Neymar consumes his latest episodes of Saudi football. In this winter or summer market, but the huge amount of money he earns Al-Hilal it is very difficult for him to leave immediately and, above all, the destinations where he would like to go, such as Santos or Inter Miami. One because of his past and the other because of the feeling of being in the prime of his life alongside Messi and Luis Suarez. Despite his limited footballing presence in recent years, the Brazilian's arrival in either league would activate them to the maximum, especially commercially, an area in which he is still number one. On a sporting level, that remains to be seen. Two hundred million euros is a sum well beyond the reach of the rest of football. He now seems to be getting closer to Santos, but the matter is not easy. 98 million euros is what it cost the Saudi team.
Chicago Fire or Inter Miami are the two North American (MLS) teams looking to bring in Neymar. The possible departure from the Saudi club took on even more importance after the coach Jorge Jesus' statements on Thursday, specifying that physically the Brazilian was unable to keep up with the team's pace. Neymar was signed in August 2023 and suffered a serious knee injury in October that year, which kept him sidelined for over a year. He even returned to action late last year, but then suffered a muscle injuryreturning to medical treatment.
MLS dreams of its arrival
Even if Neymar is no longer at the peak of his sporting performance, his possible move to Major League Soccer (MLS), especially if it results in a partnership with Lionel Messi, could increase the popularity of soccer in the United States and strengthen the league's presence in the Latin American market“, says Ivan Martinho, professor of sports marketing at ESPM.
Neymar's likely arrival in MLS inevitably draws comparisons to what happened with Messi at Inter Miami. The Argentine star's arrival at the club in July 2023 has boosted Major League Soccerthe best North American soccer league, once and for all. A study by _SponsorUnited_, published late last year, shows that sponsorship revenue reached $665 million, up 13% from 2023. Between February and October of this year, 1,800 brands and 2,500 companies were analyzed and new partnerships in the competition accounted for 18%.
Neymar can't play at the level we are used to
The numbers are only below the NHLthe North American ice hockey league, with revenue estimated at $750 million this season. If this growth continues, it will be the first time another competition takes center stage in what is considered one of the major leagues in the United States, alongside the National Football League (NFL), of Major League Baseball (MLB) and Major League Baseball. National Basketball Association (NBA).
Audience hit
“Neymar is a canon among the public, in addition to his technical quality to play since he is still young. I certainly only see positive points for the league and the clubs, and the athlete must know how he wants to behave and what he aspires to“, says Renê Salviano, CEO of Heatmap and specialist in sports marketing, as evidenced by the fourteen sponsorships held by the Brazilian.
With Messi, Apple TV, which exclusively broadcasts MLS matches, won 110,000 subscribers on the day the broadcasts were announced, and nearly 300,000 in one month. The platform paid $250 million a year to broadcast the competition, for a 10-year contract until 2033. The total value of $2.5 billion, for example, is practically triple what was paid before , or approximately $100 million.
For Thiago Freitas, COO of Roc Nation Sports in Brazil, even if his stay in Saudi Arabia did not go well on the field due to his injuries, he believes that his talent can turn the situation around. “When he is fit, he is capable of being relevant in decisive matches at any level. Moreover, we have a huge number of football fans around the world, not just in Brazil, who for years, Neymar was an icon, a reference that relates to fashion and style, through accessories and hairstyles, but also to music, bringing choreography to the field,” said Freitas. “Neymar can be such a relevant athlete in the United States United as Messi is for his team, and can also be a stimulus for companies that explore your image and your brand, like what is happening today with Messi.”
72,610 spectators
In October 2024, MLS broke a new record: for the first time, more than 11 million spectators were present at regular season matches, surpassing the 10.9 million in 2023. The figures are directly linked to the presence of Messi, as he played an average of 23,240 league matches last season. The record was set during an Inter Miami match, when 72,610 paying fans attended Arrowhead Stadium.home of the Kansas City Chiefs football team, to watch the game against Sporting Kansas City.
“Just like for Messi, Neymar's possible move to MLS would provide great visibility to football in the United States, in addition to being responsible for increasing League and city revenue“, adds Fabio Wolff, managing partner of Wolff Sports and sports specialist.
Club World Cup
Neymar's trip to the United States also has other objectives. In the coming years, starting in 2025, the United States will host some of the world's biggest competitions. In the middle of the year the first Club World Cup will take place (Al Hilal is qualified and promises to sign a lot for the tournament),and in 2026, the World Cup, with some North American states as the main venues. In 2028, it will be the turn of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
“MLS is one of the leagues most keen to increase its current global exposure and, combined with that, it sees potential to grow interest from its own local audience. The connection comes at a strategic time, so as the country moves closer to hosting the biggest tournament as a global icon on and off the pitch, Neymar would not only attract new fans and sponsors but also boost commercial partnerships, grow. the league's digital engagement and strengthen its presence in pop culture, through its relationship with fashion, music and entertainment. Its presence in MLS would be a catalyst to consolidate football as a leading sport in the country, generating long-term cultural, economic and sporting impacts,” analyzes Wagner Leitzke, head of digital marketing at End to End.
The footballer Neymar
The Brazilian wants to participate in the 2026 World Cup in the United States, even though he has not played a single match with his national team since October 2023, injury permitting. With Al Hilal he played no more than seven matches, meaning a 17-month hiatus in which he was virtually away from competitive tensions, leading to him not being registered to play with the Saudi team. The first challenge must be to become a footballer again, which is complicated, and then to think about the challenges.
“He chose not to be a top player
“He chose not to be a top player,” we say bluntly on SporTV's 'Seleçao' show, referring to the choices Neymar has made in recent years. “If we talk about technical quality, 'Ney' could play for any team in the world. At the World Cup he was one of the best in the world, against Croatia he scored an legendary goal, but things changed very quickly: his serious injury, his age…“
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