The Barcelona forward has put club allegiances
aside to support the Spanish capital's 2020
Olympic bid while on the international break
Barcelona forward Lionel Messi has put aside
the huge rivalry between his club and Real
Madrid by coming out in support of the
Spanish capital's 2020 Olympic bid.
The four-time Ballon d'Or winner has spent
plenty of time making Madrid residents
miserable in the past, but he sportingly took
the opportunity to assist the city's cause this
time around.
Draped in the white flag of Madrid, Messi
popped up to offer his support at a
promotional event in Buenos Aires - where the
final decision as to which city hosts the 2020
games will be made by the International
Olympic Committee on September 7.
While with Argentina's squad during the
international break, the 26-year-old told the
bid's Facebook page: "I am with Madrid 2020."
There was controversy in Spain when Messi
initially declined to put his name to the Madrid
campaign with Alejandro Blanco, president of
the Madrid's 2020 bid, claiming the player's
representatives felt he should not take part.
Madrid face competition from Tokyo and
Istanbul to host the 42nd Olympic Games, with
the latter being officially endorsed by Turkish
Airlines - a commercial partner of both
Barcelona and Messi himself.
But Messi has avoided a political and sporting
storm by gritting his teeth, smiling politely and
siding with the Madridistas for potentially the
first and last time.
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