Neymar Jr: Will he make his move to the MLS?
Neymar, one of the world's most talented football players, has publicly expressed an interest in playing in the United States, further fueling these rumours. However, whether he will actually make the move depends on several factors, including his current contractual obligations, career aspirations, and any offers he receives from MLS clubs.
Neymar is now one of the most marketed players on the planet, with sponsors having included everything from sports brands and poker games brands to airlines and entertainment giants. In fact, ESPN labelled him the world's fourth-most-famous athlete.
With this in mind, we look at Neymar’s biggest career highlights and achievements to date and discuss whether his future aspirations will result in a move to Major League Soccer across the pond.
What is Neymar Jr known for? Achievements and career highlights
Neymar Jr is arguably one of the best talents Brazil has produced in recent years and is certainly considered to be one of the best players of his generation. Having scored more than 100 goals in total during his time across three clubs, he is the highest scoring Brazilian in Champions League history.
The player’s rise to fame began when he joined Barcelona in 2013, quickly becoming part of the attacking trio with Lionel Messi and Luis Suárez. This trio is arguably one of the most successful in footballing history, comparable to Benzema, Ronaldo and Bale. His transfer to Paris Saint-Germain four years later made him one of the most expensive players in history at a cost of €222 million.
He won five Ligue 1 titles and was an essential component in making PSG runners up for the Champions League title in the 2019 - 2020 season. However recurring injuries plagued his time at the club and greatly impacted his total playing time on the pitch.
Last year, Neymar Jr struck gold, securing a contract with Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal for a €90 million fee. It is also being reported that the player is being paid €150 million a year at Al Hilal, six times more than what he was earning at PSG.
What’s next? Will Neymar Jr make his rumoured move to the MLS in the future to join Messi and co at Inter Miami?
Firstly, his current contractual obligations should be considered. Neymar’s contract with Al-Hilal ends after the 2024 - 2025 campaign and interestingly this is around the same time Lionel Messi’s contract at Inter Miami is up for renewal.
It is inevitable that Messi will be leaving Major League Soccer in the near future to enjoy his retirement from his playing career. Therefore, the MLS will be keen to build on his success and replace him with another international star like Neymar.
That doesn't mean that Messi and Neymar could not play in the MLS simultaneously. In fact, Neymar has expressed an interest in playing once again with the player. With Luis Suarez also playing at Inter Miami, this could spell a fantastic reunion for the famous attacking trio.
Inter Miami are not the only MLS team that have a potential interest in Neymar. A number of other clubs, including Los Angeles FC, LA Galaxy and even New York City FC, which is owned by the same group that owns Manchester City, could see themselves signing the player.
Neymar having a MLS Season Pass could be hugely beneficial to the sport, it could bring in many national and international spectators that are desperate to see him on the pitch. When Messi made his move, the MLS were inclined to hike up the price of tickets to games where he would be present in response to demand.
Global stars like Neymar do wonders for the MLS by helping to enhance its reputation and competitiveness. It would also help him to expand his own brand and raise his profile to the new audience.
The timing of this potential move is important. Neymar has likely achieved all of the goals he set out to in European football and so he might not feel a return there has any huge motivations. The MLS could therefore make a good final chapter in his playing career and present potential coaching opportunities for the future.
Overall, the MLS seems to be a great opportunity for Neymar to continue his career after his time in Saudi Arabia. While not likely to be as financially rewarding as his current contract, it would provide the chance to play once again alongside the greats - Messi and Suarez. Could the MLS be one last swan song for the player?