Neymar playing with Messi and Suárez in Miami is a fascinating idea. But is it a good one? | Inter Miami

Lionel Messi’s Florida sanctuary for former Barcelona players may soon have another resident. Comments from Neymar on Tuesday hinted at a possible reunion with his former Barça teammates, Messi and Luis Suárez, at Inter Miami seven years after the trio shaped arguably the most formidable striker in football history. The prospect of “MSN” reunited in MLS is tantalizing.

But just because signing Neymar is a compelling idea doesn’t make it a good one. Neymar is a shadow of the player who scored 105 goals in 186 games for Barça. Injuries have taken their toll on the 32-year-old, sidelining him for most of the last year. He has played just seven games for Al-Hilal since joining the Saudi Arabian club in August 2023. There may not be much football left in him.

Yet similar things were said about Suárez and his knee problems before he joined 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 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 exactly La Liga—could also work for Neymar.

While MLS Cup glory has so far eluded the Herons, Neymar is surely envious 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 Suárez enjoying themselves in South Beach and Miami nightclubs are believed to have been sent in the group chat. Does Neymar have the same experience in the calmer surroundings of Riyadh?

Al-Hilal’s signing of Neymar from Paris Saint-Germain for a reported fee of €90m. in 2023 should be a defining moment for the Saudi Pro League. After Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema, the Brazilian was the most high-profile player to move to Saudi Arabia at a time when the kingdom looked set to become a destination for the sport’s biggest stars.

Since then, however, the league’s development has stalled. The large money transfers have stopped. Al-Hilal wanted to sign Kylian Mbappé – he joined Real Madrid instead. Mohamed Salah was a target for Al-Ittihad – he stayed at Liverpool. The best players in the world are still playing in Europe and with Neymar’s contract expiring in June, Al-Hilal have not got much for their investment.

MLS’s roster restrictions and salary cap would prevent Inter Miami from even coming close to the €150m annual salary that Neymar is reportedly paid in Saudi Arabia, but the sales figure for the forward could be the same that worked on Suárez and Jordi Alba, none of them. who are designated players. Everyone wants to play with Messi, even if it means taking a pay cut.

Inter Miami doesn’t really need another striker. Leo Campana’s trade to the New England Revolution saw them lose an excellent option for offensive depth, but the Herons require greater defensive strength and depth if they are to go far in the playoffs this year. An elite central defender should be at the top of their shopping list. Nicolás Otamendi has been mentioned. A new defensive midfielder would also help.

But if Inter Miami is truly committed to being the most exciting attacking team in MLS, they should play on Neymar. A late career renaissance in Florida would remind us all why he captured so many fans in the first place all those years ago. He was Brazil’s next Pelé. And Barcelona’s next Messi. The talent is still there.

A series of bad career choices, along with a lot of injury woes, have brought Neymar to this point. He should never have left Barça, especially not for PSG, who never had a plan beyond pouncing on superstars and hoping for the best. The move to Al-Hilal has also not been successful. Neymar’s career will always be seen as wasted potential, even as a Champions League winner and Brazil’s top scorer of all time.

“If there is ever a chance to bring the caliber of a player like Neymar, we will not hesitate,” Inter Miami owner Jorge Mas told GiveMeSport earlier this week, opening the door to a move. Mas also said his club has “an unlimited budget,” while acknowledging the complexities of tiptoeing around MLS roster rules. It’s not as easy as just writing a check. It never is 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 there in pink. Getting the band back together has worked for Inter Miami so far. Why not send out another invitation?