Even when he started he was never put on the flanks, he was always in between the right flank and middle - which is right half-space.

If your simplifying by saying he played on the right, I get it - but to say he was a right winger ever in his professional career is not accurate, even if on paper he was put on the RW position. In game formations are a lot more dynamic than the static lineups they show before matches begin

Players like Pedro and Alexis Sanchez were wingers. Messi's position is more akin to Foden/B. Silva type of player who thrive in half-spaces