Lionel Messi won't be in Argentina's squad at the Olympics starting later this month in Paris.

Argentina U-23 head coach Javier Mascherano included four World Cup winners in the squad he announced on Tuesday, including striker Julián Álvarez and defender Nicolás Otamendi.

The 37-year-old Messi, who has struggled with injuries this year, is now playing at the Copa America, aiming to defend the continental title Argentina won in 2021. That victory served as a springboard for Argentina to lift the World Cup in 2022.

Messi won the gold medal at Beijing 2008 in his only Olympic campaign.

"I talked to Mascherano and the truth is, we both understood the situation," Messi was quoted as saying by ESPN. "It's hard to think about the Olympics right now because we're in Copa America.

"It would be two-three straight months of not being with the club (Inter Miami) and more than anything, I'm not at an age to be in everything. I have to choose carefully, and it would be too much to play two straight tournaments.

"I've been very lucky to play in the Olympics and winning it together with Mascherano. It was a wonderful experience on a football level," Messi stated.

Mascherano, who won the Olympic gold medal as a player in 2004 and 2008, will add goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, Otamendi and Álvarez to his squad after Copa America is over. Midfielder Claudio Echeverri, a recent signing for Manchester City, will also be joining the squad.

Argentina will play two friendlies in France before their Olympic opener against Morocco on July 24. Argentina and Morocco are in Group B along with Iraq and Ukraine.

Written with AP/PTI inputs