Mario Balotelli maybe on the naughty seat for reporting City to the Premier League for docking his wages ... and he will probably be on his way in January ... but don't expect the Barcelona superstar to replace him.
He is set to sign a deal with Barca that will see him staying at the club until 2018.
Messi is in the running for a fourth successive FIFA Ballon d'Or, due to be awarded on 7 January, and recently set a new mark for goals scored in a calendar year.
Gerd Muller's record of 85 goals stood for 40 years before the Argentine's double against Real Betis on 9 December took him to 86, and two more followed in each of the games against Cordoba and Atletico Madrid.
Messi will have played 14 seasons at Camp Nou by the summer of 2018, and he already has five Primera Liga winners' medals and three from the Champions League.