Which country has won the most gold medals in the Olympics?
Football’s uniqueness and brilliance comes from its global reach and following. The world’s most popular sport has witnessed several competitions over the years to determine the best on the planet. While the FIFA World Cup remains the pinnacle of the game, the legacy of the Olympics cannot be understated about soccer.
The global event often seen during the Summer Olympics is followed by a huge annual soccer calendar and international tournaments. As a result, federations and clubs hesitate to release players for the Olympics, giving youngsters the opportunity to represent their respective countries. A number of countries, including some surprising names, have retained gold medal status for their footballing displays at the Olympics.
Most successful soccer nations at the Summer Olympics
Over the years, 41 countries have reached at least the semifinal stage at the Summer Olympics. In men’s football, Great Britain and Hungary hold the record for being the most successful team in the competition with three gold medals. Hungary’s inclusion may come as a surprise to some given their overwhelming results in other international tournaments.
Hungary’s three gold medals came back in the 1950s and 60s. The legendary figure of Ferenc Puskas was a part of the winning team in 1952. Apart from the gold, the European nation won a silver and a bronze medal ahead of Great Britain. Brazil is the two-time reigning soccer champions at the Summer Olympics, winning gold in 2016 and 2021.
A look at football at the 2024 Olympics in Paris
Thousands of athletes from all over the world are competing in various sports for glory in Paris. Soccer, as always, attracted plenty of eyeballs with numerous stars taking part in the showpiece event. Unsurprisingly, much of the scrutiny is with France Les Blues Improvement is expected on home ground. Even without the big stars, France’s squad is loaded with talent and is coached by icon Thierry Henry.
Competing countries are divided into four groups of four and the top two advance to the quarterfinals. Their Henry’s France have already qualified with two wins from two and a healthy goal difference of four. Michael Ollis is the highest rated player of the event so far and provided two assists in addition to scoring a goal. Teams like Argentina and Spain will stand in the way of gold medal for France.