Football at Olympics: Gold medal winners of every Olympic in men's football

Football has been included in every Summer Olympic Games as a men's competition sport, except in 1896 and 1932. The Olympic football events started before the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics 2024, due to the large number of matches to be played. Hungary and Great Britain have won the most gold medals – three each. Spain defeated home team France by 5-3 in an exciting final to clinch the Gold medal at Paris Olympics 2024. So, in our latest article on the Football at Olympics, we'll look at the Gold medal winners of every Olympics in football

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Football at Olympics: Gold medal winners of Football in the Olympics since 2000

Sydney Olympics 2000 | Gold Medalist - Cameroon

The men's football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was held in Sydney and four other cities in Australia from 15 to 30 September. Cameroon won the gold medal by beating Spain 5-3 on penalties in the final in Sydney. They finished second with 5 points in the Group C points table. Samuel Eto'O's Cameroon beat Brazil by 2-1 in the quarter-finals and Chile in the semi-final with the same scoreline on their way to reach the final. 

Athens Olympics 2004 | Gold Medalist - Argentina

The men's football tournament at the 2004 Summer Olympics was held in Athens and five other cities in Greece from 11 to 28 August. Argentina, coached by Marcelo Bielsa won the Gold Medal in football in the 2004 Olympics. They won every match without conceding a single goal in the tournament.

Argentina topped the Group C points table with 9 points. Top scorer Carlos Tevez's side then thrashed Costa Rica by 4-0 in the quarter-final and Italy by 3-0 in the semi-final on their way to the final. Bielsa's side managed to beat Paraguay by a narrow 1-0 scoreline to claim their first-ever gold medal in football.

Beijing Olympics 2008 | Gold Medalist - Argentina

The men's football tournament at the 2008 Summer Olympics was held in Beijing and four other cities in the People's Republic of China from 7 to 23 August. Argentina beat Nigeria 1–0 in the final and held the record streak of 12 consecutive wins in football competitions at the Summer Olympics (six wins in 2004, six wins in 2008).

Argentina once again topped their group with 9 points and beat the Netherlands by 2-1 in extra time. Lionel Messi and Di Maria's La Albiceleste thrashed Brazil by 3-0 in the semi-final to reach the final to face Nigeria. Di Maria scored the only goal in the final to help his nation the second-ever football gold medal in the Olympics.

London Olympics 2012 | Gold Medalist - Mexico

The men's football tournament at the 2012 Summer Olympics was held in London and some other cities from 25 July to 11 August. Mexico won the Gold Medal in the London Olympics, beating Brazil by 2-1 in the Final. Mexico topped their group with 7 points and beat Senegal 4-2 on extra time in the quarter-finals. Mexico beat Japan by 3-1 in the semi-final to book their spot in the Gold Medal match against Brazil.

Rio Olympics 2016 | Gold Medalist - Brazil

The men's football tournament at the 2016 Summer Olympics was held in Rio and five other cities from August 3rd to 11 August. Brazil won their first-ever gold medal in football after beating Germany by 5-4 on penalties in the final. Brazil topped their group with 5 points and beat Colombia 2-0 in the quarter-final. 

Neymar's Brazil thrashed Honduras by 6-0 in the semi-final to qualify for the gold medal match. The match between Brazil and Germany ended 1-1 in full time and ultimately went to penalties. Neymar stepped up and took the final spot kick which decided the fate of the South American nation in the 2016 Summer Olympics.

Tokyo Olympics 2020 | Gold Medalist - Brazil

The football tournament at the 2020 Summer Olympics was held from 21 July to 7 August 2021 in Japan. Brazil were the defending champions and reclaimed it by beating Spain in the Gold Medal match. Brazil topped their group with 7 points and reached the quarter-final to face Egypt. Brazil managed to register a narrow 1-0 victory to progress further.

Brazil and Mexico faced each other in the semi-final and it went to penalties after it ended 0-0 goalless in full time. It was quite easy for the Selecao Canarinho in the penalties as they beat Mexico by 4-1. Andre Jardine's Brazil beat Spain by 2-1 in extra time to win their second-ever gold medal in football in the Summer Olympics.

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Paris Olympics 2024 | Gold Medalist - Spain

Spain defeated home team France by 5-3 in a jaw-dropping final at Paris to clinch their second Gold medal in men's football at Paris. France comeback from 1-3 to take the game to extra time but Spain's substitute Sergio Camello scored twice to take Spain home.

This was the second time since their home Olympics in 1992 that La Roja boys were able to win the Gold medal in men's football at the Olympics. Millot (11), Akliouche (79), and Mateta (90+3) were the scorers for France while Lopez (18, 25), Baena (28), and Camello (100, 120+1) were the scorers for Spain.

Football at Olympics: Men’s Olympic Football Winners