You have a much better view and more options when you're in the center. I don't think it was a coincidence that Messi's assist numbers went sky high when he started playing in the center for Barca (or better: when he started spending more time in the center, since he's moving everywhere in the final third). He had around 10 assists per season and this year he almost doubled it to 18 (more than 20 in all competitions).
Yesterday he played the trequartista/playmaker role better than those who specialize in this role and are considered the best in it. It also helped that he had strikers in front of him. Players who are used to depend on others creating for them, unlike Tevez (who works alone) and especially Lavezzi who is used to work for a striker.