Who will win gold in Olympic men's soccer? Odds, favorites, best bets to win 2024 tournament in Paris

The men's Olympic soccer tournament is a unique showcase for both future talent and forgotten stars to come together and put on a show at the world's most historic athletic competition.

With the Copa America and European Championship concluded for the summer, most top-tier international stars have departed for a well-earned break before the club season restarts. That leaves the Olympic men's tournament to press on as a youth competition, with a few older veterans sprinkled in.

Understanding its place amongst the crowded international football calendar, the Olympic men's tournament is a U-23 competition, with all but a few players born on or after January 1, 2001. Each team has up to three slots on the 18-player roster for overage players, allowing veterans who did not log significant minutes at the larger summer international tournaments to take the field.

The Sporting News brings you a full look at the teams most likely to impress and the players who could lead their sides to glory.

MORE: Who will win the gold medal at the 2024 Olympic women's tournament?

Odds to win 2024 Olympic men's soccer gold medal

* Only 3 teams entered in the 1904 Olympic football tournament, including two from the United States

Given the Olympic men's tournament is a youth tournament, this event has a history of underdogs reaching deep into the competition. This is due to the fact that the talent gap amongst the strongest sides is smaller, seeing as young players aren't as developed as their counterparts at the senior international level. Additionally, the most famous young players in the world (such as Lamine Yamal of Spain, Bradley Barcola of France, or Alejandro Garnacho of Argentina, for example) aren't available, as they have already seen significant time at the earlier major international tournaments recently concluded and require rest.

The hosts are favorites at the 2024 Summer Olympics, with France considered most likely to win. However, Spain and Argentina are also thought to be strong contenders and are right on the heels of Les Bleus.

There's a large gap after the top three favorites, with African side Morocco thought to be the strongest of the rest of the pack. The United States, drawn into France's group, are amongst the upper tier with the rest of the field as well.

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Who will win 2024 Olympic men's soccer gold medal?

Best bet: Spain to win the gold medal (+260)

There just isn't a squad that's both deep enough with young talent and set up for a soft draw like Spain. While young stars like Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams aren't with the side after heavy Euro 2024 minutes, they still have a litany of quality youth players and overage exemptions.

Fermin Lopez could have a breakout tournament after a strong year with Barcelona, while his club teammate Pau Cubarsi (only 17 years old) will be a bonus at the back as well. Cubarsi will partner with Eric Garcia at the back presenting one of the most formidable defensive duos at the tournament, and goalkeeper Arnau Tenas plays second-fiddle to Gianluigi Donnarumma at PSG.

Their soft draw helps as well, as they avoid many of the favorites and second-tier contenders in Group C, something which both France and Argentina cannot say.

Dark horse: Mali (+4000 to win gold, +300 to win Group D), Uzbekistan (+6500 to win gold, +650 to win Group C)

Mali have a strong history of performance at the youth level, having finished third at the 2015 U-20 FIFA World Cup and they drew with Egypt — who have much stronger odds — in the semifinals of their qualifying tournament, only falling on penalties.

Uzbekistan are the same, reaching the knockout stage of the last U-20 World Cup in 2021 and performing well in their recent warm-up friendlies against Mali. It'll be tough to compete with Spain, but the presence of Eldor Shomurodov as an overage player will give them a big attacking boost.

Stay away from: USA (+1600 to win gold, +400 to win Group A)

The United States does not have a strong history of performing well at youth international tournaments, and the squad for this year's competition doesn't inspire confidence. A number of players were refused call-ups by their clubs, and the absence of Diego Luna is head-scratching.

There are some players who could impress, but there are so many holes on the roster that head coach Marko Mitrovic had to pull both of his starting center-backs from the overage pool in Miles Robinson and Walker Zimmerman. They won't be title contenders, and could even be bounced in the group stage if they disappoint against Guinea or New Zealand.

Who will win Golden Boot at 2024 Olympic men's soccer tournament?

Unsurprisingly, all the top contenders for Golden Boot, according to the betting market, come from the top favorites to win the gold medal. In fact, U.S. striker Duncan McGuire is the only player not on either France, Spain, or Argentina to appear with odds of 20/1 or lower.

This shows not just the strength of the top contenders, but also the ignorance of the betting market, as those on teams with less notoriety aren't often backed by the majority of those who play.

Top Favorite: Alexandre Lacazette (+600)

With France expected to go far, the experienced Alexandre Lacazette will be in prime position to rack up goals against young defensive units. Wearing the captain's armband this summer in his first national team jaunt since 2017, Lacazette was in strong form for Lyon all of last season and got on the scoresheet in the 7-0 demolition of Dominican Republic during their warm-up friendlies.

Michael Olise will also be a strong shout to finish with a host of goals, but Lacazette is the presumed penalty taker and will find himself on the end of a host of chances up front.

Best Bet: Fermin Lopez (+1600)

After seeing just 28 minutes for the senior squad at Euro 2024, Fermin Lopez will now seek to lead his nation's youth squad towards a gold medal finish. The 21-year-old midfielder has a large and diverse skill-set, but he's more than capable of getting in advanced attacking third positions.

As Lopez gained more consistent time in the Barcelona squad last season, he was a consistent goal scoring threat, bagging six goals in the club's final 10 La Liga matches of the campaign, as well as cropping up with a decisive strike against Napoli in the Champions League Round of 16. He scored in the UEFA U-21 Euro qualifying stage against Kazakhstan, and Spain have the weakest team in the field, the Dominican Republic, in their group to pad their numbers against.

Strongest Longshot: Eldor Shomurodov (+8000)

The 29-year-old Uzbekistan overage exemption is one of the most in-form and electric attackers in the Olympic men's field this summer. He saw his recent club season with Roma cut down by injuries, but he was electric in World Cup qualifying over the past year, and has strong international success. If Uzbekistan surprise and get deep into the competition, they could give Shomurodov ample opportunities to strike against inexperienced youth back lines.