Lionel Messi's Jersey Still Dominates Europe, Outsells Cristiano Ronaldo

Lionel Messi may have left the glitz of European football behind long ago, but his influence hasn't disappeared. Amid the eternal rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo, the latest jersey sales data reveals an intriguing fact. In Europe, Messi's name still sells better than CR7's.

Since 2023, Messi has indeed no longer played on the Blue Continent. After concluding his adventure with Paris Saint-Germain, La Pulga chose to move to the United States to join Inter Miami. Yet the legacy he left during his time at Barcelona and PSG remains firmly etched in the minds of European fans.

With Barcelona, Messi made history. He delivered numerous trophies for Blaugrana, cementing his status as one of the greatest icons in European club competition history. That legacy ensures Messi's popularity hasn't faded with time, despite now playing thousands of kilometers away from Europe's elite stadiums.

Messi's move to Inter Miami opened a new chapter. His presence had an instant impact, including leading the club to become Major League Soccer (MLS) champions in 2025. This achievement further solidified Messi's image as global football's biggest magnet.

This appeal is clearly reflected in merchandise sales. According to Sport Bible, Messi's jersey ranked second on Europe's top sales list throughout 2025. A staggering 1.28 million LM10 jerseys were sold across the Blue Continent - remarkable for a player who hadn't competed there for two years.

More notably, Messi's jersey sales far surpassed Cristiano Ronaldo's. CR7's jersey recorded 925,000 sales in Europe. This confirms Messi's enduring market influence in Europe remains potent, even as Ronaldo also no longer plays in a top European league.

The only player to outsell Messi was Lamine Yamal. Barcelona's wonderkid led the list with 1.32 million jerseys sold, signaling a new Camp Nou idol's emergence.

Here are Europe's top 10 jersey sales for 2025:

1. Lamine Yamal (Barcelona): 1.32 million

2. Lionel Messi (Inter Miami): 1.28 million

3. Robert Lewandowski (Barcelona): 1.11 million

4. Kylian Mbappe (Real Madrid): 1.02 million

5. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid): 992 thousand

6. Giorgian de Arrascaeta (Flamengo): 975 thousand

7. Cristiano Ronaldo (Al Nassr): 925 thousand

8. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United): 878 thousand

9. Harry Kane (Bayern Munich): 867 thousand

10. Rodrygo (Real Madrid): 798 thousand

In the twilight of his career and far from Europe's spotlight, Messi again proves that true legendary status isn't determined by where one plays, but by the influence that continues to live in fans' hearts.