The Best Overage Players in Football at the Olympics

 

A small number of overage players on the football team at the Olympics actually did their job in helping the team win the gold medal.

Overage players have been part of the Olympic squad since Atlanta in 1996. It was introduced to allow senior players to help the U23 team shine and gain optimal results in the tournament. They do not only provide assistance on the pitch but also off the pitch with their experience and skills dealing with pressure during the game.

These overage players did not only take on such a role but also contributed heavily to the campaign as their team won gold medals. Most of them have won a number of silverwares in their career at the club. Surprisingly, only one of them was a FIFA World Cup finalist, but none was a World Cup winner. Here are the best of such players in football's history at the Olympics.

Javier Mascherano (Argentina, Beijing 2008)

The current Argentina U23 boss was included in the squad after winning a gold medal in the previous edition. He played in each and every game of Albiceleste during the campaign. The 24-year-old Mascherano finally clinched his second medal in a row, which is another record of his own, equalling the accolades of several Uruguayan stars while receiving gold consecutively in the 1924 and 1928 editions. One of them was the key man when they snatched the first World Cup in 1930, Pedro Cea.

Roman Riquelme (Argentina, Beijing 2008)

The Argentine playmaker was named captain when he was included in Sergio Batista’s squad. Riquelme, aged 30 at the time, was expected to help Lionel Messi and Co. win gold medals in the competition, and he did. The former Villareal man provided one assist in the opener against Ivory Coast and scored one from the penalty spot while trashing their archrival, Brazil, 3-0 in the semifinal. The gold medal in Beijing 2008 is one of the two titles he won for his nation. The other one was the U20 FIFA World Cup in 1997.

Dani Alves (Brazil, Tokyo 2020)

The former right back was named in Andre Jardine’s squad and appointed the captain. He was already 39 years old and playing for Sao Paulo at that time. The former Sevilla, Barcelona, Juventus, and PSG players featured in all six matches and provided one assist against Spain in the final for the opening goal by Matheus Cunha. After his top form at the Olympics, he made his return to Europe by joining the Catalan side for free in November 2021.

Uche Okechukwu (Nigeria, Atlanta 1996)

The former Nigerian centre back was part of the squad in Atlanta in 1996. He was already 29 years old at the time. Uche also made appearances in all six games in the tournament, although he could not always keep a clean sheet. The Super Eagles managed to eliminate Mexico and Brazil in the knockout stage before crushing Argentina at the summit. Nigeria became the first African team to win a gold medal in football at the Olympics.

Kily Gonzalez (Argentina, Athens 2004)

The former left winger was one of Marcelo Bielsa’s first choices for the team. He was the key man during their campaign in Athens in 2004. The 30-year-old Kily netted once in the opener when they ran rampant against Serbia and Montenegro with a 6-0 victory and set up three goals, one in the second game versus Tunisia and two in the quarterfinal, while hammering Costa Rica 4-0. Unfortunately, he only made the cut in the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad but was snubbed in the 1998 and 2006 editions.

Patrick Mboma (Cameroon, Sydney 2000)

The towering striker was the captain of the team when Cameroon surprisingly followed in Nigeria’s footsteps in Atlanta. Mboma, aged 30 at the time, contributed heavily to their campaign by scoring four times, one goal each against Kuwait and the USA at the group stage, plus Brazil and Chile in the knockout stage. The former Parma and Cagliari man also provided one assist in the final when they beat Spain on penalties in Sydney 2000. 

Neymar (Brazil, Rio de Janeiro 2016)

The Brazilian talisman was also named captain in his second Olympic appearance. After his failure in the 2012 final back in London, Neymar, still aged 24 at the time, aimed to lead his nation to clinch their first gold medal on their own home soil. Selecao and Ney had a rocky start as they were held to a goalless draw in the first two matches against the minnows, Iraq and South Africa. The former Barcelona and PSG man even did not contribute a single goal or assist at the group stage. However, the table was turning in the knockout stage as he scored one and set up one against Colombia in the round of eight, bagged a brace and provided double assist while hammering Honduras 6-0 and netted one in the final plus the last penalty in the shootout to secure Brazil’s first gold.

Oribe Peralta (Mexico, London 2012)

Last but not least, there was an underrated forward who humiliated Neymar and Co. in London in 2012. The 28-year-old striker netted four times, including a brace in the final while Mexico thumped Brazil 2-1 and one goal in the semifinal. He also provided four assists during the tournament to help the CONCACAF side snatch their first gold medal. Unfortunately, he could not replicate El Sombrero’s success in London. He was named captain in Rio 2016 but only made two appearances despite scoring one and making three assists.