Nike’s Jordan sub-brand, partners with PSG since 2018, has benefited tremendously from the latter’s link up with Lionel Messi, which is expected to well and truly change the game both on the pitch and beyond.
After it was on the club’s away and third kits, the Jordan logo is now visible on PSG’s home jerseys and another near-extraterrestrial sporting legend of all time, none other than Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan, gets to enjoy a sip of the nectar from the proceeds of shirt sales immediately after Messi’s induction into the team as the former cager gets 5% off each shirt sold.
The monumental capture of Messi has led to record-breaking shirt sales, to say the least. Demand for Messi’s jersey, with the No.30 on the back, has been nothing short of spectacular and the shirts sold out online in half-an-hour.
As for sales at the official club shop, the queues were astounding, with Spanish outlet AS saying that 150,000 Messi shirts were snapped up in just seven minutes.
Already, it’s reported that PSG have earned £100 million from Messi shirts alone in just a week, which sees Jordan, 58, pocketing some serious loose change. The figure is expected to continue to escalate, with PSG anticipating selling 2.5 million Messi shirts over the course of the entire season.
In the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jordan brand took a dent, losing 24 per cent of its value and the former NBA icon’s net worth went from USD2.1 billion to USD1.6 billion.
Meanwhile in Barcelona, it was reported that the Catalan outfit experienced an 80 per cent drop in shirt sales following on from the departure of their talisman and greatest ever player. Not that they deserve any sympathies, considering the callous manner in which they treated their all-time hero and benefactor.
Already struggling financially – it could get even worse for the Blaugrana – with Brand Finance estimating a loss of €17 million on matchdays, €43 million relating to merchandise and €77 million in business revenue.
On the other hand and with a broad grin on his face, PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi has said the world will be “shocked” by the revenues the club posts thanks to Messi-mania running wild.
Credit: Football Tribe Malaysia
