Xavi: Messi will want to return to the Argentina team because he's a competitive beast Barcelona Diego Maradona has been roundly critical of Barcelona star's leadership

Barcelona's greatest era following the millennium was characterised by Xavi Hernandez and Lionel Messi, and as a former teammate of the Argentine , the Spanish midfielder believes Messi will want to return to play for Argentina because he's so competitive.

A disappointing summer in Russia saw the Albiceleste drop out of the World Cup in the first knockout round, although had it not been for the Barcelona icon's magic against Nigeria, it could have been a lot sooner.

"Yes, I think he'll return, why not? Sooner or later he'll want to return because he's a very competitive person, he's a competitive beast," Xavi explained in an interview with Super Deportivo de Villa Trinidad.

"He needs some time to reflect and rest, and in the end it's his decision.

"He's the best player in the world, and I believe the best player in history, he will have the last word and he'll want to try and win with Argentina."

Diego Maradona's recent criticism of the La Masia graduate has grabbed many headlines throughout the world, yet the Al-Sadd midfielder feels it is remarkably unfair on a player who has given so much to his country.

"It seems to me very unjust, especially when it's not easy to play for a national team of a country with such high expectations," he intimated.

"Many years ago, there was the Maradona era, it's very hard to have such a figure who was infinitely popular in Argentina, you have to be mentally strong.

"Finding success after that isn't easy, you have to try and get rid of the pressure like we did with Spain in Euro 2008."

Details of Manchester City's ultimately unsuccessful pursuit of the forward have emerged of late, yet the former Spain playmaker believes that Messi's future will likely be at the Camp Nou.

"I'm sure he will continue to surprise us because he always develops new qualities, he dominates all facets of the game," he added.

"He's a player from another planet and we get to see him every week, he's been at Barcelona 14 years this week and we're going to enjoy him.

"He's still just 31 years old, I'm 34 and I still feel able to play elite football so he must have many years of elite level football left in him."