Messi is widely regarded as one of the best players to ever grace a football pitch.
The Argentina international is loved at Barcelona, where he has won eight La Liga titles.
The 29-year-old has also won the Champions League four times and Copa del Rey on four occasions.
However, Spanish journalist Javier Gomez Matallanas, writing for El Confidencial, has revealed his career has come close to several shock twists and turns.
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Lionel Messi could have ended up at Real Madrid on three occasions
When discussing whether or not Madrid could take advantage of his growing unrest in Catalonia – as Messi is yet to sign a new deal with his contract up next summer – Matallanas shed some light on failed bids in the past.
It is said the Champions League holders first tried to sign the forward during his time in Barcelona's La Masia academy.
Messi was a star in the making, taking their youth teams by storm, but Madrid chief Florentino Perez instead opted to pursue blockbuster signings Zinedine Zidane and Luis Figo.
The 69-year-old wanted to wait for the youngster to mature and, after controversially luring Figo away from the Nou Camp, knew a deal would be hard to strike.
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Real Madrid first debated signing Lionel Messi during his teenage years
Madrid tried their luck again amid the club's presential elections in 2008.
His fierce rival, Roman Calderon, had made signing Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United his No1 priority.
And in order to compete, Perez seriously considered a bid for Messi.
But with Barcelona on top of the world under Pep Guardiola, Madrid again missed out and Perez finished off Calderon's handiwork by signing Ronaldo the following year instead.
Matallanas claims Madrid have tried to sign Messi again recently.
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Cristiano Ronaldo arrived instead of Lionel Messi back in 2009
Perez was prepared to meet the player's eye watering £212million release clause and offer him wages of £21m a year to entice him into crossing the divide.
The offer was launched knowing the Barcelona star is far from happy with his current situation.
But though his unhappiness was key to the bid he still turned down a move to the Spanish capital.
Even though the player yet to commit, Matallanas claims a deal in the future is no longer impossible.
Players rarely move between the clubs with Figo infamously having a pig's head launched at him after leaving Barcelona in 2000.
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