Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: Who sells more football jerseys?

The rivalry of the two of the best players of our generation rivalry extends beyond the pitch to the world of merchandise

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are two of the most iconic football players of all time, both players have massive fan bases that are eager to support their idols by purchasing their football kits. The battle between Ronaldo and Messi isn't just about goals and titles; it's also about sales figures and market dominance when it comes to their respective kit sales.

The most common jersey numbers in football are 10, 7, and 9. These jersey numbers have been won by the greatest players in soccer history, number 7 and 10 have been famous for the past few years due to Ronaldo and Messi in the past decade or so. Whenever both these numbers come up, everybody across the globe, not only football fans but everybody eventually tends to associate these numbers with both Ronaldo and Messi.

The Powerhouses of Football Merchandise

Cristiano Ronaldo: The Brand Powerhouse

The Portuguese sensation, has not only carved a legacy on the football field but also in the world of marketing and branding. His move from Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 marked the beginning of a seismic shift in kit sales. Ronaldo's popularity surged, driving sales of his club jerseys to unprecedented heights.

His subsequent transfers to Juventus and later to Manchester United have further boosted the sales of their respective kits, with Ronaldo's iconic number 7 jersey becoming a coveted item for fans worldwide. Back in 2009, sales of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Real Madrid kits raked in a whopping 100 million. Fast forward to 2018, his Juventus kits achieved around 64 million sales. Also in 2021, his Manchester United jerseys hit an astounding 233 million, marking a historic high in T-shirt sales.

Ronaldo's jersey has been a talk since his move to Real Madrid from Manchester United, since then wherever he has gone he has sold the most jerseys. When he went to Juventus, he sold the largest amount of jerseys ever in a single day in Italian football.

Ronaldo's Manchester United jersey reached a Record-Breaking £187 Million after he joined the Red Devils for his second spell with the club. Cristiano Ronaldo's shirt sales at Manchester United hit a ridiculous £187 million after his Old Trafford return was sealed.

Taking data from sales figures across more than 1000 global retailers, they found that online searches for the ‘Ronaldo 7 shirt’ increased by 600% and as a result a quarter of official kit merchandisers were sold out. Ronaldo smashed the record for the fastest selling shirt in Premier League history but also netted Man United £13.1m in shirt sale revenue.

When he moved to the Saudi Pro League, it created seismic waves in the football world. In just over eight months, the club’s followers skyrocketed from 834,000 to a staggering 18.9 million. After he was announced as Al Nassr player, 400 jerseys were sold in a day in Saudi Arabia, adding to the list of jerseys he has sold wherever he has gone.

Lionel Messi: The Maestro of Football

Lionel Messi, often hailed as a footballing genius, has spent the entirety of his professional career at Barcelona until his move to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in 2021. Throughout his tenure at Barcelona, Messi's jersey sales soared, with the iconic number 10 shirt adorning the backs of countless fans worldwide. His dribbling wizardry and unmatched skill on the pitch translated into unparalleled merchandise demand.

The shift to PSG, also sparked a surge in PSG's kit sales, especially the ones bearing Messi's name and number. The Argentine's influence on the field, coupled with his loyal fanbase, continues to drive merchandise sales, making him a formidable force in the kit market.

PSG swooped for the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, sending shockwaves through the football world. PSG made an eye-watering £610m as a result of Messi's arrival. Messi shirts were also in high demand with the football icon taking up 60-per-cent of PSG sales. PSG sold more than one million shirts, with prices ranging from £79 to £140 each.

Also Read: Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Who has better stats in their career?

PSG generated more than 15m followers across all platforms - reaching a grand total of 150m. Lionel Messi's PSG jersey was sold out in just 30 Minutes. In the first 24 hours of his arrival, the club already sold 832,000 jerseys, bringing in £105 million in revenue. The club kept around 10%, so that's 10.5 million in profit on the very first day.

Lionel Messi after finally revealing his next destination after having confirmed his departure from PSG to Inter Miami, last year, the 35-year-old sold jerseys worth a monumental 130 million. To put that into perspective, the total revenue of the top-earning MLS team, LAFC, is 116 million.

Inter Miami broke all kinds of club and MLS records when Messi’s transfer was officially completed. In the United States, Messi's jersey are the most sold, and in the month of October Adidas announced that his jersey was not available.

Cristiano Ronaldo vs Lionel Messi: The Sales Showdown

Determining the precise figures regarding who sells more football kits between Ronaldo and Messi remains elusive due to various factors, including seasonality, transfer dynamics, and club performances. Both players consistently rank among the top-selling jerseys globally, and their rivalry extends into the sales charts as well. Messi has officially taken over Ronaldo when it comes to the amount of jerseys sold by any player in football.

Also Read: Lionel Messi vs Cristiano Ronaldo: Who has more wins, better stats while facing one another?

Fluctuations in Sales Dynamics

Sales of football kits fluctuate based on multiple variables, including the player's form, club success, and high-profile transfers. Ronaldo's moves from club to club have seen spikes in respective kit sales, with Juventus and Manchester United witnessing surges in merchandise revenue upon his arrival.

Similarly, Messi's transfer to PSG and Inter Miami generated an unprecedented demand for both the clubs especially with his name and number emblazoned on the back. The Messi effect isn't confined to Barcelona; it transcends borders, influencing sales wherever he goes.