The Catalan giants already lead Real by 11 points in the race for La Liga. So a win over the Club World Cup winners would see them extend the gap to a mammoth 14 points, reports Daily Star. Barca would still have Atletico Madrid and Valencia to contend with, but Ernesto Valverde’s men would be huge favourites to regain the title.

Messi was presented with both the Pichchi and Di Stefano awards at a gala in Barcelona last night. And he subsequently turned his attention to the upcoming Christmas Clasico which takes place on Saturday.

“It would be important to win for what it means, it's always a special game,” Messi noted. “It would be something incredible to be able to play in a World Cup final again”

“Real Madrid, their stadium... winning is an important advantage. “There would still be a lot of league games left, but it would be nice to be able to end the year with a victory and spend a happy Christmas.”

The Argentine legend went on to speculate on the possibility of World Cup final between Spain and his nation. “It would be something incredible to be able to play in a World Cup final again,” he said.

“First we have to think about the group, which is difficult, and then we will see what happens...”

In reference to the awards he lifted at the gala, Messi said: “It's a prize for the team as I said with the Golden Shoe,” he said.

“It's not my main objective, ours is the titles, but if then these individual awards arrive, they are welcome.”

Messi has been named the 2016/2017 La Liga player of the year for the 5th time in his career(2009, 2010, 2011, 2015, and 2017).

He is also awarded the pichichi for being the top goalscorer . Club teammate named the Spanish footballer of the year La Pulga subsequently received the Trofeo Alfredo Di Stefano at a ceremony hosted by Marca on Monday.

In addition, he was given the Pichichi Trophy after being the scorer of the same in the 2016/17 season Messi scored 37 goals in 34 goals ahead of teammate Luis Suarez who scored 29 goals in 35 games and Cristiano Ronaldo who scored 25 goals in 29 games.

Meanwhile, club teammate Andres Iniesta was named Spain’s best player after helping his country to qualify for the 2018 FIFA World Cup.