Lionel Messi tops MLS best-selling shirts list; teammate Luis Suarez secures 2nd place while Busquets and Alba miss out on Top 10
Inter Miami duo Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez topped the MLS best-selling shirts list, ranking first and second respectively. The data pertains to the period between January 1 and August 31, 2024.
Messi and Suarez were followed by Los Angeles FC star Denis Bouanga in the third position. Lucho Acosta from FC Cincinnati stood fourth, while Columbus Crew star Cucho Hernandez made it to the fifth position. Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's teammates, Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, did not make it to the Top 10 in the list, ranking No. 11 and No. 16 respectively.
Overall, four Inter Miami players featured among the top 25 players with the highest shirt sales. Apart from the Herons, only the Seattle Sounders featured four players in the list, with 14 team players making it to the top 25.
Messi remained off the pitch for the Herons for almost two months after picking up an ankle injury in the 2024 Copa America final against Colombia in July. The Argentine returned to the pitch in an MLS fixture against Philadelphia Union on Sunday (September 15), scoring a brace and recording one assist in their 3-1 victory.
In Messi's absence, Luis Suarez, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba led the club to success, keeping them at the top of the MLS Eastern Conference table with 62 points in 28 games.
Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez featured in Inter Miami's 3-1 win over Philadelphia Union in the MLS
Despite remaining away from the pitch for almost two months due to his injury, Inter Miami star Lionel Messi found his rhythm as he scored a brace against Philadelphia Union on Sunday (September 15).
Philadelphia opened the score in the match in the 1st minute. However, Messi equalized in the 26th minute as he made the most out of a Luis Suarez assist. Within four minutes of scoring his first goal of the night, the Argentine found the net once again as he converted off a Jordi Alba cross in the penalty box (30').
Finally, he assisted Suarez during stoppage time (90+8'), making it 3-1 for the Herons. Messi's performance led him to be named MLS Player of the Matchday.
Inter Miami will next face Atlanta Union in the MLS on Thursday (September 19). Ahead of the clash, coach Tata Martino confirmed that Messi will travel with the team for the clash but it remains to be seen how long he plays.