Barcelona have won their Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas) appeal to keep Argentina's Lionel Messi out of the Olympic football tournament in Beijing.

Barcelona, Werder Bremen and Schalke 04 had taken their case to Cas after arguing that Fifa's position that it was "mandatory" for all players aged 23 and under to be released was not enforceable as the Olympics do not appear on Fifa's official calendar.

Fifa said it was "surprised and disappointed" by the decision which means that Messi will pull out of the Argentina squad. However, despite winning the appeal the Bundesliga sides are to allow their Brazilian players, Rafinha, the Schalke defender, and Diego, of Werder Bremen, to compete at the Olympics. Both clubs said it was counter-productive to withdraw their players from Beijing at such short notice.

It is not expected that any other players will be withdrawn as they have travelled with the permission of their clubs. AC Milan have already told Brazil that they will not allow Kaka to play in the Olympics, although their new signing Ronaldinho and Manchester United's Anderson are both included in Brazil's 18-man Olympic squad.

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Barcelona have a Champions League qualifier to play on August 12 before the Olympics conclude. Messi revealed he understood Barcelona's position but it was a dream for him to play in an Olympic team for Argentina.

In a statement, Cas said that it hoped the decision would not cause major disruption to the tournament. "In view of Fifa's recommendation made to the clubs to release their players as well as of the Olympic spirit, the Cas call upon the good will and good sense of Fifa and the clubs to find a reasonable solution with regard to players who wish to represent their country in the Olympic Games."

The format of the Olympic tournament is now expected to be reviewed before London 2012.