Why Messi Has The Most Popular Jersey In Sports

In a world of Mahomes and LeBron, it's Messi that has begun to take over the sports gear scene. The Athletic recently reported that world soccer star Lionel Messi has the top-selling Adidas jersey throughout all sports.

Although Messi has only been in the United States for a year playing for Inter Miami CF, when you break it down, this popular jersey news comes as no surprise. Sure, he is arguably the best soccer / football star on the planet. In addition, there are some marketing x-factors that make that #10 shirt highly desirable.

"Having Adidas’ global best seller signed to an MLS club is an indicator for the league that it has the opportunity to break into new markets around the world — especially over the next several years when all eyes will be on the international competitions coming Stateside," The Athletic said.

Towards the end of the 2023 season the New York Times also reported on the popularity of the Miami Messi jersey as well. They said, "Within a couple of days of Messi’s announcement, the company had received almost 500,000 requests from stores and suppliers for jerseys in Miami’s soft, electric pink."

Aside from the obvious fact, the he is the game's biggest superstar, there are some off-field contributing factors.

First, the fact that Messi plays in Miami is very relevant here. South Florida is a great market for soccer and often draws international attention. Inter Miami CF also happens to be owned by another mega star: David Beckham. Beckham not only made the club happen, he brought Messi to town. These are two significant factors when it comes to the brand engine behind the success.

The electric pink color was a brilliant choice. It's unique, bold, and can be picked out of a crowd. It's fair to say no other men's professional sport team has a shade of pink like this as their primary color. These types of fluorescent looks are quite popular among today's youth.

Lastly, the soccer jersey style is often referred to as simply a "shirt." What makes this advantageous is that the soccer shirts are simple and comfortable to wear. They are not bulky like a football jersey. They do not require an undershirt like a basketball tank top.

With the 2024 MLS season underway, the Messi show will hit every major MLS market. It's safe to say you will notice a see of pink #10's among the fans in attendance even at Miami road games.

Although the Super Bowl is behind us, there are still plenty of football subjects to dive into. Of course, the combine, free agency, and the draft are all approaching. However, in addition, there are a few NFL teams who have hinted at wearing new uniforms next season.

Typically, a full unveiling of these fresh threads comes in late spring or summer once the schedule is out and new players are on the roster. Still, there are some things we already know. Part of this has to do with licensing agreements. The NFL and Nike (their official uniform partner) need to go through certain protocols in order for new uniforms to be allowed. At times, this can take a few years. So, in short, preparation for these expected uniform changes began long ago.

Present-day NFL allows for teams to have their typical home and away set and the alternate look. Often, this is a nod to a throwback uniform that was a fan-favorite years ago. For example, in 2023, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers brought back the special edition creamsicle uniform.

Before we take a look at the NFL teams that will be sporting a new uniform look in 2024, let's address a related topic.

Again, this is easier said than done, but here are a few suggestions for teams that can use an upgrade. First, the New York Giants should make their throwback look permanent. This sports the "Giants" logo on the helmet with the red and white striped jersey sleeve the team wore in the '80s and '90s. Bringing back the red alternate jersey then allows for the special look twice a year. The same argument can be made for the Philadelphia Eagles. When you have that sharp "Kelly Green" set, there is no reason not to wear them at any opportunity. As for a complete overhaul, let's suggest the Indianapolis Colts go back to the drawing board. The white horseshoe helmet works (just change the facemask to blue), but the jersey and pants are stale. Less can be more these days with uni designs, so how about adding a little life here? At least the jersey can be as exciting as the future franchise quarterback, Anthony Richardson.

Those three thoughts may be long shots. However, these are not. Here are the four teams we expect to rock new uniforms looks next season.

Let's call it Aaron Rodgers 2.0. It's definitely not a bad idea to try this experiment all over again. With Rodgers back from a gut-wrenching injury, 2024 could be what fans expected 2023 to be. Perhaps having extreme patience will make the wait worthwhile. The assumption is that the Jets new uniforms, which will be unveiled in April, will resemble the "Legacy" look.

With the offensive rookie of the year in C.J. Stroud being the face of the franchise, this feels like the perfect time for the Texans to change up their look. Aside from the red alternative helmet and jersey, their previous uniform set did fall victim to the Colts' disease of just too boring. Let's just hope they don't get too flashy. The Tennessee Titans twice wore their Houston Oilers throwbacks in 2023. It has been revealed that the Texans are now doing the right thing and incorporating this iconic H-Town Blue color into the new look.

This should fall into the category of adjustments instead of a completely new look. There has been a ton of speculation already. We do believe the orange jersey will sustain. The biggest challenge the team has had with their current look is the slash-style "stripe" on the pants that don't mix and match. So, 2024 will feature a new QB in Denver, sporting the updated look.

This one flies under the radar a bit. The Lions revealed the alternate blue helmets last year. Some wonder if the popular black jersey from the early 2000s will return. It would be unfortunate for the Lions to get too far away from their traditional blue, however a stronger color scheme might be just what the team needs to take that extra step. The black jersey option might also be a good match for Dan Campbell's MCDC Metallica fandom.