Argentina captain Lionel Messi concedes he is disappointed he will not represent his country at the Olympic Games in Rio, ESPN reports.
The Barcelona talisman was left out of his nation’s Olympic squad in order to take part in the Copa America Centenario, which begins on June 3 and will be held in the United States.
Argentina coach Gerardo Martino stressed that Messi, who won gold at the Beijing Games in 2008, agreed with the decision as Argentina aim to make up for last year’s disappointing Copa America final loss to Chile.
Having savoured the 2008 Olympics and the U20s World Cup in the Netherlands in 2005, Messi is frustrated to miss the event in Brazil.