Barcelona ace Lionel Messi insists he accepts his benching this season.

In both the Champions League ties with Juventus and Sporting CP, the Argentine initially started on the bench and he insists that he's happy with that.

"I have learned that the season is long, that there are times which are harder than others because the years fly by and now my body pays the price for playing in so many matches," Messi admitted to TyC Sports.

"I realised that sometimes not playing is for the best."

Messi also reaffirmed hopes of closing his career with Newell's Old Boys.

"I've said many times that my dream is to play at Newell's but I don't know what will happen, and a part of that doubt is due to the way the country is at the moment," added Messi.

"I have a family and my children come first, and then me. I want them to grow up in a calm place, being able to enjoy life with security.

"It is very ugly to see the things that happen in Argentina, that you can go out on the street and people want to rob you and that they can kill you."