There has been a fair amount of crossover between sport and fashion over the years with a number of high-profile performers opting to launch their own clothing ranges. With copious marketing opportunities available, many sports stars have utilised their global profiles to help gain exposure for their brand, and Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is the latest sportsperson to add his name to this list.
Lionel Messi has launched the fashion collection of the 'Messi' brand. [via cope] pic.twitter.com/GxaIFGwF6i
— barcacentre (@barcacentre) September 19, 2019
The Argentine superstar launched the imaginatively titled ‘Messi’ range on the Paseo de Gracia on September 19th, with the help of his sister Maria Sol. Unsurprisingly, hoards of fans gathered to try and catch a glimpse of the four-time Ballon d’Or winner, who appeared fleetingly at the Eixample venue in order to acknowledge the crowd as well as model a small number of catalogue items.
He’s teamed up with designer Ginny Hilfiger to release a range of high-quality lifestyle garments ‘with a sporty edge’. A number of items are currently on display in the ‘Messi Store’, although a large number of these will be available for a limited time only. The Champions League-winner has promised to bring some of his ‘core values’ and ‘ambition’ to the fore, whilst the brand itself is described as a ‘blend of high-tech and precision’.
Lionel Messi follows in the footsteps of Cristiano Ronaldo, who launched his CR7 range back in 2013, and his brand has subsequently expanded its offerings to include shirts, socks and jeans. David Beckham is another footballer who is famed for his sartorial elegance, although the former England International did wait until after his retirement to launch his first collection. Messi will delegate the day-to-day running of the brand to his sister, whilst the 32-year old concentrates on helping Barcelona retain their title in Spanish top flight. The Catalan outfit are 4/5 favourites in the latest La Liga betting markets, and with the Rosario-born playmaker having recently returned from injury, he is likely to take centre stage once again this season.
After restaurants, Cirque du Soleil colabs. and Chinese theme parks ….
— AS English (@English_AS) May 22, 2019
Lionel Messi now set to launch his own fashion brand. https://t.co/aTPTS5YzeG pic.twitter.com/pJuAfTH0iA
It isn’t exclusively footballers who have ventured into the world of fashion with Serena Williams one of many tennis players to launch a successful clothing line in the last decade. As well as collaborating with both Nike and HSN, the 38-year old opted to release her own brand which she debuted at New York Fashion Week earlier this year. Her latest collection is a celebration of women who ‘break limits, boundaries and tradition’ and she’s been widely praised for her innovation. Her clothes are said to be inspired by the 1990s, and they cater for a range of body types ranging from XS to 3X. Sister Venus, who has an associate degree in fashion design has previously ventured into the world of fashion when overseeing the launch of an activewear apparel back in 2012.
Ballet dancer Misty Copeland, NFL star Victor Cruz and basketball star Dwyane Wade are just a handful of names who have dabbled with fashion over the last few years, and many more stars are likely to follow suit.
Lionel Messi is likely to be plying his trade at the highest level for at least another couple of years, but his latest sideline is a clear indication that the 32-year old is beginning to plan for life after football. His latest venture has already attracted significant interest, and he could be set for a bright future in the world of fashion.
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