The duel between Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo is no longer just about goals, records or legacy. With both chasing the mythical 1,000-goal milestone, their global influence has become so massive that it now shapes entire economies within world football.
And in 2025, one thing became clearer than ever: Messi wins the commercial battle, especially in one of the sport’s most symbolic arenas — shirt sales.

A report by Euroméricas Sport Marketing revealed the ranking of the world’s best-selling jerseys. The top spot belongs to Real Madrid, with an astonishing 3,133,000 units sold, but the headline-stealing detail lies just below: Inter Miami ranks fifth, ahead of Cristiano’s Al-Nassr.

Inter Miami Breaks the Global Map

The Florida club has smashed expectations.
With 2,166,000 shirts sold, Inter Miami places the MLS among world giants — a scenario unthinkable not long ago. Only four clubs surpass them:

• Barcelona – 2.9M
• Paris Saint-Germain – 2.5M
• Bayern Munich – 2.4M

Meanwhile, Al-Nassr, Cristiano’s team, sits at the bottom of the top 10 with 1,281,000 shirts sold — high, yes, but nowhere near the Messi effect, which drives massive sales even from a league still considered “emerging” and a club without continental prestige.

The contrast confirms what the football economy has been saying for months:
In 2025, Messi moves more than Cristiano — even in the twilight of their careers.

An Impact That Crosses Ages, Leagues and Continents

Messi’s arrival in the MLS has been a cultural accelerant.
Inter Miami aren’t just selling shirts — they’re selling a narrative, a global event, the final great chapter of a once-in-a-generation player.

With Messi now 105 goals away from reaching his dream tally and signed through winter 2028, the franchise will remain a global magnet.

Cristiano Ronaldo is also living a high-noise final stretch, with his latest bicycle kick leaving him 46 goals short of the 1,000 mark — and his fanbase dreaming of him reaching it during the 2026 World Cup.
But commercially, Al-Nassr simply can’t keep pace with Miami’s pink hurricane.

South America’s Rise Also Stands Out

Another striking detail from the ranking:
Boca Juniors (1,933,000) and Flamengo (1,677,000) both break into the global top tier, proving that identity and passion sell — and that the worldwide football market is no longer exclusive to Europe and the Middle East.

Messi vs Cristiano: Economics, Legacy and Global Magnetism

Even as new stars like Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappé dominate younger conversations, the world still orbits around Messi and Cristiano.
They continue to chase impossible records on the pitch — and dominate the commercial landscape off it.

On the field, the debate goes on.
In numbers? Not so much:

Messi sells more. Messi draws more. Messi remains the No. 1 commercial force in world football.