Lionel Messi and Barcelona could face River Plate in the final of the Club World Cup.

Messi said he could have joined River Plate when he was younger.

"Yes, but that’s a very long time ago now," he told FIFA.com.  

"In the end it didn’t happen, but it is true that the possibility did come about, when I was very young."

Messi has only played an Argentinean club once in his career when they played Estudiantes in 2009.

Messi said: "It’s a strange feeling. In my whole career I’ve only played against an Argentinian club once, and it was that final against Estudiantes.

"It was a very tough game, one in which we were losing for a long period and managed to equalise right on full time, before going on to win it in extra time.

"But it’s also something that motivates me, because River are a big club on a global scale. I think that if we play against them it’ll be a good match."