Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami is benefiting Adidas a lot, but they are now equally in some problems too. The Argentine has made the whole of the USA fall head over heels for him since signing for the MLS club.
Since making his debut, the seven times Ballon d’Or winner has scored three goals in just two matches. Stars like DJ Khaled, LeBron James, Serena Williams, and Kim Kardashian among others went to watch the World Cup winner play. Ticket prices for his game have gone up astronomically and fans are clamoring to see him. There is no doubt Messi’s arrival has caused many fans to want to see the GOAT.
Demand for Messi’s jersey creates an unprecedented problem for Adidas
But the fans are also demanding to buy Messi jerseys. The 36-year-old Argentinian, who is wearing his iconic No.10 jersey for Miami, is quite possibly the best athlete in the United States right now. Right now, thousands of fans are trying to get their hands on the Argentine’s jersey. And now according to Front Office Sports, Adidas, who produce the Messi jerseys, is having trouble keeping up.
Currently, no one can buy the jerseys on Adidas’ website. Before a standard jersey was being sold for £85 and an authentic one for £120. Both products are now seen as ‘coming soon’ and you can only pre-order for the jerseys. Clearly, all the jerseys have been sold already, and now there is a huge demand for the jerseys, making the European brand face a huge backlog of orders.
It may take until the middle of October before fans can get their hands on a Lionel Messi No.10 club jersey again. Billy Lalor, a senior director, has said this is due to the demand for the shirts, as the demand is now 25 times more than in previous times. It usually takes six months to create any number of products, but the athletic brand is now trying to do it in half of that time to meet the huge demand.
Adidas becomes the official manufacturer for 29 MLS teams
Adidas is the MLS’s biggest ally. They are historically connected since 1996 and have designed all the MLS teams’ kits and the official match ball of the league.
Adidas recently signed a new deal with the league which will last until 2030. It is said to be worth $830 million and the brand will design all 29 team jerseys. The deal is a smart one considering the huge growth of the league and the fact the World Cup will be held here in 2026. Adidas will also design the match balls and various other merchandise for all the teams.
Adidas already used to sponsor Messi- the biggest asset of the company. They are connected since 2006 and Messi signed a lifetime agreement back in 2017. Moreover, they also helped to entice Messi to join the MLS. The Miami captain will be given a percentage of the revenue that will be generated by Adidas from sales of Messi memorabilia. So, Adidas’ recent troubles may please Messi as he will also benefit from it.
Are you a lucky one to manage one of Messi’s Inter Miami shirts? Make sure to let us know in the comments section.
