While preparing for America Cup precisely in the United States, the impact of the landing of Lionel Messi in the Major League Soccer Keep talking from the numbers. The striker, soon to turn 37, who has already won a title with the Inter Miami (the Leagues Cup in 2023), He is the footballer in the competition who sells the most t-shirts t-shirtsas indicated by the MLS.
Although the league did not give amounts, it did report in a post on the social network x (before Twitter) the top ten of the most requested jackets. And behind the Flea another star from Las Garzas appears: it is Luis Suarezpartner and friend of the captain, who arrived at the franchise at the beginning of the year and is already one of the sensations so far this season: he has scored 14 goals in 17 appearances, and the team leads the Eastern Conference.
And who closes the podium is another Argentine: Luciano Acosta. The fantasist emerged in Boca Juniors30 years old, is the figure of Cincinnati, precisely the Inter Miami guard in the Zone. Today he is going through his second experience in the country’s First Division (he previously shone in DC United) with astonishing statistics: he has 47 goals in his fourth year with the team, which revolves around him. And he delivers high-impact highlights day after date.
Another albiceleste representative was mixed in the top 10, just one step below Riqui Puig, former Barcelona and present in the Los Angeles Galaxy. And he is another former youth team: Pedro De la Vega. He arrived at Seattle Sounders at the end of January from Lanús, after missing the Pre-Olympic due to injury. And his team invested 7 million dollars for 70% of the stake. Such a bet generated a boom in the city.
“He is one of the most interesting prospects to emerge from Argentina in recent years.. An electric attacking player with a nose for goal, he has earned a reputation for beating defenders off the dribble with his creativity and dizzying pace,” the squad presented him. For now he has one goal (against Los Angeles FC) in three appearances. But he has open credit.
As for Messi, his contribution to the MLS is not reduced to his ability to achieve, despite the fact that he gave 23 screams in 27 games with Inter Miami, approaching the 29 goals that Gonzalo Higuaín (top scorer of the Herons) achieved in 70 matches with the same team.
The portal Sportico He listed other items in which the “Messi effect” generated a revolution. For example, the league’s sponsorship income increased by 17% compared to 2023. For Inter Miami matches, demand for tickets increased by 200%. Traffic on the MLS site doubled and merchandise consumption grew 44%. Behind everything is the Flea, who took the pink color of the franchise around the world.
