Tom Brady used to carry the limelight everywhere he went. Besides, turning a bottom team into a Super Bowl contender, the quarterback also used to be a great benefit for his teams by turning his immense fame into financial gain for them as once TB12 even broke the record for most jerseys sold in a single season.
Like Brady, Lionel Messi is also an undisputed global soccer icon. Following his arrival in Inter Miami, the franchise has gained fame like never before as their Google searches increased by more than 1,200% and ticket prices on the secondary market for the world cup champion’s first match with the team catapulted more than 1,000%. Recently, he also broke Tom Terrific’s earlier jersey sold records.
Lionel Messi surpasses Tom Brady’s precious record
Messi’s first 24 hours of Miami jersey sales were the best 24 hours of any player in the sports world who changed teams during their career, per a report from ESPN FC via Fanatics. By this record, he overtook the three players from soccer, football, and basketball: “Cristiano Ronaldo joining Manchester United in 2021, Tom Brady joining the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2020 and LeBron James joining the LA Lakers in 2018.”
The first 24 hours of Lionel Messi Inter Miami jersey sales were the BEST 24 hours of any player changing teams across all sports. It edged out:
– Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United, 2021)
– Tom Brady (Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 2020)
– LeBron James (Lakers, 2018)(via Fanatics) pic.twitter.com/dA98Fv1WPQ
— blue beetle đ (@emmzy_luv) August 2, 2023
The day following the Argentine forward’s signing news, the Miami merchandise sales increased up to 50 times and reportedly, from July 17 to July 20, Messi’s new franchise was the Fanatics’ top-selling team across all sports. Inter Miami’s managing owner Jorge Mas confirmed Leo’s jersey’s sold out news on CNBC’s “Halftime Report” on July 18. Adidas’ president of North America Rupert Campbell said they are struggling to keep pace with the sales saying, “Jerseys are selling out at stores in minutes … which is why we’ve opened a pop-up store in the center of Miami.”
Tom Brady broke the record for most jerseys sold in a single season
Brady recorded the NFL’s best-selling jersey for the 2020-21 season on Fanatics, breaking the Kansas City Chiefs Patrick Mahomes’ 2018-19 season record. He also sets a new feat for the most football jerseys sold by Fanatics, the official retailer for the Tampa Bay Bucs, in a single year. Before his arrival in Tampa Bay, the franchise didnât even have a single athlete in the top 50 in NFLPA jersey sales in 2018 or 2019.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers Merch Sales
2019: 28th overall
2020: 1st overallNot only was that the single-biggest jump for any team in Fanatics history, but Brady also broke Fanatics' record for most jerseys sold in a single season
The Tom Brady effect is real.
(h/t @JennaLaineESPN) pic.twitter.com/RRM14qc45b
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) May 3, 2021
Fanatics told ESPN the Northeast is supporting Brady as the New England Patriots were out of the playoffs and revealed the ex-Bucs star’s No. 12 jersey, t-shirts along with other items accumulated for half of the revenue for the Tampa Bay-based team. The seven-time Super Bowl champion also has the NFLPAâs highest jersey-selling record with the Patriots in 2018 and 2019.
After announcing his retirement decision in February this year, Brady is out of the football field for now. However, the unparalleled success he has gained throughout his 23-season career is quite impossible for any football player to break near soon.
