The draw of Lionel Messi continues to reach new heights, and opposition football clubs and nations are doing everything they can to take control.
Lionel Messi and Inter Miami were left with a bitter taste in their mouth following their early exit in their MLS play-off tie with Atlanta United.
Following the Atlanta defeat, Messi thanked the Inter Miami fans and vowed to ‘come back stronger next year.’
The Argentinian however, will now turn his attention to international duty as he looks to help his nation qualify for yet another World Cup as they face Paraguay.
Argentina will go into the game as big favourites, but the Paraguayan Football Association (APF) have a trick up their sleeve to hopefully even the playing field.
Managers react to Lionel Messi shirt ban
We’ve all heard of home-field advantage, but the AFP is trying everything it can to make sure that Argentina leaves Paraguay empty-handed.
A ban has been placed on home fans wearing away team jerseys with the AFP president stating that only home team shirts will be allowed into the stadium.
Messi has a fan following that transcends the globe and Argentina boss Lionel Scaloni has spoken out about the shirt ban.
Speaking during a news conference on Wednesday, Scaloni said: “For the Paraguayan players and supporters, there’s a desire to wear the national team shirt.”
“But Leo [Messi] transcends it all, and I believe that Argentina shirts will be present. It doesn’t signify that a fan is turning their back on Paraguay. I think it’s commendable that those within football recognize what he represents. Wearing a shirt doesn’t define one’s allegiance. It’s about football respect.”
Paraguay’s coach took a much more neutral stance on the shirt ban simply stating that he has no say over the policy and was ‘unaware’ of it until now.
Lionel Messi leads the way in MLS shirt sales
The MLS revealed to no surprise that the record-breaking eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi leads the way in shirt sales across the league.
Messi’s shirt became the most-sold shirt of 2023 within 45 minutes of his jersey launch on the MLS store and became the most-sold jersey in the history of the site within just three days.
Messi’s infamous 2022 World Cup final shirt went on sale, alongside some others he wore during the tournament, in December 2023, selling for an eye-watering £6.12m ($7.8m).
It’s clear to see that Messi and his shirts are loved and collected across the globe and any ban on fans wearing them could prove tricky to enforce.