Messi’s Fourth-Strait Jersey Crown Caps Global MLS Sales Dominance

Let’s write final clean.

Since joining MLS, Lionel Messi has turned each season into a highlight, and not only because of his play. His influence across the league can be seen in many ways, but one of the clearest measures is the sales of jerseys bearing his name.

MLS recently released its best-selling jersey rankings for 2026 through Oct. 30, and Messi ranked first for a fourth straight season based on online sales from Jan. 1 to Oct. 30.

In second place was Son Heung-min of LAFC, followed by Thomas Muller of the Vancouver Whitecaps in third, Robert Lewandowski of the Chicago Fire in fourth, and Antoine Griezmann of Orlando City in fifth.

That means Messi left three World Cup champions behind in the top 10: Muller (2014), Griezmann (2018), and his Inter Miami teammate Rodrigo De Paul (2022), along with several other high-profile names. The list also featured Cavan Sullivan of the Philadelphia Union, Denis Bouanga of LAFC and Hany Mukhtar of Nashville SC.

There is a twist in the numbers. According to ESPN, Lewandowski’s Chicago jersey has outsold Messi’s since the Polish striker joined MLS, though the Argentine still holds the No. 1 ranking for the year. Even so, no one has taken the top spot from Messi in four seasons, a reflection of the strong impact he has had since arriving in the United States in 2023.

Inter Miami leads the league with three players in the top 10

Away from Messi’s run, the rankings highlight the market influence of Inter Miami. The club has three players in the top 10, with Messi at No. 1, Luis Suarez at No. 8 and De Paul at No. 10, more than any other team in the league.

LAFC followed with two representatives, with Son Heung-min in second and Denis Bouanga in seventh. The split shows that star power is concentrated among a few clubs, and Inter Miami is the team that benefits most.

With Messi leading and two teammates alongside him, Inter Miami has turned jersey sales into another measure of its global reach. As the league keeps growing, the Herons’ place at the top of the list suggests their impact extends beyond the pitch, and it will be worth watching whether any other club can challenge that position in the coming seasons.

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