He came, saw, and conquered in his first match for Inter Miami, and Messi fans still can't get his iconic number ten kit.
What's the hold-up? Adidas.
The German sportswear brand, renowned for its innovative, high-quality athletic footwear and apparel, can't seem to turn the Messi kits around fast enough to meet soaring demand.
When will the Messi Miami jersey be available?
You can order your Messi #10 kit now at the MLS Store but will wait until mid-October to receive it. The authentic kit costs $160, while the replica costs $125. The youth version goes for $104. The shirt is also available for pre-order on the Adidas online store.
“This is a pre-order item. Orders containing this item will be shipped separately. This item will be shipped no later than Tuesday, October 17, 2023,” reads the sales page.
Said an Adidas spokesperson: “We're working as quickly as possible to ensure that every fan who wants a jersey can get one online or at one of our stores.”
Why it takes a big brand like Adidas 3-months to create and ship out the shirt is anyone's guess — the standard turnaround time is typically six months. You would think Adidas would've taken a cue from the goat's Argentine home kit, which sold out after he led them to World Cup glory and started on probable production.
But Adidas is okay with trading lateness for margins. The demand is unquenchable, and fans are willing to wait for a piece of history. Soccer.com sold six months' worth of a half-baked Messi Inter Miami kit in a day after it became known of Messi's potential Miami move last June. The store reordered more units immediately.
Messi knocked in the game-winner from an extraordinary free-kick in his debut match against Mexican side Cruz Azul in the Leagues Cup. Messi's Herons meet up with Atlanta in the tournament's second match on Tuesday, a game he expects to captain and start.
Atlanta United is Messi's 115th unique club opponent in his career and the first from the United States.
Something tells me we'll be seeing a lot of PINK in at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium tonight.
Photo: Twitter/@mvsrapp
