Kylian Mbappe missing from France’s Olympic soccer roster as Thierry Henry unveils squad ahead of Paris games

Thierry Henry has revealed his France under-23 squad for this summer’s Olympic Games in Paris and the hosts will be without Kylian Mbappe, who was not on the player list released on Monday. The French star is set to be announced as Real Madrid’s latest signing after the Spanish giants’ 15th UEFA Champions League triumph was secured at the weekend.

However, Mbappe appears to have failed in his quest to represent Les Bleus in back-to-back tournaments with UEFA Euro 2024 and this summer’s Olympics. The 25-year-old has expressed his desire to take part and French president Emmanuel Macron has been involved in trying to get Real’s blessing for Mbappe’s involvement.

Henry admitted that it was difficult to form a squad capable of winning the competition, as the Olympics are outside FIFA’s jurisdiction, so clubs are not obliged to release players. “Real Madrid was very direct regarding the Olympics”, said the legendary former French international who selected Alexandre Lacazette from Olympique Lyonnais.

“The last time I suffered so many rejections was when I was in college,” added the Paramount+ analyst. “There wasn’t even any negotiation. You go, you ask, they say no and you leave.” Former Arsenal striker Lacazette will be one of two Premier League stars who qualify as overage, along with Crystal Palace’s Jean-Philippe Mateta, but Henry was originally hoping for Mbappe and Atletico Madrid’s Antoine Griezmann .

Elsewhere, Lille OSC supplied three players, Lucas Chevalier, Leny Yoro and Bafode Diakite, while Stade Rennais also supplied Adrien Truffert, Desire Doue and Arnaud Kalimuendo. Paris Saint-Germain duo Warren Zaire-Emery and Bradley Barcola appear, although the former may not captain the team as he does at under-21 level with the presence of the experienced Lacazette.

Diakite, Kone and Thuram are all 23, which is the maximum age of eligibility before a player can be considered overage, and the last French Olympic team featured Andre-Pierre Gignac, Florian Thauvin and Teji Savanier as the trio above of age. A possible solution to the surplus spot available could be a player who misses the Euros or a player who fell out of contention under Didier Deschamps but fits the profile in terms of Henry’s needs.

Aurelien Tchouameni is struggling with injury and missed the Champions League final at Wembley and is 24 so would qualify as surplus, although Real’s position regarding the Games is unlikely to change. There is also the possibility of a Savnier-style wildcard option, which could present itself in the form of Stade Brestois 29’s Pierre Lees-Melou, who interested Deschamps after his key role in the Breton club’s sensational pre-injury UCL qualification run .

France’s full Olympic team

Goalkeepers: Lucas Chevalier, Guillaume Restes, Obed Nkambadio and Robin Risser.

Defenders: Bafode Diakite, Leny Yoro, Maxime Esteve, Bradley Locko, Castello Lukeba, Kiliann Sildillia and Adrien Truffert.

Midfielders: Maghnes Akliouche, Joris Chotard, Desire Doue, Manu Kone, Khephren Thuram, Enzo Millot, Lesley Ugochukwu and Warren Zaire-Emery.

Attackers: Arnaud Kalimuendo, Alexandre Lacazette (surplus), Bradley Barcola, Jean-Philippe Mateta (surplus), Michael Olise and Mathys Tel.