As men’s football at the Paris Olympics approaches the gold medal game, memories are cast back to Olympic finals from previous years,
Just as they did at Euro 2024 earlier in the summer, it is Spain who have made the Olympics final in 2024, as they face off against Thierry Henry’s France for the right to be crowned as gold medal winner at the Paris Games.
With the men’s football teams made up of players aged under 23, the Olympics final represents many young first opportunity to experience tournament glory, while the three qualifying ‘overage’ players on each team may view it as their final chance to be crowned an Olympic gold champion.
In total, there have been 19 nations that have won Olympic gold for football, but who has won it the most? And how many times have Team GB won gold for Olympic men’s football?
Here is the full list of each nation to win gold in Olympics football - including every Team GB win.
5. Poland - 1 (1972)
The one and only gold win for Poland, defeating Hungary in the 1972 Munich Olympics. | AFP via Getty Images
6. Nigeria - 1 (1996)
The African country took the Olympic gold in Athens, Greece after defeating Argentina in the final. | AFP via Getty Images
.jpg?crop=4:3&trim=&width=800)
7. East Germany - 1 (1976)
Before the unification of Germany, the East German national team won Olympic gold in Montreal, Canada by defeating Poland in the final. | Getty Images Photo: Getty Images
8. Yugoslavia - 1 (1960)
Prior to the nation being dissolved into its six constituent republics, Yugoslavia won Olympic gold with a win over Denmark in the Italian capital of Rome. | AFP FILES/AFP/AFP via Getty Imag