COMMENT: When Lionel Messi was named best player in the Spanish Primera División for last season this week it should have sent shivers down the spine of opponents mindful that he is only just returning to full fitness this term and making up what could be the best forward line of all time.
The Argentinian scored only his fourth goal of the league campaign at the weekend, against Real Sociedad, but during his two-month absence Neymar and Luis Suárez have coped, and then some, by scoring 34 times already this season.
Last term, 2014/15, the Barça front trio, labelled MSN by the Spanish media, recorded 122 goals between them, exceeding the all-time Spanish record of 118, set by Real Madrid trio Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema and Gonzalo Higuaín in 2011/12.
Messi netted no less than 58 of those in all competitions, while Neymar chipped in with 39 and Suárez, who was unable to play for the Blaugrana until October 25 last year, scored 'just' 25.
No trio has ever scored as many goals for a club side during a season and, if statistics are what one goes on, then there is little room for argument that Messi, Suárez and Neymar are the greatest attacking force ever seen in football.
On the pitch the three stars play in complete harmony always looking to create chances or openings for the others to progress into and their relationship was best summed up at the weekend when Suárez and Neymar spent the final part of the game looking to set up Messi, which they eventually did with a wonderfully crafted move in the 91st minute, to ensure he kick-started his tally of league goals once again.
Off the field they have a similar understanding and Suárez has even moved house to be nearer Messi with the families having become firm friends and their children playing together.
The goals against Real Sociedad took Messi to 44 goals for the calendar year of 2015, Neymar to 41 and Suárez to 40 and that closeness reflects just how they work together and just how good they really are as a unit. Real Madrid, as a team, have scored 110 goals in total in the same timeframe.
Many teams, both club and international sides, have had incredible trios, that have not always been forwards, such as Frank Rijkaard, Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten at AC Millan and with Holland or Bobby Charlton, George Best and Denis Law at Manchester United, but up front there is little to compare to the current stars plying their trade in front of goal at Camp Nou.
Sergio Ramos said during La Liga Gala that Barcelona should enjoy the moment because one never knows how long it will last, but with MSN firing on all cylinders it could certainly last for some time to come.
