Sports remembers famous football players who became winners of the Olympic Games.
Lionel Messi
Messi's «curse» lasted 13 years, which included one lost World Cup final and three failures in the decisive matches of the America's Cup. Then it seemed that the gold of the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, where Lionel arrived as a very young forward, just approaching his first «Golden Ball», would remain the only success of the legend with the national team.
To the delight of fans of the «greatest» in 2021, the black streak ended… What happened next, you know very well.
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"Being at the Olympics was incredible. Not just because Argentina won, but because it was a unique experience. I had a great time in the Olympic village, meeting elite athletes from other sports. It was incredible. The World Cup is one of the most important events. But the Olympics are something special." (ESPN)
Lev Yashin
Lev Ivanovich's main success as part of the Soviet national team was victory at the 1960 European Championship. However, many forget that four years before that, the only goalkeeper in history to receive the Golden Ball became the winner of the Olympics in Melbourne. The domestic footballers reached the final without any problems, where they beat the Yugoslavian team.
Incidentally, it was in 1956 that Pantera was included in the list of nominees for the first ever Golden Ball (the goalkeeper eventually came in fifth).
Neymar
In 2016, the Brazilian national football team won Olympic gold for the first time in history, beating the Germans in the final of the home Games in Rio de Janeiro. Neymar became the main hero of that confrontation: first he opened the scoring, brilliantly converting a free kick, and in the penalty shootout he delivered the decisive blow.
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«I have a lot I want to say, but I can't find the words yet,» the Olympic champion said after the awards ceremony. «I just want to thank God, my family, my friends and my comrades. There were difficult moments in the tournament when we were criticized, but we responded with our football. This is one of the happiest days of my life!» (Globoesporte)
To this day, that success remains Neymar's last on the international stage (no wins at the Copa America and gold at the 2013 Confederations Cup at home).
Pep Guardiola
The only coach in history to win the treble twice (with Barcelona and Manchester City), he was also a good footballer. Pep became a multiple Spanish champion and European Cup winner with the Catalans — and the midfielder played well with the national team at the 1992 home Olympics, winning gold in the tournament… Right in his native Barcelona.
Samuel Eto'o
The Cameroonian was of no use to Pep at Barça, but he lit up Inter and Anzhi. The legend of Makhachkala football was also good in the national team: Eto'o set many individual achievements, while adding two African Cup of Nations and gold at the 2000 Sydney Games to his collection of awards. In the final against the Spaniards, the 19-year-old striker equalized the score and converted his kick in the penalty shootout.
Aguero and Di Maria
In the cover photo of the article, Messi poses with his faithful friend, Sergio Aguero. Like Leo, the forward scored two goals at the Beijing Games.
Also in that «albiceleste» lineup was Angel Di Maria, who said goodbye to the national team two weeks ago, having won the World Cup, two America's Cups… And the gold of the 2008 Olympics, where the midfielder scored the only goal in the final against Nigeria.
Malcom and Claudino
The Brazilians, who managed to show off in the RPL, took home gold medals from the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed to 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Malcom also scored the winning goal in the final against Spain! He is currently playing in Saudi Arabia with Neymar, and Claudino is just getting ready to swap the St. Petersburg cold for the Brazilian sun.
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«I came on as a substitute in extra time, I felt great — perhaps it was my best match at the Olympics. In the second extra time, Anthony made a great diagonal pass from deep, I accelerated, won the race against the defender — and sent the ball into the goal. How long will I remember that shot? Of course! Every night I go to bed and can't fall asleep — I keep replaying that moment in my head. It's a great happiness, and I'm very glad that my goal brought the team victory and the Olympic gold medal.»
Malcolm on victory at the 2020 Olympics
interview with the official website of FC Zenit
Ferenc Puskas
The Hungarian national team has won gold in the Olympic football tournament three times. In 1952, the legend, who played in the «golden team» as a left inside forward, contributed to the first success at the Games.
Mascherano and Tevez
Currently, Javier Mascherano is heading the Argentina national team at the Paris Games and is already tearing the Olympics apart for the crazy ending to the match with Morocco. And as a football player, he won the Games twice in 2004 and 2008 — as a result, he has two gold medals with the national team and five (!) silver medals at the World Cup and the Copa.
By the way, Mascherano's compatriot Carlos Tevez scored eight goals at the 2004 Games.
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