MLS
Lionel Messi unveils Inter Miami throwback jersey: Which MLS teams have a third kit?
The Herons are one of five MLS sides with a new third kit, paying homage to the city’s unique aesthetic.
Monday, July 15 marked one year since Lionel Messi officially became an Inter Miami player. Those 12 months have been historic, with a surge in interest, record-breaking viewership and a first-ever trophy for Inter Miami.
Now, one year on from his arrival, Messi introduces Inter Miami’s first third kit, part of the league’s MLS Archive Collection.
The kit is a vivid aqua-blue, with white and orange detail on the collar and sleeves. Those colours replicate the home jersey of the Miami Dolphins, in a nod to the city’s illustrious NFL team. In the official announcement on the MLS website, the league’s marketing spiel is keen to reference the city’s style and ‘Miami Vice’ aesthetic.
“Tapping into 1980s nostalgia, Inter Miami’s archive kit leans heavily on the vibrancy of vintage Miami style,” it reads. The sponsor’s name on the front of the shirt is replaced with the world Miami in the Broadway Regular font popularised in the Art Deco style and used for the title of the iconic Miami Vice television show.
What else is in the MLS Archive Collection?
Inter Miami are one of just five teams in the league that will introduce a third kit this season, as part of an obscure MLS rule. Teams are typically only allowed to release two kits - home and away - per season, but teams that sell an exceptional number of jerseys are allowed an additional third kit.
This year LA Galaxy, LAFC, Portland Timbers and Sporting Kansas City join Inter Miami in that exclusive club. These five teams have been issued a third kit as part of the MLS Archive Collection, with each of the jerseys taking a nostalgic look at the history of the teams and their cities.
In addition to the jerseys, which will be used by teams for MLS fixtures, a series of other products has also been released. The collection includes tracksuit tops, trainers, caps, hoodies and leisure t-shirts.
Wondering if your team will be included in the future? These five teams will be the only ones to receive a third kit in 2024 but MLS appears willing to broaden the eligibility going forward, saying: “As this throwback-inspired series begins, MLS and adidas will explore expanding which clubs have a third jersey in 2025 and beyond.”