Lionel Messi overtook Cristiano Ronaldo as his Inter Miami shirt sales became the most bought sports shirt in history within 24 hours.
As expected, Messi’s Inter Miami move has shifted the lines and twisted records in football and sports history in general.
Inter Miami, MLS, Apple, Adidas, and other major business stakeholders have began to reap bountifully from Lionel Messi’s switch to the MLS.
We reported earlier Messi’s Inter Miami unveiling at the DRV PNK Stadium was the most-watched football and sports event in the world with over 3.5 billion viewers across the globe, 5 billion more than Cristiano Ronaldo’s unveiling by Al Nassr at the MrSool Park in Saudi Arabia.
After the landmark and record viewership which saw the likes of MLS TV partners such as Apple raked in millions in revenue, Lionel Messi has continued to shift the bounds and erase records following his switch to the MLS.
This time, Adidas are the greatest beneficiaries of the latest landmark record set by the footie icon at Inter Miami and the MLS.
According to ESPN, Lionel Messi’s first Inter Miami shirt sales in 24 hours is the most shirt sales ever recorded in football and sports history.
Manchester United legend and Al Nassr forward Cristiano Ronaldo previously held the record for most shirt sales in football and sports history after his return to Manchester United in 2021.
Manchester United reportedly recorded an astronomical rise in Cristiano Ronaldo shirt sales within the first 24 hours of annoucing the return of the Portuguese, overtaking Tom Brady’s record with Bay Buccaneers in NFL in 2020 and LeBron James record with Lakers in 2018.
Now, Messi has reportedly surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo’s 2021 record at Manchester United as Inter Miami and Adidas recorded the biggest shirt sales in the history of sports in 24 hours after Lionel Messi’s announcement.
As per ESPN, Messi overtook Cristiano Ronaldo’s shirt sales when he joined Manchester United in 2021, alongside that of Tom Brady when he joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and LeBron James when he joined the LA Lakers in 2018.
Such feats are not a surprise to football lovers who have been on the trail of Lionel Messi’s legendary career and his huge global followership.
However, overtaking Cristiano Ronaldo may still raise eyebrows as the latter commands far more global followership than Lionel Messi but Leo seems to be at a better career plane than Cristiano Ronaldo recently after he added the World Cup trophy to his trophy room.
Futballnews understands Adidas, who are the top beneficiaries of the record shirt sales history, have a lifetime deal with Lionel Messi following his move to MLS.
Adidas will reportedly pay Lionel Messi the sum of £1billion throughout his lifetime as they sell his Inter Miami shirt even after the expiration of his Inter Miami contract.
Meanwhile, Messi has continued in his stellar start to life at Inter Miami, scoring five goals in three matches and helping Inter Miami reverse a 13-match winless run with three straight wins in Leagues Cup.
Other biggest shirt sales in sports history
Tom Brady Tampa Bay Buccaneer 2020 Move
Tom Brady, 45, who is now a minority owner at Championships side, Birmingham City, was regarded as a money spinner in NFL before his retirement in 2023.
Throughout his 20 years with New England Patriots in NFL, Tom Brady helped the American football team raked in huge revenues with his No. 12 but his move to the Buccaneers in 2020 saw his jersey sales peaked, taking Buccaneers to the top of the charts of clubs with highest jersey mechandise.
According to the Fanatics, Tom Brady took the Buccaneer from the 28th position on the chart of teams with most shirt sales to the top in a flash.
While the number of Tom Brady’s shirt sales was not disclosed, NFL spokesperson Patrick Mahomes confirmed in 2020 Tom Brady’s move to the Buccaneers saw the club’s shirt sales hit a record 1200% increase, becoming the most sold sports jersey in history. The record smashed Lebron James’ record Jersey sales with LA Lakers.
LeBron James LA Lakers Move 2018
LeBron James, 38, a renowned American basketball player, made the headlines after he joined LA Lakers in 2018. According to Bleachers Report, LeBron James overtook the likes of Giannis Antetokoumpo on the chart of the most jersey sales by a Basketball player and a sports personality ever.
According to USA Today, LeBron James was not yet signed by LA Lakers when fans began to glamor for his LA Lakers jersey. After his signing, LA Lakers recorded the highest number of sales in the team’s history selling James’ No.23 Jersey to millions of NBA fans in the US and across the world.
In NBA’s official press release, LeBron James ranked top on the most jersey sales, above Stephen Curry of Golden State Warriors, Giannis Antetokoumpo of Milwaukee Bucks, and others.
Due to Lebron James’ skyrocketing shirt sales, LA Lakers rose to the top of the charts of most popular as shirt sales, followed by Golden State Warriors and Boston Celtics.
