Lionel Messi has agreed to skip the 2016 Olympics in Brazil for Argentina.

Gerardo Martino has stressed the importance of having Messi for the Copa America.

"I always felt that it would be an exaggeration to have Leo play at the Olympics again, especially if you bear in mind there's the Copa America first," Martino told reporters.

Messi helped lead Argentina to the gold medal in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Messi's Barcelona teammate, Neymar, will skip the Copa but play in the Olympics.

"It would have been a different matter had there not been a Copa before the Olympics. I discussed it with Leo and he agreed with me.

"It's a bit like what has happened to Neymar. It seems like Brazil have made the decision to only take him to the Olympics and not the Copa. 

"We felt that it was a better option to strengthen the team for the Olympics in defence."