At this point, it is worth slamming on the brakes and thinking practically. Neymar would be immensely expensive. He makes hundreds of millions every year at his current club Al Hilal. Chicago, who are reportedly willing to break the bank to sign him, is reportedly only offering something around $20 million. And don’t forget, there are other potential global destinations.
There also remain broader questions about his fit in the Windy City. Does Neymar really want to play in frigid temperatures? Has anyone told him how cold it is in Chicago? Furthermore, with Messi, Jordi Alba, Luis Suarez and Sergio Busquets all playing for Inter Miami, does it not make far more sense for him to play in South Florida?
Tom Hindle: It’s a no-brainer. Neymar’s days at the top of football are long gone. A mixture of injuries and a lackadaisical attitude toward the sport have made him a perfect candidate to keep the good old-fashioned “retirement league” stereotype going. It is also worth mentioning at this point that MLS is not an easy ride for anyone these days. The Brazilian won’t be able to stroll through games. But the distinction here is that he seems convinced that he would be able to do so. He’s also tailormade for the American glitz of this all. Add the fact that he’s shown a real reluctance to get back to his best following a hamstring injury, and this all looks perfect.
Ryan Tolmich: From a marketing perspective, obviously. From an on-field perspective, TBD. Neymar’s injury issues have been obvious. They’re essentially the reason he’s available now in the first place. His move to Saudi Arabia has gotten Al-Hilal little return on investment on the field and, until he proves otherwise, there are legitimate concerns on how he’s fare in MLS, where travel is longer and where some fields have artificial turf. Would it be fun to watch? Absolutely. Is it a guaranteed success? Not by a long shot.
Jacob Schneider: In every single world, it makes sense. He is arguably the best Brazilian footballer since Pele himself, and arguably a top-five player of his generation. He sells jerseys, he’s the face of a club, and he becomes an instant top-20 celebrity athlete in the United States – if not higher. There’s just so much about it that makes sense.
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Alex Labidou: From a marketing perspective, Neymar to MLS makes complete sense. Since its inception, MLS has struggled to crack the TV ratings puzzle, and in a crowded American sports landscape, star power drives attention. However, from a playing perspective, there are significant concerns. Neymar hasn’t played more than two-thirds of a season since his final year at Barcelona in 2017. MLS already saw the impact of Messi missing half of last season – can the league afford for its potential second-biggest star to appear in just one-third of a season while commanding a salary upwards of $20 million?
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TH: Technically, based on where things are in talks, yes. Chicago have his discovery rights, and there is even talk of a specific salary they would be willing to offer (around $20 million.) But logically, it’s hard to see. Neymar needs a warm, sunny place, where he can go to the beach, go clubbing and enjoy a luxurious lifestyle. With all due respect to the Windy City, this isn’t it.
RT: Depends. Does Neymar want to be THE guy or does he want to play with his friends? At Inter Miami, he’d be with the Barca Boys, which could be fun. However, dating back to his move to PSG, Neymar has shown a desire to be out of Messi’s shadow and be his own man. It’s why he left Barcelona to begin with, and it’s partly fueled by ambition and partly fueled by ego. Moving to a Fire team that has struggled for years is a way to prove he can be that game-changer in a big city in a country he has an obvious affinity for. Will that desire outweigh the power of friendship, though? Only he knows the answer.
JS: Sure there is. Does it make sense? Not at all. It’s cold, and windy and it is a club that, for lack of a better word, has been mediocre for way too long. Of course, the Fire are undergoing a new era under Gregg Berhalter, but it feels like this is a potential disaster waiting to happen from a performance perspective. He would be a brilliant marketing campaign to make them relevant again, but if he doesn’t turn out on the pitch the way they want, it feels like it could be all for nothing considering they are revamping their entire roster in hopes of competing with MLS’ elite in 2025.
AL: This all unfortunately feels like a smokescreen for an inevitable move to Inter Miami. Throughout his career, Neymar has always typically shied away from situations where cold weather is involved – remember, Chelsea tried to get him twice and failed with weather being a factor. Money and opportunity do talk and Neymar could reach iconic status in Chi-town, but it’s tough to envision him playing in the winter in the Windy City.
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TH: Well, that’s actually hard to say. There are two elements to this all. The first is Neymar the brand. No matter where he plays, shirts will fly off the shelves. They will see spikes in attendance, jersey sales, social media following, and pretty much every single revenue stream that doesn’t come from a TV deal. In that sense, they should throw whatever money it takes to make happen.
For Neymar the footballer, things might be a little trickier. The Fire would have to tweak their roster and surround the Brazilian with some reliable legs to minimize the pressures put on his already nonexistent defensive work rate. But when you swing big, you have to be prepared for everything that comes with it. There’s also every chance Neymar doesn’t care about football anymore. If Chicago isn’t stupid, it will have a plan here.
RT: Why wouldn’t they? Chicago is a big city that, right now, lacks a big player on the soccer field. The Fire are always fighting for relevance, and bringing in a legitimately famous world-renowned star would certainly put them in the spotlight. It’s something this team hasn’t really had in years, but it’s something that the club clearly yearns for. On-field, figuring it out will be tricky but not impossible, particularly if Berhalter can surround Neymar with runners and workers, but the on-field balance would be very important to making this move work.
JS: Why wouldn’t anyone want Neymar? In sports, there’s often a risk with most moves when it comes to trades and transfers. In the NBA this year, the Minnesota Timberwolves traded away Karl Anthony Towns in hopes that their return would see them better off and it has gone awful as they sit eighth in the West. It’s the perfect example of a move gone wrong. Then, there are moves gone right that were risky at first, like the LA Dodgers acquiring Mookie Betts in 2020. He has since helped them to two World Series titles.
For Chicago, they’re banking on the fact that he is arguably the best South American footballer we’ve seen in nearly 50 years, and on his best day, he is limitless. However, the risk at hand is he has rarely been seen over the past few years. Regardless, though, this feels like a move they have to at least try to make.
AL: Michael Jordan. Walter Payton. Patrick Kane. Chicago has had some great sporting icons in its history and Neymar has the chance to join that fraternity. Let’s face it, the city right now is hurting in the sports scene. Caleb Williams didn’t exactly change the Bears’ fortunes this year, the Bulls haven’t been relevant since Derrick Rose tore his ACL and the 2024 White Sox were literally the WORST team in baseball’s 100-plus years history. Neymar’s arrival would finally give the Fire a chance to make some inroads in the city and give its biggest sports star. Will that be enough to sell Neymar on coming there? Time will tell.
