Biggest stars missing out on 2024 Paris Olympic Games

The best soccer stars in the world are missing out on the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, and the biggest snub comes from Emma Hayes and the United States.

As the 2024 Paris Olympic Games approach, all participating soccer teams have named their rosters ahead of the men's and women's tournaments. Although plenty of big names are representing their countries in France, including Argentina's Julian Alvarez and Spain's Aitana Bonmati, several superstars will not compete at this summer's Olympics. Some players are injured, others have prior club commitments, and two just flat out were not selected.

Here's a breakdown of the biggest soccer players not competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Biggest soccer stars missing out on 2024 Paris Olympic Games

5. Diego Luna (USA)

Although Diego Luna might not be the most well-known American player in the world, he still was expected to make the USA's roster for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. His snub came as a surprise to both himself and avid USA fans amid his great season for Real Salt Lake. The 18-year-old already has 12 assists, the third-most in Major League Soccer, and five goals.

Luna was named as an alternate for the tournament, but he turned down the offer.

4. Neymar Jr. (Brazil)

Neymar Jr. is one of the biggest superstars in the world, but he will not compete at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. The Brazilian tore his ACL back in October and is still recovering from the injury. Even if he was fit, though, Neymar would not compete at the Olympics as Brazil failed to qualify for the first time since 2004.

The PSG man already solidified his Olympics legacy, though, in 2016 when he led Brazil to their first gold medal. Despite his numerous bouts with significant injuries, Neymar is still the all-time leading goalscorer for the Selecao with 79 goals.

3. Alex Morgan (USA)

For the first time in 16 years, Alex Morgan did not make the USA's roster for a major tournament. Emma Hayes left the veteran off her 18-player squad, and did not even name Morgan as an alternate. It is no secret the two-time World Cup winner has struggled to score goals as of late; Morgan has not found the back of the net yet in the 2024 season for the San Diego Wave.

The NWSL player's poor form came at the wrong time to make the USA's 2024 Paris Olympic Games roster. Hayes opted to put her faith in the Stars and Stripes' young talent, like Sophia Smith and Jaedyn Shaw, instead.

2. Lionel Messi (Argentina)

Lionel Messi originally turned down the opportunity to represent Argentina at the Paris Olympic Games to play at Copa America 2024, and then return to Inter Miami to compete in the Leagues Cup. The eight-time Ballon d'Or winner already won a gold medal back in 2008, and prioritized his second Copa America over another shot at gold.

Even if Messi had agreed to travel to France to play for Argentina, he would have had to pull out of the tournament after suffering an ankle injury in the Copa America 2024 final. The captain was forced to come off the pitch in the 66th minute, but he still got to lift La Albiceleste's record-breaking 16th Copa America title.

1. Kylian Mbappe (France)

Kylian Mbappe had expressed interest in competing at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games while he was still at PSG, but as soon as the superstar completed his transfer to Real Madrid, his dreams of representing his country in Paris were shot down. In fact, no Real Madrid player was given the go ahead to participate in the Olympic tournament.

Coming off a semi-finals exit with France at Euro 2024, Mbappe now has the rest of the summer to recover before he dons the No. 9 for Los Blancos.