Years go by, teams change, goals are scored, but their friendship only grows stronger: Lionel Messi received a special gift from his friend Neymar Jr., but he wasn’t the only one.
The Inter Miami captain received Santos FC jerseys, the Brazilian team of his former teammate, for himself and his sons Thiago and Mateo, and this kind gesture touched soccer fans.
Ney’s special gift to Leo and his sons
The Brazilian team’s official X account shared a photo showing Leo smiling alongside his two eldest sons holding an autographed Santos FC jersey with the number ’10’ and Neymar Jr.’s name on the back. They also accompanied the image with a warm message:
“From Neymar Jr. to Lionel Messi. From the Prince to the Genius,” they began in the post’s description.
“The Sacred Mantle, of immeasurable value, with the number immortalized by the King. 10 for Neymar. 10 for Messi. 10 for Pelé. An infinite legacy in the history of soccer,” they added, ending with: “Greetings from Vila Belmiro, Lionel Messi!”
Upon seeing this, fans quickly left messages of support in the comments:
“Pride that not everyone can have!” wrote one follower. “From Neymar to Messi, from the Prince to the Genius, the royal succession of soccer looks quite elegant with the number 10,” commented another.
“Neymar convinces Lionel to play for Santos FC,” another fan asked hopefully. “This is the definition of forming a friendship that endures decades, generations, and soccer clubs,” noted another user.
“What a legacy! The #10 jersey has seen some of the greatest in soccer history. Here’s to the unforgettable moments by Neymar, Messi, and Pelé! Let’s celebrate the magic they brought to the field! @SantosFC,” said another.
The great bond between the captain of the Argentine national team and Neymar began at Barcelona, where they connected perfectly both on and off the field for four seasons (2013-17). After the arrival of Luis Suárez, they formed the unforgettable and unbeatable South American trio, “MSN,” which led the club to glory, scoring more than 360 goals together.
After some time apart, fate brought them back together at PSG, where they shared a locker room again for another two seasons (2021-2023).
Despite being rivals with their countries, both have shown deep respect for each other whenever they have to face each other, such as in the 2021 Copa América final where Messi defeated Neymar’s Brazil at the Maracanã and Leo asked his teammates to celebrate without taunting.
In this way, Lionel and Neymar Jr. continue to maintain one of the strongest friendships in world football, even though they compete in different leagues and countries, and this gift is just further proof of that, reaffirming the eternal connection between the soccer stars.
Meanwhile, the two could meet at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Brazil will be in Group C alongside Morocco, Haiti, and Scotland. They will make their debut against Morocco on Saturday, June 13, at the New Jersey Stadium in New York. Argentina, meanwhile, will be in Group J alongside Austria, Algeria, and Jordan, and will make their debut against Algeria on Tuesday, June 16.
However, Lionel has not confirmed his participation in the tournament, and Neymar will have to recover from his injuries “100%” if he wants to be among Carlo Ancelotti’s selections.
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