The Rondo, Neymar Edition: Could the Brazilian star actually sign with Chicago Fire? Is he really MLS-bound? And what does this mean for Lionel Messi's Inter Miami?

Tom Hindle: It's a no-brainer. Neymar's days at the top of football are long gone. A mixture of injuries and a lackadaisical attitude toward the sport have made him a perfect candidate to keep the good old-fashioned "retirement league" stereotype going. It is also worth mentioning at this point that MLS is not an easy ride for anyone these days. The Brazilian won't be able to stroll through games. But the distinction here is that he seems convinced that he would be able to do so. He's also tailormade for the American glitz of this all. Add the fact that he's shown a real reluctance to get back to his best following a hamstring injury, and this all looks perfect.

Ryan Tolmich: From a marketing perspective, obviously. From an on-field perspective, TBD. Neymar's injury issues have been obvious. They're essentially the reason he's available now in the first place. His move to Saudi Arabia has gotten Al-Hilal little return on investment on the field and, until he proves otherwise, there are legitimate concerns on how he's fare in MLS, where travel is longer and where some fields have artificial turf. Would it be fun to watch? Absolutely. Is it a guaranteed success? Not by a long shot.

Jacob Schneider: In every single world, it makes sense. He is arguably the best Brazilian footballer since Pele himself, and arguably a top-five player of his generation. He sells jerseys, he’s the face of a club, and he becomes an instant top-20 celebrity athlete in the United States – if not higher. There’s just so much about it that makes sense.

Alex Labidou: From a marketing perspective, Neymar to MLS makes complete sense. Since its inception, MLS has struggled to crack the TV ratings puzzle, and in a crowded American sports landscape, star power drives attention. However, from a playing perspective, there are significant concerns. Neymar hasn’t played more than two-thirds of a season since his final year at Barcelona in 2017. MLS already saw the impact of Messi missing half of last season - can the league afford for its potential second-biggest star to appear in just one-third of a season while commanding a salary upwards of $20 million?

TH: Technically, based on where things are in talks, yes. Chicago have his discovery rights, and there is even talk of a specific salary they would be willing to offer (around $20 million.) But logically, it's hard to see. Neymar needs a warm, sunny place, where he can go to the beach, go clubbing and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. With all due respect to the Windy City, this isn't it.

RT: Depends. Does Neymar want to be THE guy or does he want to play with his friends? At Inter Miami, he'd be with the Barca Boys, which could be fun. However, dating back to his move to PSG, Neymar has shown a desire to be out of Messi's shadow and be his own man. It's why he left Barcelona to begin with, and it's partly fueled by ambition and partly fueled by ego. Moving to a Fire team that has struggled for years is a way to prove he can be that game-changer in a big city in a country he has an obvious affinity for. Will that desire outweigh the power of friendship, though? Only he knows the answer.

JS: Sure there is. Does it make sense? Not at all. It’s cold, and windy and it is a club that, for lack of a better word, has been mediocre for way too long. Of course, the Fire are undergoing a new era under Gregg Berhalter, but it feels like this is a potential disaster waiting to happen from a performance perspective. He would be a brilliant marketing campaign to make them relevant again, but if he doesn’t turn out on the pitch the way they want, it feels like it could be all for nothing considering they are revamping their entire roster in hopes of competing with MLS’ elite in 2025.

AL: This all unfortunately feels like a smokescreen for an inevitable move to Inter Miami. Throughout his career, Neymar has always typically shied away from situations where cold weather is involved - remember, Chelsea tried to get him twice and failed with weather being a factor. Money and opportunity do talk and Neymar could reach iconic status in Chi-town, but it's tough to envision him playing in the winter in the Windy City.

TH: Well, that's actually hard to say. There are two elements to this all. The first is Neymar the brand. No matter where he plays, shirts will fly off the shelves. They will see spikes in attendance, jersey sales, social media following, and pretty much every single revenue stream that doesn't come from a TV deal. In that sense, they should throw whatever money it takes to make happen.

For Neymar the footballer, things might be a little trickier. The Fire would have to tweak their roster and surround the Brazilian with some reliable legs to minimize the pressures put on his already nonexistent defensive work rate. But when you swing big, you have to be prepared for everything that comes with it. There's also every chance Neymar doesn't care about football anymore. If Chicago isn't stupid, it will have a plan here.

RT: Why wouldn't they? Chicago is a big city that, right now, lacks a big player on the soccer field. The Fire are always fighting for relevance, and bringing in a legitimately famous world-renowned star would certainly put them in the spotlight. It's something this team hasn't really had in years, but it's something that the club clearly yearns for. On-field, figuring it out will be tricky but not impossible, particularly if Berhalter can surround Neymar with runners and workers, but the on-field balance would be very important to making this move work.

JS: Why wouldn’t anyone want Neymar? In sports, there’s often a risk with most moves when it comes to trades and transfers. In the NBA this year, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded away Karl Anthony Towns in hopes that their return would see them better off and it has gone awful as they sit eighth in the West. It’s the perfect example of a move gone wrong. Then, there are moves gone right that were risky at first, like the LA Dodgers acquiring Mookie Betts in 2020. He has since helped them to two World Series titles.

For Chicago, they’re banking on the fact that he is arguably the best South American footballer we’ve seen in nearly 50 years, and on his best day, he is limitless. However, the risk at hand is he has rarely been seen over the past few years. Regardless, though, this feels like a move they have to at least try to make.

AL: Michael Jordan. Walter Payton. Patrick Kane. Chicago has had some great sporting icons in its history and Neymar has the chance to join that fraternity. Let's face it, the city right now is hurting in the sports scene. Caleb Williams didn't exactly change the Bears' fortunes this year, the Bulls haven't been relevant since Derrick Rose tore his ACL and the 2024 White Sox were literally the WORST team in baseball's 100-plus years history. Neymar's arrival would finally give the Fire a chance to make some inroads in the city and give its biggest sports star. Will that be enough to sell Neymar on coming there? Time will tell.

TH: Yes. Next question.

RT: He's the perfect big-city player. No disrespect to the smaller markets in MLS, but Neymar, more than anyone, is a player built for the bright lights. Given the flair he brings, on and off the field, he's a player that needs to be in a major market, whether that's Miami or elsewhere. Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, LA - these are the types of cities Neymar will clearly gravitate to, particularly knowing that the big reason he'll be coming here is for the lifestyle. By and large, the Brazilian star will want a comfortable life, things to do and, perhaps, to play with his friends so, in that regard, it's easy to see why Miami would make sense.

JS: He’s the perfect Diego Gomez replacement. Whether or not he’s the perfect player for Miami is another discussion, though. That is a lot of personality in one team, and you have to ask the question: Does he really want to live in Messi’s shadow again? Depending on that answer determines whether or not he’s the perfect player for them. If he is OK playing second fiddle to the Argentine then it’s an absolutely brilliant move. But if not, it could spell disaster on the pitch.

AL: No. But he'll certainly line up David Beckham and part-owner Lionel Messi's bank accounts if he joins. The problem with Neymar's arrival is he adds another aging star to a team that already has shown susceptibility to pressing teams and athleticism. Miami doesn't need Neymar, it needs pace and guys who can track back when an attacking sequence blows up.

Furthermore, it wouldn't be great for MLS if Neymar were to join Miami. The league needs more stars and more stars in bigger markets. Right now, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, and Houston are all major top 10 markets in the U.S. that don't have a frontline star who generates traction from ratings or a putting butts-in-seats perspective. That needs to change this season.

TH: Not sure, really. Retire? Neymar has made it clear that he wants to play at the 2026 World Cup, so he has to try to play some high-level enough footy somewhere. There's a shout for LAFC or even LA Galaxy here. But otherwise, sticking around in Saudi makes sense.

RT: He has options, doesn't he? He can stay in Saudi Arabia and collect paychecks. He can certainly return to Santos and be hailed as a returning king. Or, if he wants MLS, there are certainly other teams in the league that would like to sign him, even if they make much less sense for him in a lot of ways. Either way, he has options, and the MLS option could just be a smokescreen or a passing interest. This saga is just beginning, though, and there's no guarantee it will end with Neymar playing stateside this summer.

JS: Go home, Neymar. You’re meant to play Samba Football. You were born to be dancing on the pitch, and in Brazil, that’s where you can tango with your boots in front of thousands of genuine adoring fans. Sign for Santos, Palmeiras, Flamengo or some top-flight club in Brazil and cement your legacy with the people who adore you. You deserve that.

AL: Consider other options in the league. If Sporting KC were able to put together an ambitious plan to sign Cristiano Ronaldo a few years ago, despite the end result, all teams in MLS should be clamoring to speak with the Brazilian megastar. With the 2026 World Cup less than two years away, Brazil will surely be at the forefront of that tournament. It would be the perfect opportunity to seize momentum and headlines for whatever MLS team signs him.