Brazil star Neymar open to reunion with Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez in future - 'Football is full of surprises'
Published 07/01/2025 at 13:51 GMT
Brazilian star Neymar has football fans licking their lips at the prospect of reuniting with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez. The forward trio - known as 'MSN' - were unstoppable during their three-season period together in Catalonia before Neymar decided to leave for a world-record fee to Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian has now hinted the trio could team up once more.
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Neymar has said it would be "incredible" to reunite with former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez in the future.
The forward trio - better known as 'MSN' - terrorised European football during a three-season period in which Barca played some scintillating football.
During their first season playing together, the Catalans claimed a historic treble under the guidance of manager Luis Enrique.
The trio went on to produce a remarkable 364 goals and 173 assists between them before Neymar stunned the footballing world and joined Paris Saint-Germain for a world-record fee in 2017.
Since then, both Messi and Suarez have also moved on from Barcelona and now ply their trade in Major League Soccer for Inter Miami.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with CNN, Neymar suggested that he would be excited to team up with Messi and Suarez.
"Obviously, playing again with Messi and Suarez would be incredible," he told CNN Sport.
"They are my friends. We still speak to each other. It would be interesting to revive this trio. I’m happy at Al Hilal, I’m happy in Saudi Arabia, but who knows? Football is full of surprises.
"When the news came out that I was leaving Paris Saint-Germain, the transfer window was closed in the United States, so I didn’t have this option.
"The project they offered me [in Saudi Arabia] was very good, not just for me but also for my family, so going to Saudi Arabia was the best option."
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Following his spell in France, Neymar decided to move to the Saudi Pro League and sign for Al Hilal where he has endured a tough period on the pitch.
The Brazil international completed his transfer in 2023 but has failed to light up the league like Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema due to injury.
Neymar has played in both leagues and he agrees with Ronaldo's opinion that the Saudi Pro League is better than Ligue 1.
"Today, I think it is," he explains. "The level of the Saudi Pro League is increasing and, from what I see, it’s better than Ligue 1. Ligue 1 has its positives. The league is very strong. I played in it, so I know this well.
"Today (though), the players in the Saudi Pro League are better. Saudi Arabia has surprised me in a positive way. The people, the country, the cities, the culture. I think it’s a country that’s continually growing.
"It will also host the World Cup in 2034, which I think will be incredible."
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There is one major trophy which has continued to elude Neymar during his dazzling career and that is the World Cup.
When Brazil hosted the tournament in 2014, he was one of the standout performers but sustained a back injury in the quarter-finals and played no part in Brazil's infamous 7-1 hammering by Germany in the semis.
However, Neymar has now set his sights on competing at the 2026 World Cup in the States and acknowledges that it might be his final attempt to lift the famous trophy.
"I will try. I want to be there," said the 32-year-old star, who has 128 caps to his name. "I will do everything I can to be part of the National Team.
"I know this will be my last World Cup, my last shot, my last chance and I will do everything I can to play in it."
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