Messi starts for Argentina despite court ruling

Argentina defied a Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling Thursday and started Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi in their opening Olympic football match against Ivory Coast.

Messi took the field 24 hours after the CAS ruling that clubs were free to prevent their players taking part in the Games.

Barcelona coach Josep Guardiola had said he had planned to talk with Messi before deciding whether or not to give his blessing to Argentina's controversial move.

Guardiola, who is in New York where his squad have been playing a series of pre-season friendlies, wanted the influential Messi back in Spain in time for the Champions League third qualifying round matches against Wisla Krakow which are scheduled for August 12/13 and then August 26/27.