Messi stars after Barcelona give all-clear

(CNN) -- Lionel Messi starred for Argentina in their opening 2-1 victory over the Ivory Coast at the Olympic Games on Thursday -- after receiving the go-ahead to play from his club side Barcelona.

Barcelona and two German clubs had won a decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport that clubs should be allowed to release players from the Olympic competition.

It led to a potential standoff with Argentina coach Sergio Batista saying Messi wanted to stay in Beijing and consequently selecting him for their first match in Shanghai.

On Thursday afternoon, the Press Association reported that Barca's sporting director Txiki Begiristain and coach Pep Guardiola had confirmed they would not be recalling Messi.

It followed talks between the player and club officials during which Messi said he wanted to remain in China.

He is set to miss a crucial Champions League third qualifying tie as he helps Argentina in the defense of their Olympic title.

Messi celebrated by scoring in the 43rd minute to give Argentina the lead in Shanghai's Olympic Stadium, but Sekou Cisse equalized with a powerful header in the 52nd minute.

But Messi's shot set up the winner in the 85th minute, with Lautaro Acosta turning the ball home after the Barcelona star's strike had been blocked by the goalkeeper.

Werder Bremen and Schalke, the two Bundesliga clubs involved, also relented and allowed Diego and Rafinha to play in Brazil's 1-0 win over Belgium earlier on Thursday.

Earlier, FIFA president Sepp Blatter warned that the CAS ruling set a precedent that could threaten future Olympic football tournaments.

"I gulped when I heard that decision," Blatter said at the International Olympic Committee general assembly. "It's a rather dramatic situation."

He said he feared the ruling would have a "snowball effect," prompting other clubs to withdraw their players from the Olympics and force them to return.

"If all the national squads will lose players, if clubs force them to return home, we simply will not have an Olympic football tournament here in Beijing," Blatter said. "We could do beach football or a five-a-side tournament. That would be very sad and the world would not understand it."

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