Barcelona's Lionel Messi would like to return to Argentina in the future

Barcelona forward Lionel Messi admits he would like to return to Argentina at some point in the future.

Messi left Newell's Old Boys of Rosario at the age of 13 to join Barcelona, before winning the Ballon d'Or five times.

The 28-year-old says that while it was a good experience leaving Argentina at such a young age, he would like to go back and enjoy the city of Rosario.

"One day I would like to go to Argentina because I left my country at such a young age," he told Sports Illustrated. "I couldn't enjoy Rosario, my city, my people that much.

"It was a complicated time. On the one hand it was nice, because to come and play in Barcelona was something spectacular. On the other hand it was difficult, because I left everything behind."

Messi, who is yet to win a major tournament with Argentina having come runner-up at the World Cup in 2014 and the Copa America in 2007 and 2015, is desperate to claim that elusive international prize at this summer's Copa America in USA. 

"We will try our best to win the Copa, because for us it is very important," said Messi, whose Argentina side have not won a major tournament since the 1993 Copa.

"More so, it has been a very long time since Argentina has not won anything, and this group came very close in the World Cup and at the last Copa America.

"I think we deserve to be champions of an important competition."