MLS commissioner Don Garber revealed that Adidas will soon declare Lionel Messi’s jersey as their top-selling jersey across all sports. While Adidas has not clarified whether it refers to Messi’s Argentina or Inter Miami jersey, MLS announced last September that Messi’s Miami shirt was the league’s best-seller for 2023. This announcement came shortly after Messi’s signing with Inter Miami.

Messi’s presence in MLS has attracted significant global attention, with his iconic pink No. 10 kit becoming widely popular not only in MLS stadiums but also worldwide. Moreover, a set of six shirts worn by Messi during the 2022 World Cup fetched $7.8 million at auction in 2023, making it the most expensive sports memorabilia sold that year.

Garber emphasized the impact of Messi’s shirt sales on MLS’s growing prominence, especially with the league’s recent $2.5 billion deal with Apple for media rights. The deal allows Apple to stream every MLS match for 10 years, with Messi earning a share of revenue from new subscribers to the platform.

Garber sees the Apple deal as a means to capitalize on MLS’s growing international market appeal, particularly given Messi’s star power and the widespread demand for his jersey. This strategy aligns with MLS’s goal of establishing itself as a domestic league with global reach, leveraging opportunities to expand its market presence.