Chiefs and Polokwane City have 13 points and plus-four goal differences after six rounds with the Soweto club occupying first place because they have scored three goals more.
The French international midfielder has been sidelined for three weeks by an ankle injury, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is confident he will definitely be fit for Arsenal's visit in the Premier League on Monday.
Messi, who won the Spanish La Liga title with Barcelona last season and the European golden boot having scored 54 goals in 58 games in all competitions, last won the award in 2015.
The games include against Kaizer Chiefs, Bidvest Wits and Orlando Pirates.
The Hornets felt the full force of the champions' attacking power on Saturday as they were dismantled at the Etihad Stadium, just four months after they were overpowered 6-0 in the FA Cup final.
There were barely two minutes on the clock when centre Jonathan Davies was played in under the posts after a perfect pass by scrum-half and namesake Gareth.
The men from KwaZulu-Natal lost 2-1 to Mamelodi Sundowns on the weekend as they made it six league games without a win.
Cape Town City FC is currently on the eleventh spot in the Absa Premiership standings after four draws, one win and losing one game.
Chadian Casimir Ninga achieved his remarkable feat in a 4-1 win over Saint-Etienne after coming off the bench.
Mistakes at the back, a desperate lack of midfield creativity and a worrying shortage of firepower up front have left the club well off the pace just six games into the new Premier League season.
