In a gesture rich with symbolism and affection, Neymar Jr has sent a special gift to his former team-mate and long-time friend Lionel Messi. The Brazilian forward presented Messi with Santos’ iconic No. 10 shirt—while also sending matching jerseys for Messi’s three sons, Thiago, Mateo and Ciro. Santos shared images of the personalised shirts on their official channels, a moment that swiftly captured the imagination of supporters across Brazil, Argentina and beyond.
In a poetic statement, the club described the exchange as “from prince to genius”, adding that the No. 10 shirt is a sacred emblem whose value is beyond measure. At Santos, that number is forever entwined with Pelé, whose artistry elevated both club and country to global renown. In the decades since, the No. 10 has remained football’s most evocative symbol—worn by playmakers, visionaries and match-winners. Pelé immortalised it; Neymar carried it into the modern era; Messi transformed it into a personal hallmark of sustained brilliance.
Santos also invoked the historic Vila Belmiro stadium, symbolically welcoming Messi through this gesture, as though the Argentine maestro were being embraced by one of Brazil’s most storied institutions.
The bond between Messi and Neymar was forged at Barcelona. When Neymar arrived in Catalonia in 2013, he quickly formed a devastating attacking partnership with Messi. The addition of Luis Suárez created the celebrated “MSN” trio, widely regarded as one of the most formidable forward lines in modern football history. Their crowning achievement came in the 2014–15 season, when Barcelona secured a historic treble.
Below is a summary of their principal achievements together at Barcelona:
| Season | Club | Honour | Notable Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | UEFA Champions League | Part of MSN trio scoring 120+ goals in all competitions |
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | La Liga | Domestic title secured with attacking dominance |
| 2014–15 | Barcelona | Copa del Rey | Completed continental treble |
In 2017, Neymar departed for Paris Saint-Germain in a world-record transfer, ending the trio’s first chapter. Yet fate reunited him with Messi in 2021 when the Argentine joined PSG. Though injuries and transitions marked their time in Paris, their mutual admiration endured.
By 2023, both had left European football. Messi embarked on a transformative spell in Major League Soccer with Inter Miami, guiding the club to its first-ever trophy and subsequently securing the Supporters’ Shield in 2024 and the MLS Cup in 2025. That campaign saw Messi claim both the Golden Boot and the league’s Most Valuable Player award—further embellishing a career already laden with honours.
Neymar, meanwhile, returned in 2025 to his boyhood club Santos. Despite struggles with fitness, he played a pivotal leadership role in steering the club away from relegation danger, rekindling a connection with the supporters who first witnessed his prodigious talent.
More than a simple exchange of shirts, Neymar’s gift serves as a reminder that football’s fiercest competitors can also share its deepest friendships. Across continents and chapters, the No. 10 continues to unite legends.