Javier Mascherano has commented on the possibility of Lionel Messi playing at the Olympics.

Mascherano will be coaching the Argentina U23 national team in January during the pre-qualifiers where the top two teams from South America will qualify next year. Mascherano, who won gold twice with Argentina at the Olympics, spoke with EFE about Messi potentially playing with the team. Here is what he had to say:

“Leo has the national team’s doors open to do whatever he wants, that’s the reality.

“If he wants to go if we qualify, he will be welcome. My relationship with him is one of great friendship and I would love it.”

“First we have to qualify. After that, obviously, we will analyze the option of Leo coming. But it does us no good to think ahead: The reality is that we first have to qualify.”

Ángel Di María and five other Argentine players have been selected to be on Benfica’s mural as the club pays tribute to their stadium.

Di María, Nicolás Otamendi, Pablo Aimar, Ezequiel Garay, Eduardo Salvio and Nicolás Gaitán are part of the 20 players that have been chosen by fans to be part of the tribute for the 20 years of the Estádio da Luz, which is Benfica’s stadium. Di Maria recently returned to the club while Otamendi is the team captain. On his Instagram, Di Maria posted the following:

“To be one of the 20 chosen by all members and fans of the club is a great pride for me. I have no words to thank everyone. Staying forever on that wall and on one of the stadium walls is something unique and magnificent. Thank you very much to all. BENFICA.”

Pablo Aimar, adored at every club he played for, spent five years with Benfica playing 179 matches. Ezequiel Garay played over 130 matches at the club between 2011-2014, while Eduardo Salvio played for seven years and took part in over 260 matches. Nicolás Gaitán played over 250 matches during his six years at the club.

The Argentina national team remain top in the latest FIFA rankings.

Argentina won both of their World Cup qualifying matches in October and keep top stop. They are followed by France in second place while Brazil, who they will play against in November, is in third place.

Fourth place is England with Belgium in fifth place as Portugal is in sixth and Netherlands in seven. Spain in eight, Italy in nine and Croatia occupies tenth place in the standings.

Lionel Scaloni’s team play Uruguay and Brazil in November, both of which are World Cup qualifying matches.