Lionel Messi has urged Barcelona to take the next three games seriously, saying the team “cannot fail” if they are to repeat as treble winners.

Barca take on Athletic Bilbao in La Liga on Saturday, then clash with Inter Milan in the Champions League. The European fixture is followed up by a showdown with Real Madrid in El Clasico at the Nou Camp.

"We must go for it. We are aware of what is at stake and know we cannot fail. With the help of the fans, we're going to win these games," he told Sport.

The Argentine forward also revealed that he would love nothing better than to face Estudiantes de la Plata in the FIFA Club World Cup at the end of the year.

"It will be very nice if we play for the World Club title with Estudiantes and also face a good friend like [Juan Sebastian] Veron We've talked about this possibility and we joked about it," he declared.

"He's a great player and Estudiantes is a great team. But despite the good relationship I have with Veron, I told him I will give everything to win," he added before stating that winning the Club World Cup and the FIFA World Player of the Year award would round out a picture-perfect 2009.