Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar honoured as Russian zoo names puma cubs after Barcelona trio

A zoo in Saransk has paid tribute to Barcelona's attacking trio by naming the new-born cubs Messi, Suarez and Neymar

A Russian zoo has named three new puma cubs after Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar (Elmar Martinez/AFP/Getty Images)

A zoo in Russia is celebrating the birth of three baby pumas, and has decided to name them after the lethal Barcelona trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar.

Barcelona fans need not worry if they see their star attack being mentioned in Russia after it was announced at Saransk that the new pumas had been named after the most talented strike-force in world football.

The Catalan triumvirate could get the chance to visit the soon-to-be deadly predators in three years’ time, with Saransk set to be one of the nine host cities for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

"Perhaps we will be able to see them (the Barcelona players) play in Saransk in 2018," said Alexei Pleshachkov, the director of the local organising committee.

Pavel Kshnyaykin, director of Saransk Zoo, added that the pumas will get their own enclosure to grow up in, and also revealed plans to “teach” another species to predict results ahead of the World Cup.


 Lionel Messi (right) Neymar (centre) and Luis Suarez (left)
 (Getty Images)

Kshnyaykin added: "Maybe this could be a porcupine or perhaps even a calm and clever raccoon."