Lionel Messi at the top: The 25 most sold jerseys in Major League Soccer

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Major League Soccer has announced the top-selling shirts of the 2023 season, and although he only joined halfway through the season, Lionel Messi tops the chart. Joining Inter Miami CF in the summer, Messi has since led his club to the US Open Cup final and the Leagues Cup title. The 36-year-old Argentine, who is currently out with an injury, also leads the league with an MLS record €35 million market value. 

Messi, however, is not the only newcomer among the top-selling shirts. Second in the ranking is João Klauss from MLS expansion side St. Louis CITY SC. Klauss, in fact, is one of two St. Louis players in the top 10; the second player is Eduard Löwen. Messi, Klauss, and Löwen are not the only newcomers to rank among the top 25 players in jersey sales. The other players are Sergio Busquets (Inter Miami CF), Enzo Copetti (Charlotte FC). 

The Seattle Sounders, in the meantime, are the team with the most jerseys sold among the top 10. Jordan Morris, Raúl Ruidíaz, and Cristian Roldán represent the Sounders, who currently sit third in the Western Conference. When you expand the list to 25 players, St. Louis CITY SC and Inter Miami CF also have three players each. 

MLS most sold jerseys: Messi leads the charge – Argentina second behind the United States

Other than the United States, Argentina is the most represented country in in the top 25. Alongside Messi, Thiago Almada (Atlanta United), Sebastián Driussi (Austin FC) and Copetti also made the list. Messi and Almada won the World Cup with Argentina in November. Busquets is the only other World Cup winner on the list. The 35-year-old it with Spain at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. 

MLS Top 25 Sold Jerseys:

1. Lionel Messi Inter Miami CF

2. João Klauss St. Louis CITY SC

3. Hany Mukhtar Nashville SC

4. Sebastián Driussi Austin FC

5. Carlos Vela LAFC

6. Jordan Morris Seattle Sounders FC

7. Raúl Ruidíaz Seattle Sounders FC

8. Thiago Almada Atlanta United

9. Eduard Löwen St. Louis CITY SC

10. Cristian Roldan Seattle Sounders FC

11. Walker Zimmerman Nashville SC

12. Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernández LA Galaxy

13. Sergio Busquets Inter Miami CF

14. Tim Parker St. Louis CITY SC

15. Riqui Puig LA Galaxy

16. Brandon Vázquez FC Cincinnati

17. Karol Świderski Charlotte FC

18. John Tolkin New York Red Bulls

19. Diego Chará Portland Timbers

20. Dénis Bouanga LAFC

21. Josef Martínez Inter Miami CF

22. Carles Gil New England Revolution

23. Dániel Gazdag Philadelphia Union

24. Enzo Copetti Charlotte FC

25. Xherdan Shaqiri Chicago Fire FC