Neymar’s Thoughtful Gift for Messi and His Sons Celebrates Footballing Legacy and Friendship

In a gesture rich with symbolism and affection, Neymar Jr has sent a special gift to his former team-mate and close friend Lionel Messi—extending the tribute to Messi’s three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. The Brazilian forward presented each of them with the iconic No. 10 shirt of Santos FC, the club where his own journey began. Santos confirmed receipt of the shirts and shared photographs of the presentation, instantly stirring nostalgia among supporters who associate the No. 10 with footballing artistry and heritage.

In a statement accompanying the images, Santos described the exchange as “a sacred memento, priceless in value—Prince to Genius, Neymar Jr to Lionel Messi.” The club paid homage to the lineage of the No. 10 shirt, forever entwined with Pelé, and reaffirmed that Neymar and Messi have, in their own eras, carried forward the weight of that legacy. The message concluded with a warm welcome to Messi at Vila Belmiro, a symbolic invitation that spoke less of contracts and more of reverence for greatness.

The friendship between Messi and Neymar was forged in the cauldron of elite competition at FC Barcelona. Alongside Luis Suárez, the pair formed the famed “MSN” trident, a forward line that terrorised defences across Europe. Their 2014–15 campaign remains one of the most celebrated seasons in modern club football, as Barcelona swept the UEFA Champions League, La Liga and the Copa del Rey. Beyond the trophies, the trio embodied a rare chemistry—an intuitive understanding that married Messi’s genius with Neymar’s flair and Suárez’s ruthlessness.

Although Neymar’s world-record move to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017 separated the duo, fate reunited them in 2021 when Messi joined PSG following his emotional departure from Barcelona. While their Parisian chapter did not quite capture the romance of their Catalan years, the bond between the two stars endured, underscored by public gestures of mutual respect and private moments of camaraderie.

Both icons departed European football in 2023 to embark on contrasting new chapters. Messi crossed the Atlantic to join Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, where his arrival transformed the club’s fortunes and global profile. He inspired the franchise to its first major silverware, followed by further honours in subsequent seasons, and capped his impact with individual accolades for goalscoring prowess and overall influence. Neymar, meanwhile, returned to his boyhood club Santos in 2025. Though hampered by injuries and fitness concerns, his presence proved galvanising, helping steady the club through a precarious campaign and averting the spectre of relegation.

The exchange of the Santos No. 10 shirts, particularly for Messi’s children, resonates beyond mere memorabilia. It is a quiet acknowledgement that footballing greatness is not confined to trophies and statistics, but carried forward through stories, symbols and the passing of inspiration to the next generation. In gifting his most personal emblem to Messi’s family, Neymar has offered more than a shirt—he has shared a piece of football’s living heritage.

Key Moments in the Messi–Neymar Journey

This small but meaningful exchange stands as a reminder that even at the summit of global stardom, football’s most enduring currency remains friendship, respect and the shared language of legacy.