Lionel Messi: 'I want to play in my country'

Barcelona star Lionel Messi admits that he will eventually leave the Catalan giants.

Messi, who collected the Ballon d'Or award on Monday, insists he would like to play in his native Argentina before he retires.

However, he did say that he would never leave the Spanish champions for another side in Europe.

"In Europe I want to play at Barcelona," Messi told Spanish newspaper Ole.

"I would stay here forever, the longer the better because I feel very comfortable and loved.

"But before I retire I want to play in my country, I am absolutely certain that I want to play in Argentina. It is a dream and I am going to make it come true."

The 24-year-old is the first player to win the Ballon d'Or for three successive years since Michel Platini.