One of the bigger concerns European clubs have about the Copa America Centario and Summer Olympics scheduled so close together is how strenuous it can be on the players.

La Liga and Champions League seasons end in late May, as does the Copa del Rey, and footballers normally use the next few months as a respite. FIFA officials broke from tradition in announcing a second consecutive Copa America, the century-aged tournament celebrating its 100th anniversary this summer.

Argentinian striker Lionel Messi and Brazil captain Neymar want to represent their native countries, if anything, to redeem themselves on the world stage following the 2014 World Cup. For Messi, winning Copa America is the only objective.

"I think that this year's Copa America is another opportunity for us," Messi recently told Urban Planet. "After coming so close in two finals over the last two years, now we have another chance that we will try to take advantage of. We will give our all to win it. That is the dream of the entire group, who have been fighting together before the World Cup."

Neymar, Barcelona at Odds

FC Barcelona owner president Joseph Maria Bartomeu isn't as thrilled. Messi and Neymar are Catalans, obliged to the Spanish football club before anything else.

Luckily for Bartomeu, he only has one star to worry about. Messi isn't making the Olympic trip to Rio de Janeiro, but Neymar wants to.

If he could, Neymar would lead Barcelona to Copa del Rey victory before splitting time between Brazil's under-23 team, which allowed three overage players, and the group heading to the United States, presumably composed of World Cup-caliber talent.

"We understand that the player wants to play in everything, but we are asking them to place value on the idea that the player compete in just one event," Bartomeu told reporters on Friday. "We would prefer that to be the Olympics. Whether or not we will prohibit him from both, that remains to be seen."

Brazil wants a first-ever gold medal in men's football. They also want to break a nine-year Copa America drought, which is why natives like Neymar and Chelsea winger Willian are adamant about playing.

"Everyone knows my desire to play both championships," Willian told ESPN Brasil. "But of course we do not want to fight and put Chelsea in a difficult situation. And I do not want to fight with the [Brazilian Football Confederation]. I hope CBF and Chelsea enter into an agreement [about my] release."

The Olympic tournament final is scheduled for mid-August, around the time Chelsea begins the Premiere League season. By this timetable, Willian wouldn't get any rest. That's the concern Barca has with Neymar.

U.S.-Ecuador Set for Friendly

Tickets for a pre-Copa America match between the U.S. National Team and Ecuador will go on sale on April 20, according to a USMNT press release. The first of two warmup matches for the Americans takes place on May 25 at Toyota Stadium in Frisco, Texas.

The United States has never hosted a Copa America, and they haven't played in one since 2007, but a drawing conducted in February guaranteed hosting rights for the once-in-a-lifetime tournament.

The last U.S.-Ecuador meeting was significant in that it was beloved forward Landon Donovan's farewell match.