Lionel Messi remains atop Major League Soccer jersey sales for the fourth year, according to the rankings released by the league. Despite the arrival of numerous high-profile European stars, the Inter Miami player continues to lead jersey sales, maintaining the dominance he established since his arrival at Inter Miami in 2023.
While the league has not disclosed the exact number of jerseys sold, the latest ranking confirms that the “Messimania” phenomenon persists, keeping the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner at the top of MLS jersey sales, as reported by Le Scan Sport. The popularity of the former FC Barcelona number 10 remains immense as he continues to reign over the market.
Top Players Driving MLS Merchandise Demand in 2026
The leaderboard for 2026 features a podium reminiscent of European Champions League competition. Following Messi, Son Heung-min of LAFC holds the second position, while former Bayern Munich player Thomas Muller, now with the Vancouver Whitecaps, ranks third.
The remainder of the top five features Robert Lewandowski, currently playing for Chicago Fire, and French player Antoine Griezmann, who represents Orlando City. Griezmann has recently garnered attention for his performance, including a splendid header
against New York, as he continues an impressive streak with his club. The full top ten list of the most sold jerseys in MLS for the 2026 season is as follows:
Led by Lionel Messi and featuring teen sensation Cavan Sullivan and some of the league's biggest stars, @MLS today unveiled its top 10 most popular jerseys.https://t.co/LkyT64gM8h pic.twitter.com/yhTZO4Yw0s
- 1. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami)
- 2. Son Heung-min (LAFC)
- 3. Thomas Muller (Vancouver Whitecaps)
- 4. Robert Lewandowski (Chicago Fire)
- 5. Antoine Griezmann (Orlando City)
- 6. Cavan Sullivan (Philadelphia Union)
- 7. Denis Bouanga (LAFC)
- 8. Luis Suarez (Inter Miami)
- 9. Hany Mukhtar (Nashville SC)
- 10. Rodrigo De Paul (Inter Miami)
Shifting Trends and New Market Competitors
Although Messi retains the overall top spot, a competitor has begun to stand out. According to Le Scan Sport, Robert Lewandowski has sold more jerseys than Messi during the period following his arrival in Chicago this past June.
The presence of players like Griezmann and Muller in the top five alongside other European stars reflects the arrival of numerous high-profile players in the league.
The Impact of Global Stars on League Growth
Players such as Cavan Sullivan and Denis Bouanga also appear in the top ten alongside established international stars, showing the breadth of the current jersey-sales ranking. This dominance by the Argentine star has persisted annually since his 2023 transfer.
