The 2024 Paris Olympics have kicked off with a thrilling day of men's soccer matches, showcasing the talents of Under-23 national teams from around the world. While fans may miss the presence of big-name players like Lionel Messi, the tournament offers a great opportunity to witness young stars in action and evaluate countries' talent for the future.

Among the standout teams competing on Saturday were the U.S. men's national team, Argentina, and the host nation France. The U.S. Soccer team displayed an impressive performance, bouncing back from their previous loss to France with a resounding 4-1 victory against New Zealand.

The Americans wasted no time in establishing their dominance, taking an early lead in the fourth minute with a penalty kick converted by Djordje Mihailovic. They continued to pile on the pressure, as Walker Zimmerman found the net in the 12th minute, followed by Gianluca Busio's goal in the 30th minute. This quick succession of goals matched the all-time high for USA Soccer in an Olympic game, set back in 1984 against Costa Rica.

USA Soccer didn't slow down in the second half, with Paxten Aaronson adding another goal in the 58th minute, setting a new Olympic record for the team with four goals scored. Despite New Zealand's Jesse Randall spoiling a clean sheet with a goal in the 78th minute, USA Soccer secured a convincing victory, their first Olympic win since the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

In Group A, France currently leads with four points, followed closely by USA Soccer and New Zealand with three points each. Guinea trails behind with one point. Over in Group D, Japan holds the top spot with four points, while Paraguay follows closely with three points. Mali and Israel have two and one point respectively.

Meanwhile, Argentina found redemption in their second match, defeating Iraq 3-1. Ezequiel Fernández's late goal in the 85th minute sealed the victory for the South American nation. Despite their turbulent start, Argentina remains in contention in Group B, alongside Morocco and Iraq, with three points each.

Spain continued their dominant run with a comfortable 3-1 win over the Dominican Republic in Group C. Fermin Lopez, Alejandro Baena, and Miguel Gutiérrez were the goal-scoring heroes for the Spanish side. Spain currently sits atop the group with six points, trailed by Egypt, Uzbekistan, and the Dominican Republic.

Although global football icons like Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Kylian Mbappe are absent from the Olympic tournament, the games have been filled with excitement and intense competition. The under-23 format, coupled with the inclusion of three overage players per team, provides a unique opportunity for emerging talents to shine on the international stage.

As the Paris Olympics continue, fans can expect more thrilling matches and remarkable performances as the young stars take center stage in pursuit of Olympic glory.