Would a Messi, Suarez, Neymar reunion be good for Inter Miami? | OneFootball

Neymar to Miami would be a financial windfall, but is it the right move?

Lionel Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suarez comprised the greatest attacking trio of this century -- maybe any century -- when they played together at Barcelona from 2014-2017. But could "MSN" repeat that success a decade later?

That's a question Inter Miami fans are asking themselves amid renewed rumors that Neymar, whose contract with Brazilian Premier League side Santos is up in December, will reunite with Messi and Suarez next season. Bringing the trio back together undoubtedly would be a marketing and merchandising coup, but what would it mean for the Herons' product on the pitch?

A few years ago, PlanetFootball.com published an article comparing Messi-Suarez-Neymar's production to Real Madrid's high-profile trio of Christian Bale, Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, who played together from 2013-2018. (The article also includes Paris Saint Germain's Messi-Neymar-Mbappe, but that threesome lasted just two seasons and was notable more for its names than its performance). MSN was more productive offensively (contributing a goal or assist every 62.7 minutes in 451 matches to BBC's contribution every 78.9 minutes across 658 matches), but Real Madrid earned more trophies (12 to Barcelona's 7) with BBC fronting the attack.

La Blaugrana earned 2.29 points per match with MSN, while Real Madrid booked 2.19 with BBC. For comparison, Inter Miami earned 2.18 points per match in 2024, when it set the Major League Soccer record for points in a season.

Messi and Neymar have thrived together, teaming up at Paris Saint Germain as well as Barcelona. An article at SportsIllustrated.com explores their productive partnership. Ewan Ross-Murray reports that the duo combined for 67 goals in their 206 matches playing together, 40 scored by Messi on assists from Neymar. In those 206 matches, Messi recorded 166 goals and 94 assists; Neymar dished out 84 assists and scored 109 goals.

So, MSN was brilliant; why wouldn't reuniting the good friends be a good idea?

I'm glad you asked. I have three concerns: Neymar's injury history, the Herons' long-term strategy, and possibly tarnishing a wonderful moment in the beautiful game's long history.

1. Neymar is injury prone. According to Transfermarkt, the Brazilian has missed 260 matches and more than 1,500 days in his career thanks to 44 injuries and illnesses; since joining Paris Saint Germain in 1918, he's suffered 29 injuries and missed 205 matches and 1,229 days. Adding Neymar to the roster will sell tickets and shirts, but is a designated player salary worth the return? That's for ownership to decide.

2. Inter Miami's identity. The Herons' ownership group has trumpeted its ambitions since receiving the South Florida franchise, and signing Messi in 2023 was a major coup that gave their braggadocio credibility; they followed that up by adding Messi friends Sergio Busquets, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez, Oscar Ustari, Javier Mascherano, and Rodrigo De Paul to the roster. All but Ustari brought big reputations to the Pink & Black, and all have contributed to the Herons' recent success. At the same time, Inter Miami's academy had produced several promising young prospects (Benjamin Cremaschi, Ian Fray, David Ruiz), and the draft delivered Yannick Bright, one of the league's finest young defenders. Will Inter Miami become the George Steinbrenner Yankees of 1970s baseball fame, outspending teams to bring in the most talented free agents? Or will we build our club the old-fashioned way, with player development and shrewd talent evaluation? Maybe it should be a balance of the two but signing an older (33) and injury-prone Neymar seems like a mistake to me.

3. Tarnishing the MSN legacy. For three seasons, Messi-Suarez-Neymar personified the "beautiful game" at the sport's highest level. The 2014-15 Barcelona side, which won a rare "treble" by winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and Champions League, is considered one of the greatest teams ever assembled. Suarez was 28, Messi 27, and Neymar Jr. 23 -- three of the greatest attacking players in history, all at the peak of their talents. More than a decade later, do we want to ask this trio, 10 years older, 10 years more battered, to try to recreate that glory? It isn't fair and, I think, a disservice to the memory of what MSN was. Let's leave it alone.

For the record, none of the MSN trio are under contract for 2026 (although Messi is believed to have an agreement in place). Right now, the MSN reunion rumor is only that: a rumor. For the reasons stated above, I hope it stays that way.