This is funny because you are actually talking about the year when he scored 91 goals in 69 games in 2012 (when he turned 25), shattering all records during that year with Barcelona and Argentina. There is no point in comparing the 25 year old and 35 year old Messi and then saying that one was better than the other. At 25 he was unstoppable as a striker and dribbler. At 35 he is more of an organizer for the game. But the numbers for the year 2012 when he was 25 are that insane, it doesn't make sense to say that he was a better player at 35. See all his performances and his one-man-shows in the Champions League and in La Liga, scoring up to five goals in a game. We won't see that Messi again, but now we have a different one and he is still one of the best.
I agree with most of your post. But at the same time, the fact is that Messi was unable to win the world cup in 2010 or 2014 for Argentina, despite being in his peak form (back then the squad contained several other star players like Ángel Di María, Juan Sebastián Verón, Nicolás Otamendi and Maxi Rodríguez). He was able to do that in 2022. That matters more for me. As a striker and dribbler, perhaps his performance was better back in 2012. But his contribution to the team has remained as important as ever. IMO, if he wants he can easily lead Argentina again during the 2026 World Cup.