Lionel Messi has often suggested he'll return to Argentina before he retires and Newell's Old Boys are hopeful it could be as soon as after the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

Messi will have just turned 31 at that time.

Messi left Newell's at the age of 13 in 2000 to move to Spain.

"I am convinced, like many of my peers, we can make history as a club if we get the best player in the world in a Newell's shirt," said club vice president Cristian D'Amico.

"I think we're going to get the pleasure of Messi wearing the shirt. It would be revolutionary.

"Imagine a game with Messi in the Coloso [Estadio Marcelo Bielsa], with the press around the world, the sponsors who would come... that would make a difference and economically, apart from the sentimental value, it could make a big difference to cleaning up the debts."