Barcelona's Messi supports Madrid - for 2020 games

Lionel Messi is a Madrid supporter - at least when it comes to the 2020 Olympics.

Messi is supporting the Spanish bid ahead of the vote this week by the International Olympic Committee. He modeled a shirt Tuesday that read ''Madrid 2020.'' It's surely a strange feeling for the Barcelona star who has made his reputation beating the city's most famous team - Real Madrid.

Messi says he thinks it's ''good for sport if Madrid is awarded the games, not only for the city but also for the top-level athletes in Spain. It is very important to host the Olympics in the country where I live.''

The IOC will vote on the host city for the 2020 Olympics on Saturday. Madrid, Tokyo and Istanbul are the candidates.