Comparing the numbers – Barcelona’s new front three is the closest thing to the famed MSN | OneFootball

It has been nearly a decade since FC Barcelona last had a front three capable of evoking memories of the legendary trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Neymar, famously known as MSN.

That attacking force set records that seemed impossible to match, leaving an everlasting impact on the club and world football.

However, Barcelona’s current attacking trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal is now making headlines for all the right reasons, bringing back a sense of excitement that has not been seen since the MSN era.

A statistical dive

When Messi, Suarez, and Neymar first played together, they formed a partnership that became one of the most feared in football history.

Their numbers were staggering, with one of their most remarkable achievements being a season where they scored a combined total of 122 goals.

The MSN wreaked havoc at Barcelona. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

Such a figure was considered nearly impossible to replicate. The MSN set an incredibly high benchmark, making it difficult for any subsequent trio to even enter the conversation for comparison.

Now, a new attacking force is emerging at Barcelona. Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Yamal may not have the same level of global fame as their predecessors, but their effectiveness on the pitch has been undeniable.

In just 36 official matches, the current trio has already managed to score 66 goals and provide 32 assists.

These figures are remarkably close to those of the MSN, who had 68 goals and 32 assists in their first 36 matches together. The difference is minimal, with only two goals separating the two attacking units, while their assist numbers are identical.

Goal distribution

Robert Lewandowski is currently Barcelona’s top scorer. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

A deeper look into the goal distribution further highlights the similarities. During the MSN’s early days, Messi led the charge with 36 goals, while Suarez and Neymar each contributed 16.

In contrast, Lewandowski has netted 31 times so far, just five short of Messi’s tally at the same stage. Raphinha has been in superb form, scoring 24 goals, while Yamal has found the net 11 times.

It is also worth noting that Suarez missed the first few months of the 2014-15 season due to a suspension following an infamous incident at the World Cup.

What makes this resurgence even more special is that, for the first time in years, Barcelona fans can witness an attacking trio capable of competing with the best.

A generational trio

The trio of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha and Lamine Yamal is the closest thing to MSN. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

No team had come close to challenging MSN’s numbers until now, and the emergence of Lewandowski, Raphinha, and Lamine Yamal is a testament to the team’s evolving attacking strength.

In contrast, Real Madrid’s much-hyped trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Rodrygo has scored 53 goals so far this season, which is 13 fewer than Barcelona’s front three.

In every attacking metric, the MSN and Lewandowski, Raphinha and Yamal are closely matched. While MSN still holds the edge with two more goals at the same stage, the assist tally remains identical at 32 each.

In total, the MSN generated 100 goals in their first 36 matches together, while the current Barcelona trio has contributed 98.

This comparison proves that Barcelona have once again assembled an attacking trio capable of competing at the highest level, and if they continue at this rate, they could carve out their own legendary status in the club’s history.