Owing to their legendary status as soccer players, both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are used to dominating jersey sales throughout their respective careers. However, a report has claimed that neither are at the top of Europe’s best-selling jerseys list of 2025.
So, who is the soccer player atop the list, and where are Messi and Ronaldo placed?
La Liga Star’s Jerseys More in Demand Than Messi and Ronaldo
According to Score 90 (via SPORTbible), Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is at the top of the aforementioned list with 1.32 million shirts sold across all of Europe. His teammate Robert Lewandowski is third on the list with 1.11 million jerseys sold.
Meanwhile, Messi is just behind Yamal as he is in second place with 1.28 million shirts sold. Ronaldo, on the other hand, is seventh on the list of the best-selling jerseys with 925,000 shirts sold in Europe this year.
Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe is fourth with 1.02 million sales, while his club teammate Vinicius Junior is in fifth place with 992,000 jerseys sold. Flamengo midfielder Giorgian de Arrascaeta is sixth with 975,000 units sold in 2025.
Preceded by Portugal captain Ronaldo, Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes is in eighth spot with 878,000 of his shirts sold this year. Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Real Madrid forward Rodrygo are ninth and 10th with 867,000 and 798,000 of their jerseys sold in 2025.
READ MORE: Andres Iniesta Opens Up on ‘Wound’ Between Messi and Barcelona
Thomas Müller Settles Cristiano Ronaldo-Lionel Messi Debate
Vancouver Whitecaps star Thomas Muller has attempted to settle the long-standing debate about who is the better player between Messi and Ronaldo, picking the Inter Miami captain in a Q/A segment.
“The good old question. Both of them, both are performing. They are still producing numbers. For me, more impressive is Messi because his style of playing the game is a little bit more magical, more pure talent,” the Germany legend responded when asked to choose between the pair (via X/@ESPN FC).
Muller also lauded Ronaldo for his grit and determination, saying, “The work ethic from Ronaldo is outstanding and maybe even better than Messi’s but to watch Messi playing our game is just… yeah it’s, it’s not unbelievable because I know what he is able to do week in and week out. So, for me, it’s not unbelievable but it’s very impressive.”
Both the Inter Miami star and the Al-Nassr ace are in the twilight of their careers. They are both set to compete in the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup and could also face one another next year in a final showdown.
