Lionel Messi’s Florida sanctuary for former Barcelona players may soon have another resident. Comments made by Neymar He hinted at a possible reunion with his former Barca teammates, Messi and Luis Suarez, at Inter Miami on Tuesday, seven years after the trio formed arguably the most formidable forward line in the history of football. The prospect of ‘MSN’ rejoining MLS is attractive.
But just because signing Neymar is a compelling idea doesn’t make it good. Neymar is a shadow of the player who scored 105 goals in 186 games for Barcelona. Injuries have taken their toll The 32-year-old has been sidelined for most of last year. He has played only seven games for Al-Hilal since joining the Saudi Arabian club in August 2023. There may not be much football left in them.
Yet similar things were said about Suarez and his knee problems before joining Inter Miami and the Uruguayan striker scored 20 league goals last term. Messi himself has suffered an increasing number of injuries in recent years, but he still won the MLS MVP award in 2024, playing over 1,500 minutes for a team that ran away with the Supporters’ Shield. Inter Miami’s restorative powers – and the fact that MLS isn’t actually La Liga – could work for Neymar as well.
Connected: Neymar still the Saudi Pro League’s invisible man after latest setback
While MLS Cup glory has eluded the Herons so far, Neymar is certainly jealous of the fun his former Barcelona teammates are having. “They’re my friends, we still talk to each other,” he told CNN. Pictures of Messi and Suarez hanging out in nightclubs in South Beach and Miami may have been sent in a group chat. Is Neymar experiencing the same in the calm atmosphere of Riyadh?
Al-Hilal’s signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €90m in 2023 was a historic moment for the Saudi Pro League. After Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the Brazilian was the highest-profile player to visit Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom was set to become a destination for the game’s biggest stars.
However, since then, League development has stoppedLarge money transfers have stopped. Al-Hilal wanted to sign Kylian Mbappe – he joined Real Madrid instead. Mohamed Salah was a target of Al-Ittihad – he stayed at Liverpool. The world’s best players still play in Europe and with Neymar’s contract expiring in June, Al-Hilal haven’t got much for their investment.
MLS’s roster restrictions and salary cap will prevent Inter Miami from even getting close to the €150m annual salary Neymar is reportedly paid in Saudi Arabia, but the sales pitch for the forward could be the same as that on Suarez and Jordi Alba. Used to work, neither of them Who are the designated players? Everyone wants to play with Messi, even if it means taking a pay cut.
Inter Miami doesn’t really need another forward. The trade of Leo Campana to the New England Revolution made them lose an excellent attacking depth option, but the Herons need more defensive strength and depth if they are to go the distance in the playoffs this year. An elite centre-back should be at the top of their shopping list. Nicolas Otamendi has been mentioned. A new defensive midfielder would also help.
However, if Inter Miami is truly committed to becoming the most exciting attacking team in MLS, they should gamble on Neymar. A late-career renaissance in Florida will remind us all why he attracted so many fans all those years ago. He was Brazil’s next Pele. And Barcelona’s next Messi. The talent is still there.
A series of poor career choices as well as the misfortune of several injuries have led Neymar to this point. He should never have left Barça, especially not for PSG, who had no plan other than spending money on superstars and hoping for the best. Al-Hilal’s move also did not work. Neymar’s career will always be seen as one of wasted potential, even as a Champions League winner Brazil’s all-time top scorer,
“If there is ever an opportunity to bring a player like Neymar, we will not hesitate,” Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas told GiveMeSport earlier this week. Recognizing the complexity of tiptoeing around MLS’s roster rules, Mas also said his club has an “unlimited budget.” It’s not as simple as just writing a check. This never happens in MLS.
2025 will be a big year for Inter Miami. This could be the last year of Messi’s contract at the club. The Herons will also play in the expanded Club World Cup in the United States this summer, with Miami hosting the opening game at Hard Rock Stadium. If a few things go right, Neymar could be in pink. Getting the band back together has worked for Inter Miami so far. Why not issue another invitation?