How many Inter Miami jerseys has Lionel Messi sold?

Inter Miami continue to lead the way in commercial terms with five players in MLS’ top 25 best-selling jerseys, the league has revealed. The high-flying Herons also find themselves top of the Supporters’ Shield standings and they continue to pack out stadiums wherever they go.

Of course, team captain Lionel Messi has had a big part to play in both of those metrics. His on-field talents and off-field impact have transformed the team’s fortunes during his first year in the United States.

It’s no surprise to see that Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey is the best-selling in MLS through the first months of 2024. Here’s the full list of the top 25...

Lionel Messi’s Inter Miami jersey remains a top seller

Wherever Inter Miami play, whether home or away, you can guarantee that the stands will be packed with Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 jersey. The Argentine has opted to spend the final years of his illustrious career in the United States and soccer fans are eager to get a memento of his time in MLS.

Although he only joined Inter Miami halfway through last year his first jersey with the team quickly eclipsed all others and was named the best-selling jersey of 2023. For much of the year the shirt was listed as ‘out of stock’ on the official Adidas website and stores around the world struggled to source the much-coveted item. Vogue named Messi’s Miami jersey as one of the year’s 15 definitive fashion items, writing: “Immediately following the announcement, the generic Inter Miami jersey, in an unexpected shade of un–Barbie pink, sold out, giving rise to a rich bootleg industry.”

Messi is one of five Inter Miami players included in the top 25 top-selling jerseys of 2024, along with his ex-Barcelona teammates Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba. Completing the quintet is homegrown youngster Benjamin Cremaschi, proving that it’s not all about the superstars for Miami fans.

Hispanic stars dominate the top five

Many of the league’s top performers are Spanish speakers and, in a sport with so many Hispanic fans, that has translated to sky-high jersey sales. Last year’s Supporters Shield winners FC Cincinnati and MLS Cup champions Columbus Crew were led by Hispanic stars and both Luciano Acosta and Cucho Hernandez appear in the top five biggest-selling jerseys of the year.

Completing the top five is LA Galaxy playmaker Riqui Puig, probably the biggest star playing in California, a massive market for soccer. Puig has recently signed a new long-deal deal with the Galaxy that will keep him in MLS for years to come, illustrating his importance to the team and its fanbase.

But despite the popularity of those overseas superstars, American players are the group with the highest representation in the top 25. USMNT internationals Aidan Morris, Cristian Roldan and Jordan Morris all place highly in the rankings, while young stars like John Tolkin and Benjamin Cremaschi are also popular with supporters.

All in all, the list of top-selling jerseys is a fairly good representation of MLS in 2024. There is a top tier of elite stars from overseas but the league maintains a distinctly homegrown flavour, with a majority of its players hailing from the United States and plenty of young prospects. It’s fair to assume that Messi will remain at the top of the rankings for as long as he stays in the league but, as the Argentine turns 37 next month, there are plenty of candidates to take the crown when he departs.