Lionel Messi's high-profile summer transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain last summer has not entirely gone to plan off the pitch but he has generated a new record.
PSG sold over one million shirts for the first time last season with 'Messi 30' accounting for over 60 per cent of that figure, which is the record for any player. It means the Argentine's shirt sales surpassed that of Cristiano Ronaldo – who returned to Manchester United last summer from Juventus – and that the English giants are no longer the club that sells the most replica shirts.
Almost €1million was generated in shirt sales alone in the hours following confirmation that Messi had joined the French club and would wear the number 30 shirts. The arrival of Messi also saw the club 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.
