Lionel Messi's enduring legacy at Barcelona! Only two current first-team players sell more shirts than icon

By: Shawn
Four years after his departure from Barcelona, Lionel Messi's impact on the club and its fans remains palpable. A testament to his enduring legacy is the fact that his Barcelona shirts with the iconic No.10 on the back continue to be among the top-selling jerseys for the club.

Lionel Messi x Barcelona.
Getty Images Sport 

Despite the club's inability to sell products featuring Messi's name or license until he retires, his shirt remains a highly sought-after item at official stores. Many fans opt to purchase a plain jersey and have it customized with Messi's name and number 10, highlighting the Argentine maestro's enduring popularity.

Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.
Getty Images

Only two current Barcelona players, Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, have outsold Messi's jerseys. Yamal, touted as the heir to Messi's throne, and Lewandowski, a veteran striker, have proven to be extremely popular among fans. Meanwhile, other players like Raphinha, Gavi, and Frenkie de Jong trail behind in terms of shirt sales.

Interestingly, requests for Neymar shirts have surged, with fans employing the same customization tactic as with Messi. Meanwhile, Andres Iniesta remains the most requested Spanish player among Catalan supporters. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see how these trends evolve.

On the pitch, Barcelona reclaimed top spot in LaLiga with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano. The Catalans face a busy schedule ahead, with a trip to Las Palmas on Saturday, February 22, followed by a Copa del Rey semi-final first leg encounter against Atletico Madrid at home next Tuesday, February 25.

TRENDING!

Barcelona set Neymar a 15-goal challenge for potential 'Camp Nou' return

Image
Barcelona is reportedly considering a sensational return for Neymar to Camp Nou, but only if he can demonstrate his form by scoring 15 goals for Santos this season. According to a new report from Sport, the Catalan club is closely monitoring the Brazilian's performance ahead of a potential move back to Spain. ' Neymar Jr. ' Getty Images Sport  Neymar, who transferred to Santos from Al-Hilal in January, has a contract with the Brazilian club that runs until June. Barcelona, however, has made it clear that they will only entertain the idea of re-signing the 33-year-old if he can prove he is capable of returning to his best form. The club is requesting that Neymar net at least 15 goals for Santos this season as a benchmark to assess his readiness for a return to the elite level of European football. The Brazilian forward, who won the 2015 UEFA Champions League with Barcelona, left the club in 2017 to join Paris Saint-Germain. While his stint at PSG did not bring hi...
Read more

Aston Villa players' opinions on Marcus Rashford revealed through group chat message

Image
The Aston Villa players' true sentiments towards Marcus Rashford have recently been uncovered through a revealing group chat message. Rashford, who joined Villa on loan from Manchester United until the end of the season in February, has been gradually integrated into the first-team squad by manager Unai Emery. His move came after he was sidelined at United by manager Ruben Amorim. ' Marcus Rashford. ' Getty Images Sport In Villa's 2-0 win over Cardiff in the FA Cup fifth round, Rashford made his second start in six appearances for the club. During the match, he provided his third assist for Villa, with Marco Asensio scoring from his cross to open the scoring. Rashford’s assist tally at Villa now matches his total assists from 24 appearances at United this season. His loan contract reportedly includes an option for Villa to sign him permanently at the end of the season for a fixed fee, believed to be around £40 million. According to a group chat message from ...
Read more

Barcelona ruled out Neymar reunion, focusing on younger attacker for squad reinforcement

Image
A potential reunion between Neymar and Barcelona appears to be off the table, as the club sets its sights on signing a younger forward to enhance their attack. ' Neymar Jr. ' Getty Images As reported by Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona has no intention of re-signing their former star, Neymar, despite rumors suggesting a possible return. Instead, the Catalan club is reportedly focusing on strengthening their front line by targeting top-tier players from Europe's top five leagues. After leaving Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal by mutual consent, Neymar returned to his boyhood club, Santos, on a six-month deal in January. In just seven appearances for the Brazilian side, the 33-year-old has netted three goals and provided three assists, offering glimpses of his past brilliance during his time at Barcelona between 2013 and 2017. However, Barcelona has no plans to bring Neymar back due to concerns over his age and the "current level of his performances." Instead, the ...
Read more

LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne out for senior night against Georgia due to knee injury

Image
LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne will be sidelined for the Tigers' final home meet of the season, which also marks her senior night, as she continues to recover from a knee injury. The injury has kept Dunne out of competition for much of the 2025 season. ' LSU Tigers gymnast Olivia Dunne. ' Matt Pendleton/Gainesville Sun/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The social media influencer and gymnastics star shared the disappointing news with her followers on Instagram. Ahead of what was supposed to be her final home competition at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, Dunne wrote, "Hi friends! Unfortunately, I've been dealing with an avulsion fracture of my patella and will not be able to compete on senior night. It absolutely breaks my heart to not get the opportunity to compete in the PMAC one last time. Tiger fans, you've been so good to me! Thank you for the endless support, and as always, Geaux Tigers!" Dunne, who has not competed since LSU's loss to A...
Read more

The only player Lionel Messi wanted to humiliate — You won't believe who!

Image
Lionel Messi has revealed that the one occasion he attempted to 'humiliate' an opponent throughout his football career was during Argentina's World Cup match against Poland in 2022. The Barcelona great admitted that he intended to disgrace Robert Lewandowski throughout the game. ' Lionel Messi. ' Getty Images Sport Messi was enraged by statements made by his opponent leading up to the 2021 Ballon d'Or presentation, in which Messi won the award for the seventh time in his career. Many, however, believed that Lewandowski should have won the award after scoring a Bundesliga-record 41 goals in just 29 games. And the striker's words after the ceremony assured that there was tension when they met at the World Cup. Lewandowski's Ballon d'or statement 'bothered' Messi: ' I was very angry ' ' Robert Lewandowski. ' Getty Images Sport Messi acknowledged Lewandowski's accomplishments at the Ballon d'Or eve...
Read more

Ruben Amorim's struggles at Manchester United: Is the revitalization dream over?

Image
As Ruben Amorim enters the fifth month of his tenure at Manchester United, the club’s boardroom is likely filled with doubts and concerns. The high hopes of Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Sir Dave Brailsford have dimmed as Amorim’s early performances fail to inspire confidence. After the sacking of Erik ten Hag, United fans were hoping for a quick revival, but the reality has been disappointing, leaving even Amorim’s most ardent supporters with little to cling to. ' Ruben Amorim. ' Getty Images When United decided to part ways with Ten Hag – a decision made a few months too late – they did so with the understanding that a change was necessary. At the time of Ten Hag's dismissal, the team was just six points off the top five, and the hierarchy anticipated challenges in implementing new strategies with unfamiliar players. However, what no one expected was the deterioration that followed under Amorim’s leadership. United's current state is grim, with the team languishin...
Read more

Messi and Ronaldo headline The Best FIFA Men's 11 nominations

Image
Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the 77 finalists vying for the Best FIFA Men's 11 in 2024. Lionel Messi , Cristiano Ronaldo. Getty Images (2) Messi, the star of Inter Miami and Argentina, was left off the 30-man shortlist for this year's Ballon d'Or, but he made up for it by being nominated for both the Best FIFA Men's Player and the Best FIFA Men's 11. He is joined in the running for the team award by his longtime opponent Ronaldo, who scored 50 goals for Al-Nassr previous season. The nominees are divided into position groups. Along with Messi and Ronaldo, the offensive alternatives include Kylian Mbappe, Erling Haaland, Viktor Gyokeres, and Spain's Lamine Yamal and Nico Williams, who spurred La Roja to victory at Euro 2024. However, Salah and Lewandowski have been left out. In midfield, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and Eduardo Camavinga will garner a lot of votes after leading Los Blancos to La Liga and Champions Leagu...
Read more

Ruben Amorim criticizes Manchester United player following draw against Real Sociedad in Europa League

Image
Ruben Amorim took aim at Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot following his side's 1-1 draw with Real Sociedad in the Europa League. The match, held at the packed Anoeta stadium, saw Manchester United take the lead in the 57th minute through Joshua Zirkzee. However, the game took a turn when United captain Bruno Fernandes was penalized for handling the ball inside the penalty box, allowing Sociedad to equalize with a penalty. ' Ruben Amorim. ' TNT Sports After the game, Amorim was asked about a critical moment involving Diogo Dalot. During a promising attack, Dalot had possession on the right side, with Rasmus Hojlund making a perfect run into the box. The Dane was well-positioned for a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, but Dalot failed to deliver the ball, opting instead to cut inside and play a pass that ultimately broke down the attack. Amorim expressed disappointment with the decision, stating, "The decision was not the best." Reflecting on ...
Read more

MBAPPE'S NEW RIVAL! Vinicius Junior's SHOCKING contract demands will blow your mind!

Image
Vinicius Junior reportedly requested more salary than Kylian Mbappe as one of three demands made to Real Madrid during contract negotiations. ' Vinicius Jr. ' and ' Kylian Mbappe. ' Getty Images Sport   Vinicius declined an earlier extension offer from Madrid in September, believing he might land a more lucrative contract if he continued to perform on the field. However, Real Madrid began talks with the Brazilian's representation in 2025 after learning of his meeting with Saudi authorities about a possible move to the Middle East. It is claimed that Los Blancos wanted to postpone negotiations until the conclusion of the season, but Vinicius' rising desire has hastened the process. According to Cadena Ser, one of the biggest sticking points in the negotiations is Vinicius' desire for a greater wage than Mbappe, who makes €15 million per year (£12.50 million/$15.76 million). Currently, the left-winger gets a comparable salary to the French forward,...
Read more