Football gold medalist Messi thanks Barcelona

Aug 23, 2008, 10:45 GMT

Beijing - With the gold medal hanging on his chest, Argentine football striker Lionel Messi thanked Barcelona on Saturday for releasing him to play in the Olympics.

'I thank Barcelona for having behaved so well with me, for having let me come here,' Messi said after the defending champions beat Nigeria 1-0 in the final.

Messi's presence in Beijing was doubtful until the last moment because Barcelona initially refused to let him join the Argentine Olympic team even though he is under 23.

The Spanish club even appealed to the Court of Arbitration in Sport (CAS), whose ruling favoured them, but they eventually let Messi remain with the national team.

'I also want to thank (Barcelona coach) Pep Guardiola. He made a very beautiful gesture towards me, and now I can talk to him as Olympic champion to Olympic champion,' Messi joked, with reference to Guardiola's gold medal from the Barcelona Games in 1992.

The talented striker also praised his Argentina team-mates.

'I made very good friends here. And the experience of having lived for a few days in the Olympic Village, surrounded by such important sportsmen, was also very beautiful,' he said.