One of the primary sources of revenue for soccer teams is shirt sales. However, the money they make from shirt sales varies from club to club. Most of the best-selling soccer jerseys are of top European clubs like Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Bayern Munich. So, who has the best-selling soccer jersey of all time?
Source: Getty Images
Many teams often benefit from selling their players' shirts, and some even compete to buy popular stars whose jerseys could attract more sales. Having players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappe is an advantage for teams in terms of jersey sales.
Best-selling soccer jerseys 2023
English clubs dominate our list of the top 10 best-selling soccer jerseys globally. Spain has two teams, while Germany and Italy have one each. The clubs have benefited from their brand and massive fan base worldwide.
Who has the most sold jersey?
Team | Shirt sales (2022) | Kit supplier |
Manchester United | 3.22 million | Adidas |
Real Madrid | 3.11 million | Adidas |
Bayern Munich | 2.83 million | Adidas |
Liverpool | 2.21 million | Nike |
Barcelona | 1.82 million | Nike |
Juventus | 1.25 million | Adidas |
Chelsea | 1.19 million | Nike |
PSG | 1.12 million | Nike |
Arsenal | 1.05 million | Adidas |
Manchester City | 950k | Puma |
According to the 2022 stats, Manchester United was the team with the most sold sports jersey in the world. Here is a breakdown of the above clubs and why their jersey sales numbers were higher than other teams.
10. Manchester City - 950k
Source: Getty Images
Manchester City has recently gained popularity, thanks to their success in England. They have world-class players like Kevin De Bruyne, Erling Haaland, and Riyad Mahrez, who boosted their kit sales in 2022.
9. Arsenal - 1.05 million
The Gunners are one of the most successful teams in England. However, having faced difficult times for over two decades, the club seem to have gained momentum in 2022 and brought its fans back to life. Arsenal is leading the Premier League table, and their loyal supporters have responded by purchasing jerseys.
8. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) - 1.12 million
Source: Getty Images
PSG has massively benefited from the top stars signed in the 2021 summer transfer window. The club acquired Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Achraf Hakimi, Georginio Wijnaldum, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. They joined an already star-studded side having Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Marco Veratti, who helped push PSG's shirt sales in 2022.
7. Chelsea - 1.19 million
The Blues pride themselves on the massive fanbase they command globally. They are one of the most-followed clubs worldwide with a rich history of success. Kai Havertz was Chelsea's highest jersey seller in 2022. The German forward has greatly impacted the club since joining them in September 2020.
6. Juventus - 1.25 million
Source: Getty Images
The Italian giants may have lost a lot after releasing Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United, but they still managed to record over a million jersey sales. The club's top shirt sellers include Paul Pogba, Angel Di Maria, and Dušan Vlahović.
5. Barcelona - 1.82 million
Former Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski joined Barcelona in July 2022, which helped push the Catalans' shirt sales. Barca's stores also sold most jerseys of their young talented midfielders, Pedri and Gavi.
4. Liverpool - 2.21 million
Source: Getty Images
Since joining the Reds in 2015, Jurgen Klopp has transformed Liverpool into one of the best clubs globally. Their marketability has also increased, leading to more kit sales. Meanwhile, Moh Salah's jersey was the most sold by the club in 2022. The Egyptian is a global star and one of the best players Africa has ever produced.
3. Bayern Munich - 2.83 million
The German club has assembled a talented squad with famous players who attract global attention. Bayern signed Sadio Mane in June 2022, and the Senegalese shirt became the club's top seller. Jamal Musial's jersey was also in top demand from people who enjoyed the player's skills and talent.
2. Real Madrid - 3.11 million
Source: Getty Images
Real Madrid's stores have never disappointed in terms of sales. Over the years, the club has had remarkable kit sales because of its global brand. Los Blancos won La Liga and the Champions League in 2022, improving their reputation and status. Karim Benzema's shirt recorded the most sales in the club.
1. Manchester United - 3.22 million
The Red Devils top the list of best sellers despite having poor form on the pitch in 2022. Cristiano Ronaldo pushed the club's kit sales following his transfer from Juventus in August 2021. United made around $222 million from Ronaldo's jersey just ten days after his arrival, a record for the fastest-selling shirt in Premier League history.
Best-selling soccer player jerseys
Source: Getty Images
Lionel Messi's PSG shirt is the most-sold soccer jersey in 2022, followed by Cristiano Ronaldo's Manchester United shirt. Messi joined PSG in 2021, which led to an increase in the club's shirt sales.
- Lionel Messi - PSG
- Cristiano Ronaldo - Manchester United
- Robert Lewandowski - Bayern Munich, Barcelona
- Mohamed Salah - Liverpool
- Kylian Mbappe - PSG
Most popular soccer jersey numbers
Many fans prefer buying jerseys of the players they like in their teams. Others are more attached to the jersey numbers and think of them as lucky numbers. The most common jersey numbers in soccer are 10, 7, and 9.
Number 10
The greatest players in soccer history have used the most iconic number 10 in their jerseys. Among them include Pele, Maradona, Messi, Ronaldinho, and Kaka. Players who wear the number play in attacking positions and are known for their playmaking skills and ability to influence the game.
Number 7
David Beckham, Luis Figo, and George Best are among the top soccer stars who broke records with jersey 7. Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo is the current player using the number, and he is often referred to as CR7, a combination of his initials and his favourite number. Players wearing jersey 7 often play in the wings as second strikers.
Number 9
The number 9 jersey has also attained its legendary status, thanks to the prolific goalscorers who wore it on their backs. Some of the best strikers wore it, including Ronaldo Nazario, Johan Cruyff, Alfredo Di Stefano, Alan Shearer, and Sir Bobby. Current stars wearing jersey 9 include Karim Benzema, Eden Hazard, Robert Lewandowski, and Erling Haaland.
Most sold football player jersey in 24 hours
Source: Getty Images
Argentine forward Lionel Messi holds the record for the most shirt sales in a day. In August 2021, the world was shocked to learn of Messi's move to French giants Paris Saint-German from his boyhood club, Barcelona.
However, the move was a blessing to PSG in many ways, including shirt sales. The French side sold 820k Messi jerseys just 24 hours after completing his move. Another Argentine, Paul Dybala, has the second-most jersey sales. Dybala joined Roma in July 2022 from Juventus and sold 535k jerseys in 24 hours. Cristiano Ronaldo was third with 520k kits sales in one day for Juventus in 2018.
Best-selling soccer jerseys in the USA
Pos. | Player (most shirt sales) | Team |
1. | Gareth Bale | Los Angeles FC |
2. | Christian Fuchs | Charlotte FC |
3. | Carlos Vela | Los Angeles FC |
4. | Javier Hernández Balcázar | LA Galaxy |
5. | Josef Martínez | Atlanta United |
6. | Raúl Ruidíaz | Seattle Sounders FC |
7. | Karol Swiderski | Charlotte FC |
8. | Xherdan Shaqiri | Chicago Fire FC |
9. | Jordan Morris | Seattle Sounders FC |
10. | Walker Zimmerman | Nashville SC |
Former Real Madrid and Los Angeles FC star Gareth Bale topped the best-selling soccer player jerseys list in the 2022 MLS campaign. Bale's Los Angeles shirt recorded the most sales in the USA barely three months after joining the club from Madrid. Others are Charlotte FC defender Christian Fuchs and Los Angeles forward Carlos Vela.
The cost of the best-selling soccer jerseys globally is higher than other shirts. However, people save to buy them because of the top stars attached to them and the iconic numbers they wear. You could probably think of getting one if you do not have any.
READ ALSO: Top 12 best female skateboarders in the world currently
Sportsbrief.com also recently listed the best female skateboarders known for their remarkable talents and achievements. Patti McGee is one of the famous female skateboarders and the first-ever woman to turn professional.
Today, many women pursue the sport as a career and have excelled in it. Check out the link above to discover more about exceptional women defying the odds in skateboarding.
