Buenos Aires, Sep 4 (EFE).- Argentine soccer star Leo Messi has spoken out in favor of Madrid's bid to host the 2020 Olympics.
"I believe it would be good for sport if Madrid prevails. Not just for what it is as a city, but also for the first-class athletes Spain has," the man many consider the world's best soccer player told Efe.
Messi, who plays professionally for FC Barcelona, met with the president of the Spanish Olympic Committee, Alejandro Blanco, at the installations of the Argentine soccer association after flying into Buenos Aires from Spain.
The striker donned a Madrid 2020 shirt and joined Blanco in front of reporters.
"Leo never refused to support Madrid's candidacy," Blanco said, seeking to silence complaints about Messi's absence from a video promoting the Spanish capital's bid for the 2020 Summer Games.
"There was a time problem, because he (Messi) was in training" at the time the video was filmed, Spain's top Olympic official said.
Messi's backing is a "gre
