The Lionel Messi effect on Inter Miami has gone global.
Since arriving to Major League Soccer, Messi has put Inter Miami at the forefront of world football. On and off the pitch, the Argentine’s influence has been felt, including in jersey sales.
According to a story by the New York Times, Inter Miami’s pink home kits are now the best-selling jersey in North America, surpassing European footballing giants such as Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, and Arsenal.
Additionally, the story also states that when Messi initially announced his intentions to play in Miami, the requests for jerseys skyrocketed to over 450,000 as retailers struggled to feed the demand of fans.
Furthermore, Messi’s kits have sold more than any American athlete except for the Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.
This is an extraordinarily impressive feat for the South Floridian team, who only just started playing in MLS three years ago.
As the club pivots toward the 2024 season, the team will look to sell even more jerseys in the hunt to add to their trophy cabinet.
Inter Miami’s brand growth with Messi
When Inter Miami first joined the league, many believed that they focused too much on the branding aspect of the club and not enough on the football side.
While it may have been true at some point, it’s now evident that the organization has successfully merged the two. Inter Miami is now one of the most recognizable soccer brands in the world, and the team also capitalized on that popularity by winning its first trophy in club history.
In a world where American football teams are becoming increasingly corporate, Inter Miami’s branding is a refreshing call back to the past while staying true and new to the club’s future.
Though the team still has years before they can reach legendary status, signing the best player of all time, on top of having a logo that fits the city is a step in making a lasting impression.