Mark Cuban’s got nothing on these curmudgeons when it comes to dissing the Olympics. FC Barcelona are refusing to release forward Lionel Messi to play for his native Argentina at the Summer Games in Beijing. FIFA has ruled that they must; however, Barca may appeal on the grounds that the Olympics are not on FIFA’s international soccer calendar.

Messi isn’t the only player caught up in this. Brazil could be down three men: Kaka (AC Milan), Rafinha (Schalke) and Diego (Werder Bremen) are also being held back. So far, FIFA has yet to rule on Kaka’s fate. Their absence would make life difficult for the second favorites at 11-4 on the Olympic soccer futures market. Argentina is the favorite at 2-1.

Italy and the Netherlands are tied for third favorite status at 7-1. There’s generally less interest in Europe for Olympic soccer; South Americans take it much more seriously after first arriving on the national scene at the 1924 Paris Games.