Neymar and Messi reunion in Inter Miami? What it would take to make it real

Inter Miami already changed MLS once with Lionel Messi. Now the rumor mill is heating up again. Could Neymar be next? The Brazilian star becomes a free agent at the end of the year, and the possibility of a reunion with Messi has the entire league buzzing.

But this is not 2015 Barcelona. This is MLS in 2025. And bringing Neymar stateside would require the right structure, the right timing and a cold look at both risk and reward.

Former USMNT goalkeeper Brad Friedel laid it out clearly in a recent conversation with GOAL: the talent is obvious, but the gamble is real.

Why Neymar to MLS is even on the table

Neymar’s path over the last two years has been anything but smooth.

• Returned to Santos in January after his Saudi contract was terminated

• Still recovering from a major knee ligament injury

• Limited minutes, inconsistent fitness

• Turning 34 next season

• Desperate to stay in form ahead of the 2026 World Cup in North America

A return to Europe is not in play. Sources point to two realistic scenarios: extending his stint with Santos or taking the Beckham-Messi route to Miami.

The Inter Miami angle: ambition meets calculation

Friedel called it a “sporting risk more than a commercial one.” And he is right. Inter Miami’s roster is about to change again. With Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba approaching retirement, new Designated Player slots are expected to open.

Neymar’s upside is obvious. He is one of the most marketable faces in football, and his arrival would make headlines globally, just as Messi did.

But Inter Miami has to be smart. Friedel’s advice was simple:

“If they structure the contract correctly, it limits the risk.”

Translation: performance based terms, medical protections and commercial clauses to balance cost versus return.

MLS clubs have already used this model. Vancouver’s deal for Thomas Müller, for example, was built to protect the club while maximizing brand impact.

Where does Messi fit into this?

Messi has extended through 2028. He has already proven he can dominate MLS while playing fewer high-intensity minutes than in Europe. Neymar’s body is a different story.

But Messi-Neymar-Suarez nostalgia will always pull headlines, and Neymar himself has admitted it would be “incredible” to play with Messi again.

Luis Suárez? Friedel doubts the 38-year-old has another season in him.

MLS nostalgia is fun. MLS contracts are not built on nostalgia.

dream move or calculated project?

Neymar in MLS would be box-office.

A global superstar, an off-field magnet, and still, when fit, capable of changing games. But Inter Miami and the league cannot operate just on hype.

MLS is targeting growth. Bigger TV contracts. International relevance. More elite talent.

A Neymar-Messi reunion checks every dream-scenario box. The challenge is making sure the reality fits the business.