October 2 – The impact of Inter Miami star Lionel Messi on the US market has been emphasised by figures on jersey sales, showing him top of the shirt-selling charts just three months on from his debut at the MLS clubs.
All MLS clubs have their kits supplied by Adidas as part of a central league deal. The figures for shirt sales come from the MLS official merchandising website.
Inter Miami’s Messi replica kit, available on the MLS store, retails at a standard price of between $150-180, but is currently only available for pre-order after it sold out almost instantly upon original release.
The Messi mania has led to Inter Miami announcing the most expensive seats in world football next season as prices double following the Argentine’s arrival in July. His impact was phenomenal with InterMiami going on to win the new MLS vs LigaMX Leagues Cup, as well as qualify for the Open Cup final. When Messi joined they were bottom of the MLS’s Eastern Conference. They are still only 13th in the table but are just four points off the play-off slots with four games to play.
While Messi dominates on the pitch and with shirt sales off it, St Louis SC star striker Joao Klauss lies second in the best-sellers list and is unlucky to miss out on the top spot after a fine season for the Missouri-based club. The Brazilian number nine has notch ten goals and two assists in 17 games as his side sit top of the western conference with two games to play.
Current MLS top scorer Hany Mukhtar sits third in the sales list, as he looks poised to collect his second golden boot over the course of his four-year tenure in Nashville.
Austin FC forward Sebastián Driussi and LAFC forward Carlos Vela round out the top five.
The full list is as follows:
- Lionel Messi Inter Miami CF
- João Klauss St. Louis CITY SC
- Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC
- Sebastián Driussi Austin FC
- Carlos Vela LAFC
- Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC
- Raúl Ruidíaz Seattle Sounders FC
- Thiago Almada Atlanta United
- Eduard Löwen St. Louis CITY SC
- Cristian Roldan Seattle Sounders FC
- Walker Zimmerman Nashville SC
- Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández LA Galaxy
- Sergio Busquets Inter Miami CF
- Tim Parker St. Louis CITY SC
- Riqui Puig LA Galaxy
- Brandon Vázquez FC Cincinnati
- Karol Świderski Charlotte FC
- John Tolkin New York Red Bulls
- Diego Chará Portland Timbers
- Dénis Bouanga LAFC
- Josef Martínez Inter Miami CF
- Carles Gil New England Revolution
- Dániel Gazdag Philadelphia Union
- Enzo Copetti Charlotte FC
- Xherdan Shaqiri Chicago Fire FC
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714031484labto1714031484ofdlr1714031484owedi1714031484sni@g1714031484niwe.1714031484yrrah1714031484