March 16, (THEWILL) – Adidas will soon announce that Lionel Messi’s shirt is “their number one jersey of any sport,” MLS Commissioner, Don Garber, revealed in an interview with The Athletic. This extraordinary achievement underscores the global superstar impact of the Argentinian legend’s move to Inter Miami last year.
While Adidas has not officially confirmed Garber’s comments nor specified whether Messi’s Argentina or Inter Miami kit clinched the top spot, the figures speak volumes. Last September, MLS disclosed that Messi’s Miami jersey was the league’s best-seller in 2023, despite him joining just three months prior. Reports indicate Adidas received nearly 500,000 requests for the iconic pink No. 10 shirt within days of his signing.
“We’re beginning to see that if you do things right, maybe there’s an opportunity to spread some of our market from what has been Canada and the United States to the rest of the world,” Garber stated, alluding to MLS’s global ambitions catalysed by Messi’s arrival. With major international tournaments like the 2026 World Cup headed to North America, having the world’s most recognisable athlete donning an MLS jersey presents an unprecedented marketing opportunity.
The commissioner expressed excitement about the Messi shirt sales in relation to MLS’s $2.5 billion media deal with Apple, which will stream every match for a decade. “The Apple deal gives us the platform to capitalise, through technology, on a growing international market interested in our teams and players,” he explained. Notably, Messi earns a share of new subscriber revenue.
Beyond iconic match-worn shirts auctioning for millions, Messi’s Inter Miami jersey has become a ubiquitous sight across stadiums and streets worldwide, transcending sports fandom. As Garber affirmed: “We’re making a long-term commitment to being a domestic league playing in the global sandbox, capitalising on this growing market opportunity” – and having the most famous athlete’s kit fly off shelves is a potent catalyst.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
