Have you noticed the pass? The fun little dink from Messi to Jordi Alba, who then squared it to Ansu Fati. With a flawless performance, the 17-year-old became the youngest goal scorer in El Clasico history.
And Lionel Messi’s incredible boot was where it all started, as it usually does. It’s a given that his club Barcelona lost their match against Real Madrid 1-3, but that pass was still impressive to see. Style, grace, and vision embodied everything that the all-star player represents.
And now that Messi, 33, is moving into a new phase of this amazing career, he’s kept an eye out for opportunities and endeavors off the field. And another has enabled him to introduce his on-field aesthetic and perspective to the fashion industry.
Similar to his fierce rival Ronaldo, he started his own apparel line last year. He collaborated with Tommy Hilfiger’s sister Ginny Hilfiger, and he sells the line at The Messi Store. Through the Messi apparel line, bespoke Savile Row tailor Richard James also collaborates on premium suits.
The world’s greatest football player, who famously accepted the renowned Ballon d’Or trophy while sporting a polka-dot suit, is one example of a fashionista.
And it’s paying off: the Barcelona icon topped Forbes’ list of the wealthiest athletes last month, with pre-tax earnings of $1 billiоn (£760 million). His enormous salary—which starts at £71 million annually and doesn’t include bonuses for winning trophies—has allowed him to accumulate this wealth. After receiving incredible endorsements from brands like Budweiser and adidas, he ventured into the hotel industry and has ambitions to establish a theme park in China. Yes, a theme park with a Lionel Messi theme!
But as he just stated in an exclusive video posted on The Messi Store website, it’s the apparel line that fascinates him right now.
The celebrity, who has four Champions League titles and ten La Liga victories under his belt, talked about the part his sister Maria Sol plays in his expanding design business. She knows me and what I want, so I’m really happy she can be a part of this. She clearly understood what I wаnted and liked, and I can tell she didn’t miss anything.
“Everything is wonderful, and her effort has pleased me as well. I’ve always enjoyed dressing up and wearing clothes, with a particular emphasis on achieving a balance between comfort and style.
“I am excited about this project because it is very important to me, and I am happy to see it progressing.”
Where will this football fashionista go next, Paris, Milan, or Manchester, given the uncertainty surrounding his future at the Spanish powerhouse Barcelona? Manchester is unbeatable every day of the week in our opinion.