Legacy of the No. 10 Jersey: A Tribute from Neymar to Messi

omidbasir- Santos FC recently celebrated a significant moment by sharing a photograph featuring Lionel Messi alongside his two sons, each proudly holding the renowned No. 10 jersey currently donned by Neymar.

These jerseys were presented as a special gift from Neymar to his former teammates at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.

The No. 10 jersey carries immense historical significance, having been famously worn by the legendary Pele during his tenure at Santos.

In their tribute, Santos stated: “From Neymar Jr. to Lionel Messi. From the Prince to the Genius. The Sacred Jersey, of immeasurable value, with the number immortalized by the King. 10 for Neymar. 10 for Messi. 10 for Pele. An infinite legacy in the history of football.”

They concluded with a warm message: “Greetings from Vila Belmiro, Lionel Messi!”

Neymar, who personally signed the jerseys for Thiago and Mateo Messi with a heartfelt note, also shared the touching photograph on his Instagram account.

As Neymar continues to recover from a knee injury, the Santos coach emphasized that there is no urgency in his return to the field.

With Neymar approaching his 34th birthday, the countdown to his World Cup aspirations begins to loom large.

Messi, now 38, and Neymar, 34, have maintained a strong friendship stemming from their four seasons together at Barcelona and an additional two years at PSG. Both players departed PSG in 2023, with Messi joining Major League Soccer’s Inter Miami and Neymar transitioning to Al Hilal in the Saudi Pro League.

Having returned to Santos 13 months ago, Neymar is eager to regain his peak performance in pursuit of a spot on Brazil’s World Cup squad.