Lionel Messi might have left Barcelona in 2021, but he's still bossing the shirt sales, showcasing just how much the Culers revere him.
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Messi's Barca shirt sales going strongEmphasizes his impact on the club's fansOnly two current first-team players selling moreFollow GOAL on WhatsApp! 🟢📱WHAT HAPPENED?
The magnitude of Lionel Messi's impact on Barcelona and their fans can be measured four long years after the Argentine maestro left the club. Indeed, barring two current first-team players, Messi's Barcelona shirts with the iconic No.10 on the back are the most sold shirts for the club.
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It wouldn't be tough to guess which two players are selling more shirts than Messi for Barcelona: they are Lamine Yamal, heralded as the heir to the 37-year-old, and veteran striker Robert Lewandowski.
Although the club is unable to sell products featuring Messi's name or license until he retires, his shirt remains one of the top sellers at official stores. Many tourists buy a plain jersey and have it customized with Messi's name and number 10. Despite Messi never wearing the current design, the shirt's demand surpasses that of most players in the squad, only trailing Lewandowski and Yamal, who are first and second in terms of shirt sales, respectively.
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Meanwhile, the third and fourth spots are closely contested by Raphinha and Gavi, with not much to separate the two in-form members of the Barcelona squad. In fifth place is Gavi, who is a fan favourite at the Camp Nou.
Frenkie de Jong's popularity among Barcelona fans has sharply declined, with the Dutch midfielder dropping from consistently being in the top 5 to seventh place this season. Meanwhile, requests for Neymar shirts have surged, with fans using the same customization tactic as with Messi. Notably, Andres Iniesta remains the most requested Spanish player among Catalan supporters.
AFPWHAT NEXT FOR BARCELONA?
The Catalans reclaimed top spot in LaLiga following a hard-fought 1-0 win over Rayo Vallecano earlier this week. Their next assignments include 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.
