Why Lionel Messi & Neymar made Luis Suarez feel like a ‘donkey’ as South American superstars formed iconic ‘MSN’ attacking unit at Barcelona

The Uruguayan striker moved to Camp Nou in the summer of 2014, following a productive spell with Premier League giants Liverpool, and immediately slotted into a star-studded squad alongside fellow South Americans.

Messi and Neymar were already on Barca’s books at that point and went on to form the fabled ‘MSN’ strike force after being joined in Catalunya by Suarez. They enjoyed considerable success together, winning La Liga titles and a Champions League crown.

Suarez played his part, hitting 198 goals in total for Barcelona through 283 appearances, but admits that he did not feel entirely comfortable alongside a couple of iconic forwards when first taking the No.9 jersey with Liga heavyweights.

Suarez has told Argentine content creator Davoo Xeneize: “At the beginning, we were three players with different characteristics where the donkey, me, was in the middle. I used to say to myself: ‘Where do I put myself so I don’t get in the way?’

“Of course, I would look to my side and see Leo. I looked to the other side and there was Neymar. In the back, Xavi, Iniesta, Busquets. I learned to move in my space, in my rectangle. The truth is that we understood each other in a way that was admirable.”

Suarez surprisingly left Barcelona in 2020. He has since been reunited with Messi at MLS side Inter Miami, with the pair chasing down more major silverware together in 2025 - in what could be Suarez’s final season at 38 years of age.