Paris Saint-Germain forward, Lionel Messi, has beaten Manchester United star, Cristiano Ronaldo to set a new record following his move to the Parisians last summer.
Messi’s high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona to PSG a year ago has shattered the record of player shirt sales, meaning that Ronaldo and Manchester United no longer hold that record.
PSG sold over one million shirts for the first time last season, with ‘Messi 30’ accounting for over 60 percent of that figure, which is the record for any football player.
As reported by the Mirror UK on Friday, It means Messi’s shirt sales surpassed that of Ronaldo, who returned to Manchester United last summer from Juventus and the Red Devils are no longer the club that sells the most replica shirts.
The report added that almost €1 million was generated in shirt sales alone in the hours following confirmation that Messi had joined the French Ligue 1 champions and would wear the number 30 shirt.
The arrival of the Argentine also saw PSG move its official store to the Champs-Elysees to double its surface area and increase its income from lifestyle products as well with its Jordan Brand also helping to drive sales.
Meanwhile, PSG president Nasser Al Khelaifi had earlier this week revealed that the arrival of Messi actually generated funds for the club.
Khelaifi said, “If we make a signing, it is because we can. Look at the case of Messi. It was the same, they said it was financially impossible and we have made money with Messi.”