The profound camaraderie between the Brazilian forward Neymar Jr. and his former teammate, the Argentine maestro Lionel Messi, continues to flourish, a bond initially forged during their shared tenure at Barcelona from 2013 to 2017. This enduring connection, which also saw them unite at Paris Saint-Germain between 2021 and 2023, persists despite their current professional paths diverging, with Neymar now at Santos and Messi representing Inter Miami.
A Gesture Beyond Measure
In a poignant testament to their lasting friendship, the 33-year-old Neymar recently dispatched a deeply symbolic gift. He sent three identical replicas of his new Santos jersey to Messi and his sons: Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. The Brazilian club itself brought attention to this heartfelt gesture through its social media channels, sharing an image of Messi and his children holding the jerseys.
The accompanying message eloquently captured the gesture’s significance: “From Neymar Jr. to Lionel Messi. From the Prince to the Genius. The sacred shirt, of priceless value, bears the number immortalized by the King. Neymar’s number 10. Messi’s number 10. Pelé’s number 10. An everlasting legacy in football history. Greetings from Vila Belmiro, Lionel Messi!” This act transcends a mere exchange of memorabilia, framing the iconic number 10 as a shared heritage linking generations of football royalty.
Meanwhile, the Santos faithful eagerly anticipate Neymar’s return to competitive action. The star underwent surgery on his left knee joint in December of last year. Having recovered from the procedure and resumed normal training for the past two weeks, his integration into the squad remains pending, as Argentine coach Juan Pablo Vojvoda has yet to include him in the official team selection.