Lionel Messi and his sons have received a special gift from Neymar Jr., his former teammate at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Neymar, now back with his boyhood club Santos FC in Brazil, sent personalized Santos jerseys to Messi and his sons, Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro. The jerseys were customized with Neymar's name and the iconic number 10 on the back.

Santos FC, Neymar's current club, shared a photo on social media of Messi and his sons posing with the shirts. The caption read: "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 of Neymar. 10 of Messi. 10 of Pelé. An infinite legacy in the history of football. Greetings from Vila Belmiro, Lionel Messi!". The message highlights the friendship between the two football legends and celebrates the symbolic legacy of the No. 10 shirt in world football.

Neymar and Messi's bond began when Neymar joined Barcelona in 2013. They quickly formed a strong connection on and off the pitch, combining for numerous goals during their time together at Barcelona and later at PSG. Their best season together was in 2014/15 when they won the continental treble with Barcelona. They initially stopped being teammates after Neymar left Barcelona for PSG in 2017 but reunited after Messi joined the Ligue 1 club in 2021. They have played alongside each other 206 times, combining for 67 goals.

Neymar has often spoken of his admiration for Messi, calling him his idol. In 2016, Neymar said, "Messi is not only my friend, he is also my idol, and I will always support him". Their friendship has remained strong even when they have been rivals on the international stage. A photo of Messi consoling Neymar after Argentina's victory over Brazil in the 2021 Copa America final went viral, demonstrating their deep bond.

Neymar returned to Santos in January 2025 after an injury-hit period with Saudi Professional League club Al Hilal. He hopes to regain form and secure a place in Brazil's squad for the upcoming World Cup, but he is currently facing fitness challenges.

The gift of the Santos jerseys is a testament to the enduring friendship between Neymar and Messi, two of the biggest stars in football. It also honors the legacy of Pelé, the legendary Brazilian footballer who also wore the number 10 for Santos and Brazil.