MLS reunion? Neymar & Lionel Messi still 'talk a lot' as Al-Hilal forward labels Inter Miami superstar his 'great idol' amid summer transfer rumours

South American superstars from Brazil and Argentina having previously graced the same squads at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain. They have won La Liga, Ligue 1 and Champions League crowns together, but are now turning out in different parts of the world.

Both severed ties with PSG in the summer of 2023, as Messi decided to chase the American dream in MLS and Neymar followed Cristiano Ronaldo to the Middle East and Saudi Pro League champions Al-Hilal – where he has barely figured due to a serious knee ligament injury.

There has been talk of Neymar and Messi being reunited in the States, with fellow former Barca stars Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba already in Florida. The Brazil international has told Band Sports of his relationship with Messi: “We are far away but we talk, we talk a lot. Even yesterday, he sent me a message but we are happy, we are happy for each other. For the title, he sent me a message when we won here too. I spoke to him, he’s a great guy, he’s a great mirror for me, he’s a great idol. Besides being an idol, he’s a friend I have and we talk a lot.”

While Neymar is yet to make his mark in Saudi Arabia, as he works his way back to full fitness, Messi has continued to star in MLS – with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner breaking more records and generating MVP talk in 2024.