Barcelona forward Lionel Messi is keen to be part of the Argentina Under-23 Olympic squad in Beijing.

Argentina claimed the gold medal in the football competition in Athens four years ago and the 20-year-old wants to be part of a similar success in China this summer.

He told Ole newspaper: "I wish I could go to the Olympic Games. It would be a nice experience. Being in the Olympic village with athletes from my country, getting to know other sports and competing in the Games must be an experience that nobody ever forgets.

"I don't anything yet. Of course, I want to go. It would be a dream to win a gold medal. I wish the national squad could repeat the Athens performance."

Messi was pleased to see national Under-23 coach Sergio Batista call up Juan Roman Riquelme, Javier Mascherano and Martin Demichelis for training games with a view to playing in Beijing.

"Riquelme, Mascherano and Demichelis are making things right for their clubs and are top-level players," he said. "Besides, they have a lot of experience. They can give a lot to the group."

Despite the abundance of young Argentinian talent, Messi is wary of outside pressure.

"I don't like to be called the 'dream team'," he said. "I don't like labels. We have to win and be proud of our shirt and because we have a hunger for glory. We have to be humble and follow our aims on the pitch."