Lionel Messi sure knows how to mystify. 

His skill on the pitch is peerless and his productivity is not only unprecedented, but unflappable. 

His choice of words has also created a lot of heads to spin, but not with the marvel that his play inspires. 

No. His words have created a tremendous sense of dread for some and excitement and hope for others. 

Which words? 

"I live the present. All I am thinking about is making this a great year and winning titles, and that's it," Lionel Messi said in a recent interview.

"After that, we'll see," he continued. "Football is full of unexpected twists and turns ... it is true that I said I would like to stay there [at Barcelona] forever, but sometimes not everything turns out the way you want."

There is a ton to ponder in these few phrases, but the biggest story to come out of it thus far has been -- will Messi leave Barcelona?

That is surely a possibility, especially with some of the difficulties he has endured recently. There were contract issues with the club before he eventually got an extension. Then there were questions about Neymar's arrival and whether he was brought in to replace Messi in the long run. 

Then, there were issues about his relationship with Luis Enrique and his unhappiness with how the club is being run at all levels. 

It speaks volumes and could be the writing on the wall for a number of reasons. 

Messi is coming off a historic weekend in which he cemented himself as the top scorer in the Spanish League. He now has 253 strikes and could finish the season in the 270 to 280 range. Cristiano Ronaldo currently sits at 197 and could finish somewhere in the 230s with his current scoring rate. 

He is also the leading scorer of the Champions League and holds a four-goal lead on Ronaldo. And he is three years younger. Even if Ronaldo continues his tremendous scoring rate, the chances that he eventually ends up ahead of Messi in scoring in this competition are unlikely, assuming Messi continues scoring at his career pace for a few more years. 

But Ronaldo would need to continue scoring at a prolific rate for the next two years to catch Messi and take over the top spot. Could it happen? Possibly. But the probability of it happening if Messi scores 30 goals for two more years at Barcelona is minimal to none. 

But that brings up a major issue here. Messi at 27 has accomplished all there is to accomplish with Barcelona. Top scorer? Check. Spanish league titles? He has won six of them. Champions League? Three wins. Copa del Rey? Two wins. He is top scorer in the Champions League. He has four Ballon d'Or trophies and scored 91 goals in one calendar year. 

There really is little for him to accomplish with Barcelona. And especially with a team that is actually on the decline. Barcelona won against Sevilla this weekend, mainly because of his genius. The team has come to rely heavily on his efforts to drive victories, something that has at times hampered his genius. Barcelona will not be able to upgrade over the next two transfer windows, placing even greater onus on Messi to deliver.

Leaving Barcelona could be for the best on a number of fronts. 

Despite his brilliance for Barcelona, many question whether he would have the same success with a different team, maybe one not built around him. He has yet to win a major tournament with the national side and many have used this as fuel against him. 

Meanwhile, Ronaldo has managed to win major trophies and titles with Manchester United in a league many consider more competitive. 

If Messi were to play in another country and obtain the same success, then he might be able to end that argument against him. He is only 27 and could potentially break more goal-scoring records in another country. Imagine that. Would anyone question his place as the greatest in the world at that point? 

It might also allow him to further his game into a playmaker. He has had to take on a new role for the team, partly to fit in new pieces, but also to avoid further wear and tear on his body. Coming to a new team might mean more expectations, but possibly less pressure. He would probably go to a team that is in contention to win titles and the Champions League, thus implying that this team already has great players on the roster that would only help Messi adapt and improve. He would not be expected to come in and save a team, the way he has had to do for a suddenly impotent Barcelona. 

Ultimately, this is about the future. Is Barcelona the place for Messi as he enters the twilight years of his career? Or is it time to go elsewhere and add to his legacy?