Messi rues missing Rio 2016 Olympics

Argentina captain, Lionel Messi, admitted he would have liked play at the Olympic Games after he was left out of the squad in order to take part in the Copa America Centenario.

Coach Gerardo Martino opted against making Messi – who won gold at the Beijing Games in 2008 – compete at both June’s Copa America and the Olympics in August.

Martino stressed that the Barcelona star agreed with the decision as the Albiceleste aim to make up for their disappointment in last year’s disappointing Copa America final loss to Chile.

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But Messi, who is on the cusp of another La Liga title heading into the final round of the season, has still conceded he is disappointed not be involved for the campaign in Rio de Janeiro.

“I would have liked to go because it was a spectacular experience for me to play in the [2008] Olympics, just as it was for the [2005] Under-20 World Cup,” Messi told ESPN.

“Not just because we won, but for the experience I gained.

“It was a great experience to stay in the Olympic Village and meet other elite athletes from other sports and to be just another athlete among them.

“That was very spectacular even though we didn’t spend a lot of time in the village.

 

 

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