2-0 lead, then a 3-2 lead. France rebounded thanks to Mbappé, who scored three goals for his national team. And, in the final overtime play, both teams had the decisive goal within reach but were denied by an extraordinary intervention by Dibu Martinez (Argentine goalkeeper) against Kolo Muani and, immediately and without interruption, by a deflected header from Lautaro Martinez alone against the French goal.

Argentina prevailed in the penalty shootout, establishing Lionel Messi as a genius with nearly two decades of credibility who has now won every possible title in his career. To put it in context, that record includes the Spanish League, Copa del Rey, Champions League, Club World Cup, FIFA World Cup… and a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing.

And I emphasize that last point because it’s impossible not to imagine an Olympic-style re-enactment of that great Stade de France final.

However, there is still a long way to go until that occurs. And I’m not only talking about the timing, but about the fact that, although France is a lock to host, Argentina will have to compete in a difficult qualifying next January. Only two of the 10 competing teams will travel to France in July.

But, if Argentina wins one of those spots, the dream of an Olympic Messi has a new partner in the Argentine team’s coach. This is Lionel Messi’s partner in both Barcelona and Argentina, as well as his personal pal. Javier, regardless of ethnicity, is one of the players who has best spread the Olympic spirit. Some time ago, Mascherano suggested to Messi that he be one of the three players over the age of 23 allowed in each squad for the final stage of the games.

There’s more. While no one will say anything publicly, it appears that they have already discussed the topic.

So, as a football and Olympic fan, we recommend that you work hard so that Argentina surpasses the previous one by playing in Venezuela.

If such were the true, we could not only dream of a fresh France (Mbappé)-Argentina (Messi) rivalry, but Olympic football would become the eye-catcher that it has never been in the rings cosmos.