BEIJING // The Argentina forward Lionel Messi played ? and scored ? in his country's Olympic opener against Ivory Coast today after a late deal was struck with his Spanish club side Barcelona. The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled yesterday that Barcelona was not obliged to release him for the tournament ? raising the prospect that he could be called back to the Catalunya club. Messi scored two minutes before the interval at the Shanghai Olympic Stadium to give Argentina the lead. Sekou Cisse equalised with a powerful header seven minutes after the restart to level the scores but Messi's shot set up the winner five minutes from full-time as Lautaro Acosta turned the ball home from Messi's saved effort.
CAS upheld an appeal from the Spanish club after Fifa, soccer's world governing body, said clubs must release eligible players. Messi put Argentina 1-0 up against the African team with a 43rd minute goal. CAS upheld similar appeals from German clubs Schalke and Werder Bremen regarding the release of Brazilian pair Rafinha and Diego. *Agencies
