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Major League Soccer (MLS) has seldom lacked marquee names ever since David Beckham made his landmark move to LA Galaxy back in 2007.
The likes of Andrea Pirlo, Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard, David Villa and Zlatan Ibrahimović all made the transatlantic journey in the latter stages of their careers, yet none managed to capture American hearts quite the way Lionel Messi has.
And it's easy to see why. Messi, in most people's estimation, is the greatest soccer player to have ever graced the sport. He has served as the face of Beckham's club, Inter Miami, since 2023, and has played a pivotal role in reviving soccer's prominence across the United States.
Messi's arrival has proven to be a commercial, financial and sporting triumph — not just for Miami, but for MLS as a whole. The 39-year-old demonstrated at the North American-hosted World Cup that his extraordinary abilities remain very much intact, and he shows no signs of stopping until his contract with the Herons runs out in 2028.
Messi's presence has made MLS more star-laden than ever before, to the extent that his commercial dominance over the league is beginning to face some competition.
Lionel Messi Tops MLS Jersey Sales But Robert Lewandowski's Impact Clear
MLS has revealed its 10 best-selling jerseys of 2026, with Messi claiming the top spot for the fourth year running.
He is followed by LAFC's Son Heung-min, who left Tottenham Hotspur last summer to head to sun-soaked California. Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller also departed Europe last year to join MLS, linking up with the Vancouver Whitecaps. The German's shirt has been the third-most sought-after this year, having guided the Whitecaps to the MLS Cup final just months after his arrival.
Müller has since been reunited with former Bayern teammate Robert Lewandowski in North America, with the Polish striker — widely regarded as one of the best forwards of his era — signing for the Chicago Fire in late June after a distinguished European career with Borussia Dortmund, Bayern and Barcelona.
Lewandowski has found the net seven times in 18 outings for the Fire, who have secured a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs. Although he sits fourth in the 2026 jersey sales rankings, MLS confirmed that no player has outsold Lewandowski since he put pen to paper with the Fire. It may also help that, according to recent estimates, more than 182,000 Polish Americans call Chicago home, accounting for 6.7% of the city's population.
Antoine Griezmann has proven equally popular, with the French forward agreeing to join Orlando City back in March.
Messi's Inter Miami teammates Luis Suárez and Rodrigo De Paul have also cracked the top 10, alongside USMNT rising star Cavan Sullivan, LAFC's Denis Bouanga and Nashville SC's Hany Mukhtar.
MLS' Top Selling Jerseys of 2026
Rank | Player | Franchise |
|---|---|---|
1. | Lionel Messi | Inter Miami |
2. | Son Heung-min | LAFC |
3. | Thomas Müller | Vancouver Whitecaps |
4. | Robert Lewandowski | Chicago Fire |
5. | Antoine Griezmann | Orlando City |
6. | Cavan Sullivan | Philadelphia Union |
7. | Denis Bouanga | LAFC |
8. | Luis Suárez | Inter Miami |
9. | Hany Mukhtar | Nashville SC |
10. | Rodrigo De Paul | Inter Miami |
Have Messi and Lewandowski Ever Crossed Paths?
Messi had already said an emotional goodbye to Barcelona by the time Lewandowski arrived in Catalonia. The Argentine left his long-time home in 2021 amid the club's severe financial difficulties, but Joan Laporta's financial maneuvering provided short-term relief and enabled Barça to bring Lewandowski in from Bayern for $51 million the following summer.
The veteran forward was no Messi, naturally, but he undeniably flourished with the Blaugrana. He spent four seasons in Spain, netting 120 goals in 193 appearances for Barcelona and claiming three La Liga titles.
That was the nearest the two came to being teammates, though they have faced each other on multiple occasions throughout their careers. The Fire's MLS clash with Messi's Miami in September marked their fourth meeting at club level, with each player having gotten the better of the other twice.
Lewandowski's most unforgettable win came in the form of an 8–2 demolition of Messi's Barça in the 2019–20 Champions League quarterfinals — a result so notorious it has earned its own Wikipedia page. Messi, however, has a World Cup victory over Lewandowski's Poland to his name, with Argentina securing a 2–0 win in the group stage of the Qatar tournament.