
It’s barely been a fortnight since Argentina and Spain won the Copa America and European Championship titles, respectively, as the world turns to the 2024 Summer Olympic Games.
Many fans eagerly anticipate football at the Paris 2024 Olympics, even though the beautiful game traditionally plays a minor role compared to sports like athletics, basketball and swimming.
From Achraf Hakimi and Nicolas Otamendi to Julian Alvarez and Alexandre Lacazette, numerous senior stars feature in the tournament, which kicked off on Wednesday.
However, the Olympics have often served as a stepping stone for up-and-coming talents, offering them a global stage to showcase their skills and gain recognition.
On that basis, let’s look at the five rising stars that could make a name for themselves and capture the spotlight in Paris.
#5 Thiago Almada (Argentina, Botafogo)

Perhaps not as famous as some other players that will appear on this list, Almada is already a household name across the Atlantic Ocean.
The Argentina international broke the incoming transfer record in Major League Soccer (MLS) when he joined Atlanta United from Velez Sarsfield in 2022 for $16 million.
In the build-up to the Olympics, he shattered the outgoing record, with Brazilian outfit Botafogo splashing out $25m, including add-ons, to lure him to South America.
Almada took MLS by storm during his relatively brief stint at the Marcedes-Benz Stadium, particularly in 2023 when he tallied a jaw-dropping 12 goals and 16 assists in 33 appearances.
Known for his devastating shooting potential and quick feet, Almada had previously drawn interest from AC Milan, but Botafogo have postponed his move to Europe.
#4 Boubacar Traore (Mali, Wolverhampton Wanderers)

Swapping Ligue 1 for the Premier League at only 20 would often be counterproductive for aspiring stars, but not in Traore’s case.
The 22-year-old box-to-box midfielder seems to be making strides following a slow start at Molineux Stadium.
After coming through the ranks at Metz, he took advantage of the club’s relegation to Ligue 2 to force a move to the Midlands in 2022.
While his first season in England was far from impressive, Traore made significant progress last term, collecting 27 Premier League appearances.
It wasn’t a breakout season, as he only registered seven league starts. But there’s a chance for the Malian to build a reputation in Paris.
#3 Enzo Millot (France, VfB Stuttgart)

The attacking potential within the French Olympic squad is bursting at the seams. In addition to Lacazette, manager Thierry Henry can call upon Bayern Munich recruit Michael Olise.
But while the pair are already established senior stars, this could be Millot’s chance to cement his tag as one of the hottest Bundesliga prospects.
Recently linked with a move to West Ham United amid the uncertainty surrounding Lucas Paqueta’s future in London, Millot went from strength to strength for Stuttgart last season.
The 22-year-old creative midfielder chipped in with five goals and four assists across 31 outings to help Die Schwaben secure Champions League qualification against the odds.
With West Ham seemingly hot on his heels, Millot could seize this opportunity to secure a Premier League switch.
#2 Samu Omorodion (Spain, Atletico Madrid)

Unlike Millot, Omorodion doesn’t need the Olympics as a springboard to launch his career in an elite club, as he’s already under contract at Atletico Madrid.
Whether he’d stay at the Metropolitano Stadium past the tournament remains to be seen, with Chelsea vying for the robust striker’s signature since the start of the summer.
Omorodion is the type of player that has the rumour mill spinning. In addition to the Blues, numerous European powerhouses have displayed interest in the £30m centre-forward.
He was superb for Deportivo Alaves last term, netting eight goals across 35 La Liga matches for one of the division’s lowest-scoring sides to keep them in mid-table.
Let’s see if he can upgrade his game at the Olympics.
#1 Rayan Cherki (France, Lyon)

‘Always the bridesmaid, never the bride’ could be the most accurate definition of Cherki’s early career, even though he’s still only 20.
Tipped for greatness since breaking onto the grand stage as a 15-year-old in 2019, Cherki has never lived up to his potential, let alone the tag of a ‘new Lionel Messi.’
But there’s still time for the French forward to reach the promised heights, especially if he can hit the ground running in his homeland this summer.
Explosive pace, fancy footwork, unique one-on-one ability and cheeky finishes have highlighted Cherki’s career at Lyon.
He desperately needs to show consistency, and what better stage to prove his worth than the home-staged Olympics?

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