"Messi was the best in the world, and Neymar was second best" - Luis Suarez says ex-Barcelona superstars helped him win Golden Boot
Former Barcelona superstar Luis Suarez has thanked Lionel Messi and Neymar for helping him win the Golden Boot in 2016.
Between 2014 and 2017, Barcelona arguably had the most fearsome attacking trio in the game. Dubbed MSN, Messi, Neymar and Suarez combined effortlessly on the pitch, scoring extraordinary goals for fun. Propelled by their explosiveness, the Blaugrana won their second continental treble in the 2014-15 season.
The next season, they won the La Liga title. Suarez emerged as the top scorer, snagging the Pichichi trophy with 40 goals in 35 games, good enough for the Uruguayan to win his first Golden Boot.
VAMOSSS @GREMIO! 🇪🇪
Felicitaciones @FelipeCarballo8! ⚽️🔝
QUÉ ALEGRÍAAAAA 🙃 https://t.co/fcHLUaA24m
In an interview with Brazilian outlet Placar, the Gremio forward looked back on his first and only Golden Boot win. Gracious as ever, Suarez thanked Messi and Neymar for helping him to the podium.
“For us, Messi was the best in the world, and for me, Neymar was the second best, but they helped me win the Golden Boot. I will always be grateful,” said Suarez (via Marca).
Suarez also revealed the secret behind the trio’s unparalleled success.
“It is further proof that three stars together can play in the same team with the goal of winning for the team, not individually. And I think that's what made us better and good teammates,” Suarez added.
MSN disbanded in 2017 when Neymar was lured away by French outfit Paris Saint-Germain. Suarez believes his former teammate should have snubbed the Parisians and would have won the Ballon d’Or had he stayed at the Camp Nou.
Suarez said:
“If Neymar had stayed at Barcelona, he would have won a Ballon d'Or, for sure. My opinion is that if I had stayed, he would have won.”
Messi was the last 'MSN' man at Barcelona after Suarez was sold to Atletico Madrid in 2020. The former Liverpool man scored 21 goals in 32 La Liga games the next season to help Roj Rojiblancos to the Spanish top-flight title.
Raphinha shines as ten-man Barcelona down Valencia
Under-fire forward Raphinha produced the goods as Xavi’s Barcelona picked up a key 1-0 win over Valencia at the Camp Nou on Sunday (March 5).
The Brazilian winger scored the only goal of the game with a header from the middle of the box. While the header was straightforward, it was his determined run that helped him get there. He showed superb enthusiasm to outsmart Jesus Vazquez and connect with Sergio Busquets’ chipped ball into the box.
🎙️ RAPHINHA: "We need to know how to suffer if we want to win." #BarçaValencia https://t.co/AzkLLiPdss
In the 59th minute, Araujo pulled Hugo Duro down to the floor to stop the forward from going one-on-one with the 'keeper. The referee did not see the blatant foul kindly and gave the defender his marching orders. Barcelona somehow held firm for the remainder of the game to register a narrow victory.
Courtesy of the win and Real Madrid’s goalless draw with Real Betis, the Blaugrana now have a nine-point cushion at the top with 14 games to go.