Luftstalag14
Culé de Celestial Empire
Messi doesn't have the work rate to play in midfield, not in a 4-3-3 anyway. He used to but this season he has clearly been given the licence to conserve his energy and focus on attacking. He obviously has all the other qualities required to play in midfield and it would only require him to up his work rate and defensive work to excel there. However, I think he is going to become accustomed to having the freedom he has now and play the rest of his career as a false 9 or eventually as no 10 in the hole. I suppose if he played as a no 10 he would basically be a midfielder but without the same defensive obligations.
Yes, if Messi doesn't ramp up his work rate big time, he is not going to transition to a Xavi-liked midfielder. At this point I seriously don't see where Messi's place is going to be after he gets older and slower and stops scoring that many goals.