Tag: Lionel Messi

Another Signing with Lionel Messi!

November 9, 2022
Signing Sessions

Argentina megastar and global icon Lionel Messi once again put pen to product for Icons.com at his fourth and final signing of 2022. With the signing done, the legendary forward’s sights will now be firmly set on the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.

The official signing took place in Paris on November 5th, 2022 and was his final session of the year before heading off to Qatar to prepare for the biggest show on earth: the FIFA World Cup.

Messi’s form has been electric so far this season and he is currently a key part of arguably the most potent attack in world football. He will be hoping to carry that form over to the FIFA World Cup where his side, Argentina, are favourites to lift the iconic trophy.

This will be Messi’s fifth FIFA World Cup and he is set to break even more records at this year’s competition, most notably the most minutes played at a FIFA World Cup finals, a record currently held by Italian legend Paulo Maldini.

Icons have been working with Messi since the age of 17 and in turn have developed a wonderful relationship with the world’s greatest player. Icons is the only source of authentic Official Messi Signed Merchandise.

Every single piece of Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that shows Messi signing one of the items at the session, as well as the date and location of the signing. The COA is created under license by Icons.com.

For the latest on who we sign with next, as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more, make sure you’re subscribed to the Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.


Lionel Messi Signs with Icons Again!

September 16, 2022
Signing Sessions

Arguably the greatest player ever to grace a football pitch has yet again signed with Icons.com, showcasing the unique and exclusive relationship we have with the Argentine record-breaker.

In his third and by no means last signing of 2022, Messi added his signature to yet more incredible memorabilia. The signing took place on September 8th, 2022 in the French capital of Paris.

All-new Messi signed FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina shirts will be available to buy online soon in our official and exclusive FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

Currently playing for French giants Paris Saint-Germain, Messi has consistently set the world alight with his raw ability and goal-scoring prowess.

Indeed, you will find it hard to find a player who can match his ability and career record and it’s unlikely that he will be surpassed any time soon.

Messi recently broke yet another UEFA Champions League record, after finding the net against Maccabi Haifa he has now scored against 39 teams in the competition – that’s more teams than any other player has scored against.

Icons have been with Messi since the age of 17 and in turn have developed a wonderful relationship with the world’s greatest player. Icons is the only source of authentic Official Messi Signed Merchandise.

Every single piece of Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that shows Messi signing one of the items at the session, as well as the date and location of the signing. The COA is created under license by Icons.com.

For the latest on who we sign with next, as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more, make sure you’re subscribed to the Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.


We Predict… The 2022-23 Season

August 5, 2022
Previews and Predictions

Precious few feelings match the optimism that swells before the opening weekend of a new season. The possibilities for your team are endless and unbound, the hype surrounding your big summer signing reaches its intoxicating peak and with each empty league table sprawled out like a blank canvas you may even begin to dream of silverware.

That is, right up until your meathead of a centre-back gets sent off 15 minutes into the first half while your marquee signing breaks his foot and you end up losing the opening game 3-1.

But enough about Everton! For now, the season ahead is a mystery that has us all guessing what’s to come. And so, it’s time for our annual season predictions blog from the hard-working and devilishly handsome staff behind Icons.com who, year after year and season after season, gaze into their respective crystal balls, summon the power of Nostradamus and… get almost every single facet of these predictions utterly and hopelessly wrong.

Think you’ve got a more accurate vision of the 2022-23 campaign? You’re probably right! So why not send us your predictions for the season ahead on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. We dare you.

And, of course, be sure to check out our excellent range of signed memorabilia from Premier League stars past and present – available right now on Icons.com. So, on to our predictions…

Manchester City fans have high hopes for new striker Erling Haaland

Edward Freedman, Non-Executive Chairman

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title with fresh blood and new ideas under Pep Guardiola.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Tottenham Hotspur  4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Fulham, AFC Bournemouth and Aston Villa
Golden Boot: Manchester City’s ERLING HAALAND arrives for just over £50million and will light up the Premier League with his considerable talent.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: zzzzzzzz… BAYERN MUNICH… zzzzzzzz…

UEFA Champions League winners: I may be dreaming when I choose FC BARCELONA but that’s allowed, isn’t it?
UEFA Europa League winners: Mikel Arteta’s ARSENAL will win Europe’s second biggest prize.

Signing of the season: Liverpool FC’s capture of the dynamic young attacking midfielder FABIO CARVALHO looks shrewd.

Mark my words… Ten Hag, Nine Hag, Eight Hag, Seven Hag, Six Hag, Five Hag, Four Hag, Three Hag, Two Hag, One Hag… no Hag!

Liverpool FC fans’ favourite Mohamed Salah is primed for another Golden Boot campaign

Dan Jamieson, CEO

Premier League winners: LIVERPOOL FC will take the title back from Manchester City, I just know it.
2nd – Manchester City  3rd – Chelsea  4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Everton
Golden Boot: My man MOHAMED SALAH will equal Thierry Henry‘s record of four Premier League Golden Boots in 2022-23.

Serie A winners: AC MILAN, who I have big hopes for this year…
La Liga winners: Our friends at FC BARCELONA
Bundesliga winners: This will be BAYERN MUNICH once again (yawn!)

UEFA Champions League winners: Jurgen Klopp told me to book my hotel for the final in Istanbul so of course it will be LIVERPOOL FC.
UEFA Europa League winners: Jose Mourinho‘s AS ROMA will add to last season’s UEFA Conference League with this, his third UEL title.

Signing of the season: RAHEEM STERLING will do much better than Romelu Lukaku in Thomas Tuchel’s system.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… best Manchester City over the course of the season with continuity and cohesiveness our trump cards. I think City have gone backwards and Erling Haaland will clog up their smooth scoring engine.

Mark my words… Haaland will be a sub by Christmas when Pep realises his mistake. The Ten in Eric Ten Hag is the number of seasons Manchester United are going to need to properly rebuild.

FC Barcelona have been busy this summer with the notable capture of Robert Lewandowski

Ben Soley, Head of Sales

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY. It’s gutting, but I can’t look past them winning a third in a row and five of the last six based on their signings. Erling Haaland should tear it up while Kalvin Phillips provides great cover and Julian Alvarez will have a greater impact than expected. 
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Brentford
Golden Boot: With Liverpool FC scoring highly again this season, their penalty taker, MOHAMED SALAH, will surely be among the goals again, not to mention he will get a good rest while others are at the FIFA World Cup.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE. The title move back across town to I Nerazzurri.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA‘s somewhat chaotic spending spree will
pay off – in their domestic campaign at least.
Bundesliga winners: I don’t believe a Borussia Dortmund without Erling Haaland or RB Leipzig can compete with BAYERN MUNICH, who’ve added Sadio Mane.

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY will finally win the big one.
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA. Jose Mourinho knows all about tournament football and will want to bring more trophies to Rome. they’ve also made strong signings in Zeki Celik, Paulo Dybala and Nemanja Matic. 

Signing of the season: Brentford have unearthed a gem of a left-back from Bologna in AARON HICKEY. The Scot is great going forward and with a killer set-piece in his arsenal £17million is a steal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… focus on the Premier League after spreading thin last season to compete on four fronts. There will be silverware come the end of the season but it’s hard to put a finger on which kind!

Mark my words… Liverpool FC and Man City will be separated by a maximum of three points come the end of the season. Robert Lewandowski will hit the woodwork more than any player in La Liga. Aleksandar Mitrovic will score more times than he is carded.

Lionel Messi will hope Paris Saint-Germain can go further in the UEFA Champions League

Alistair Hunter, Senior Editor

Premier League winners: There’s no need to overthink this. MANCHESTER CITY will retain their title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Everton and Southampton
Golden Boot: My theory is this. ERLING HAALAND was actually created in an underground lab on the City Campus, manufactured to one day score 50 goals in a Premier League season. They sent him to Norway as a boy to throw us off the scent.

Serie A winners: I think this will be a special one… I’m going with AS ROMA to upset the odds now Paulo Dybala is unleashed.
La Liga winners: FC BARCELONA are selling the farm to win now so they better win now.
Bundesliga winners: Death, taxes, BAYERN MUNICH.

UEFA Champions League winners: If you read these predictions blogs every year you’ll know I’ve gone for PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN each year for the past five years. Giving up on Lionel Messi‘s side now feels dangerous.
UEFA Europa League winners: I was there as Rangers FC lost on penalties in last season’s final so it feels too soon to ask me this. For old time’s sake I’ll pick SEVILLA. Wait… Seville… oh god!

Signing of the season: No-one will want to admit (for some reason) that RAHEEM STERLING is a world class winger who adds a lot of quality to Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea.

My team, Rangers, will… battle relentlessly with Celtic and ultimately wrestle the Scottish title back by a solitary point in one of the most pulsating (and controversial) seasons in history. They will not – I repeat, not – enjoy the introduction of VAR north of the border.

Mark my words… either Manchester City or Liverpool will score 8+ goals in a Premier League game. The raucous atmosphere of an impassioned City Ground will vault Nottingham Forest into the top half.

Pep Guardiola’s City have their sights on yet more silverware in 2022-23

David Cox, Head of Operations

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY, because who else?!
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Arsenal
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Brentford
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH wins back-to-back Golden Boots.

Serie A winners: AS ROMA
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: The time has come for my MANCHESTER CITY to win their very first European crown, surely?
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: GABRIEL JESUS is a great player who was never really given a starting role at City. If he starts regularly at Arsenal he’ll bang them in. 

My team, Manchester City, will… finally prove the doubters wrong and win the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Again, Manchester United still won’t manage to break into the top four – I’d be surprised if they made the top six! 

The pressure’s on Eric Ten Hag at Manchester United – can he deliver at top four finish?

Jamie White, Digital Content Producer

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: Liverpool’s MOHAMED SALAH is always up there and he isn;t going to the FIFA Word Cup so will have a nice break in the winter.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH because who else?!

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: ARSENAL

Signing of the season: ERLING HAALAND looks set to be a monster player for Manchester City, who got an incredible deal for him. I do also believe Gabriel Jesus will do well at Arsenal.

My team, Liverpool FC, will… run City close but I can see a repeat of last season with the Reds missing out by a few points once again.

Mark my words… AFC Bournemouth will finish bottom and become the whipping boys of the season.

Jude Bellingham gives BVB hopes of busting Bayern’s decade-long dominance in Germany

Dan Rushton, Customer Support

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY – just about. I think City have a slight edge on Liverpool this season in terms of depth. It’s going to be close again but if Haaland adapts quickly and gels with his team-mates they’ll be the winners.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal (trust the process) 4th – Chelsea
Relegated: Southampton, Fulham and Leeds United
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE. I think Tottenham will have a go at it this year but I do still think the top four is going to be a big ask. If Kane stays fit I’m sure he’ll be scoring on a weekly basis. 

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE missed out on the title by two points last year. They’ll want to take it back!
La Liga winners: I just don’t think FC Barcelona will do it this year with the amount of new players they need to gel together. European champions REAL MADRID CF will be tough to dismantle.
Bundesliga winners: Both Bayern and BORUSSIA DORTMUND have lost some firepower which might bring other teams into the fray but I also think it’s about time Dortmund took their first title in just over 10 years. Jude Bellingham is in for a great season. 

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY are going to make a real go of it this year and I genuinely believe they can do it. I’m predicting a Liverpool v City final!
UEFA Europa League winners: I wanted to say Arsenal but I think their focus is going to be on the league and a top four finish. AS ROMA won’t take any prisoners this year.

Signing of the season: It’s between Haaland and GABRIEL JESUS but I will go for the latter. I think he’s going to absolutely smash it at Arsenal as he has already shown in pre-season. 

My team, Birmingham City, will… be rubbish again as per-usual. Blues will be dragged into their tenth consecutive relegation dogfight and probably survive by getting a point at Sheffield United on the last game of the season.

Mark my words… Nottingham Forest will spend most of the season on the fringes of a top six finish. 

Harry Kane will look to further cement his Premier League legacy in a FIFA World Cup year

Will Franklin, Sales Executive

Premier League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Chelsea 4th – Tottenham Hotspur
Relegated: Nottingham Forest, Fulham and Southampton
Golden Boot: HARRY KANE is set for another big year of goals with the FIFA World Cup in between to boot.

Serie A winners: INTERNAZIONALE
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH

UEFA Champions League winners: LIVERPOOL FC
UEFA Europa League winners: AS ROMA

Signing of the season: Tottenham’s acquisition of Ivorian midfielder YVES BISSOUMA from Brighton & Hove Albion will prove an excellent purchase.

My team, Aston Villa, will… finish 7th. Leon Bailey and Diego Carlos will have great seasons (I hope). 

Mark my words… Cameron Archer will light up the Premier League.

Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea face an intriguing campaign both on and off the pitch

Dan Hunt, Accounts Assistant

Premier League winners: With the signing of Erling Haaland, MANCHESTER CITY will be clear winners of the title.
2nd – Liverpool FC  3rd – Arsenal 4th – Manchester United
Relegated: AFC Bournemouth, Leeds United and Fulham
Golden Boot: If fit, ERLING HAALAND will score 30 goals or more.

Serie A winners: JUVENTUS
La Liga winners: REAL MADRID CF
Bundesliga winners: BAYERN MUNICH, obviously!

UEFA Champions League winners: MANCHESTER CITY
UEFA Europa League winners: Perennial winners SEVILLA will drop out of the UEFA Champions League to win another UEL title.

Signing of the season: West Ham United finally have a striker who will score goals for the club in GIANLUCA SCAMACCA.

My team, West Ham United, will… finish in 5th place, just a few points shy of the top four and a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Mark my words… Chelsea will start off very slowly and Thomas Tuchel will be the first manager sacked, shortly followed by Frank Lampard. Manchester City will have another 100+ point season.


Second Messi Signing of 2022 for Icons.com!

May 23, 2022
Signing Sessions

Global megastar Lionel Messi has yet again put pen to product in an exclusive new official signing with Icons.com.

In his second signing of 2022, Messi added his signature to even more incredible Official Messi Signed Merchandise. The signing took place on May 23rd, 2022 in the French capital of Paris.

Messi signed FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina shirts are available to buy online now in our official and exclusive FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, UEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

Messi, who is currently strutting his stuff along side fellow icon Neymar Jr for Paris Saint-Germain, has enjoyed what is among the most remarkable careers in all of football history.

To name but a few of Messi’s honours, he boasts an incredible seven Ballon d’Ors, 10 La Liga titles, and four UEFA Champions League winner’s medals. He most recently won the Ligue 1 title with Paris Saint-Germain in 2021-22.

It’s safe to say Messi’s ability will be hard to emulate for some years to come. That’s why Icons are so proud to have been with him every step of the way for almost 20 years.

Every single piece of Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity that shows Messi signing one of the items at the session, as well as the date and location of the signing. The COA is created under license by Icons.com.

For the latest on who we sign with next, as well as early access to products and exclusive discounts, giveaways and much more, make sure you’re subscribed to the Icons.com email newsletter. Sign up today via icons.com/newsletter.


CLOSED | GIVEAWAY! Win One of TEN Messi Signed Official FC Barcelona Framed Shirts!

May 10, 2021
Giveaways & Competitions

This is it, our biggest giveaway ever! And that’s saying something… We’ve teamed up with global super star LIONEL MESSI (yes, the Lionel Messi!) to give away TEN signed and official FC Barcelona framed shirts.

We are giving away FIVE shirts on Facebook and FIVE on Instagram, so there’s more chance than ever to win from this gigantic giveaway!

The shirts were signed by Messi during a private signing session in Barcelona on April 28th and are displayed in our exclusive Official FC Barcelona Signed Memorabilia framing.

Best of all, it could not be simpler to enter this great giveaway! Simply follow the steps below and you’ll be in with a shout of taking home one of these brilliant prizes.

TO ENTER VIA FACEBOOK:

1) TAG a friend in the comments of the giveaway post

AND

2) LIKE Icons.com’s official Facebook account

TO ENTER VIA INSTAGRAM:

1) TAG a friend in the comments of the giveaway post

AND

2) FOLLOW Icons.com’s official Instagram account

The prize is a Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Back Signed and Framed 2020-21 Home Shirt (Icons.com SKU ICLMBS118FCBF), which comes complete with an official FC Barcelona Certificate of Authenticity (COA). The COA has photographic evidence of Messi with the shirt in question as well as providing the location at which the shirt was signed – so you can be sure this is the real deal! For more information, check out the shirt on Icons.com.

Entries for this giveaway will close at midnight (GMT) on Monday May 17th 2021.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

  1. The Promoter of this prize draw is Icons Shop Limited (registered in England under company number 06791294 and with its registered office at Unit 7, Airfield Industrial Estate, Airfield Way, Christchurch, Dorset, BH23 3PE) (the “Promoter”).
  2. The Promoter is offering those who enter this promotion a chance to win one of ten Lionel Messi Official FC Barcelona Back Signed and Framed 2020-21 Home Shirts (Icons.com SKU ICLMBS118FCBF).
  3. Multiple entries per person are permitted. Entries will be accepted on Facebook and Instagram only, provided they fit the entry criteria outlined in these terms and conditions. However, entries submitted on behalf of another person will not be accepted and joint submissions are not allowed. Incomplete, illegible, misdirected or late entries will not be accepted.
  4. To enter this prize draw on Facebook, entrants must like Messi’s official Facebook page (facebook.com/leomessi), like Icons.com’s official Facebook account (facebook.com/iconsfootball) and tag an account that is not their own in the comments of the official giveaway post.
  5. To enter this prize draw on Instagram, entrants must follow Messi’s official Instagram account (@leomessi), follow Icons.com’s official Instagram account (@icons_memorabilia) and tag an account that is not their own in the comments of the official giveaway post.
  6. The ten winners of the giveaway will be selected at random by Icons.com.
  7. No purchase is necessary to enter this promotion, however internet access is required.
  8. Only one winner will be drawn. The prize is non-refundable, non-transferable and non-exchangeable and there is no cash alternative offered.
  9. The Promoter reserves the right to offer an alternative prize of equal or greater value. In the event of unforeseen circumstances or circumstances outside its reasonable control, the Promoter reserves the right to modify or discontinue this promotion without prior notice, be it temporarily or permanently.
  10. The winner(s) will be selected from all valid entries received during the promotional period. The draw will take place no later than fourteen days following the end of the promotional period.
  11. The winner(s) will be notified within ten days of the draw via the social network platform on which they entered the competition. They will be asked to provide a postal address to which the prize will be sent. If either winner(s) fails to respond and/or to give a valid address within five days of this notification, or declines their prize, a redraw will take place from the remaining valid entries to select a new winner(s) (however, this five-day period may be extended at the Promoter’s sole discretion). If either winner(s) declines their prize, or fails to respond within the required period, they forfeit any right to the prize.
  12. The prize will be sent via post to the address supplied within two weeks following provision of the winner(s)’s address in accordance with the T&Cs.
  13. The name and county of residence of the winner(s) will be made available on request to anyone sending a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Promoter as the address set out above within 10 weeks of the closing date of the promotion.
  14. The Promoter does not accept responsibility for network, computer or software failures of any kind and has no responsibility for lost, delayed or misdirected entries.
  15. The Promoter reserves the right to exclude any entries the Promoter in its sole discretion considers to be inappropriate, unrelated or offensive and to disqualify any entries if the Promoter, at its sole discretion, believes that there has been an attempt to manipulate or tamper with the operation of the promotion (including, without limitation, by setting up multiple email, Facebook or other social media accounts in order to submit multiple entries).
  16. By entering this competition you agree that the promoter may store and use the data you enter into this competition and contact you. You agree that the promoter may store and use any image and/or comment you post as your entry for this competition, and may use your name and competition entry in its social media channels and website (including, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, YouTube and icons.com), worldwide and without limit of time. You understand that you won’t have any right to preview or pre-approve the content (and, that you won’t be entitled to any kind of payment) in the event that it is used by Icons as noted above.
  17. Except for the purpose of carrying out the promotion, the Promoter will not use entrants’ personal data without the express consent of the entrant. See http://www.icons.com/about/help/privacy-policy.html for our full privacy policy.
  18. You agree to be bound by the decisions of the Promoter, which are final in all matters relating to the promotion. No correspondence will be entered into in respect of the Promoter’s decisions.
  19. These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed exclusively in accordance with the laws of England and the parties agree to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Courts of England, including the seeking of all injunctive or ancillary relief actions.

Shop from our full range of 100% Official Messi Signed Merchandise signed items by visiting Icons.com today…

Follow Icons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.


THE INSIDER: The Rise and Rise of Women’s Football

March 25, 2019
The Insider

What a fortnight it has been for women’s football, writes Icons.com Sales Manager, Ben Soley. Amid the feverish anticipation for this summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup, club-level attendance records were broken and investment in the sport continued to reach new heights both on and off the pitch.

It is becoming increasingly evident that women’s football has a huge potential for rapid and wide-ranging growth, as well as the ability to become a very lucrative industry in its own right. And, as with any industry exhibiting these trends, now appears to be as good a time as any to climb aboard the bandwagon and invest in an area of sport experiencing an explosion in popularity.

Two Sundays ago saw perhaps the most prominent and staggering example of how far the women’s game has progressed. At Atletico Madrid’s new home – the setting of this year’s men’s UEFA Champions League final – a world record was set for the highest attendance (60,739) at a women’s club game.

To put that into context, there were over 7,000 more fans were in attendance for the women’s game in Madrid than were at the home of Real Betis, as Lionel Messi stunned the world with a magical hat-trick.

FC Barcelona Femení’s victory means Atletico’s lead at the top of the table is cut to three points with just six games to go. The evident enthusiasm for these fixtures only enhances the reputations of its stars, like Lieke Martens, a recent Icons signee.

While it might go without saying that more television viewers will have tuned in to watch Messi and company than Martens and her team, the numbers at the Wanda Metropolitano paint a very real picture of women’s football as it begins to benefit from larger platforms and more stable and respectable infrastructure.

On top of this, coverage of women’s football is vastly improving. The Telegraph this week launched a dedicated Women’s Sport supplement and a daily section in its printed publication. The initiative has been widely celebrated and has led to comments that echo Clare Balding’s affirmation that “the tide is turning”.

This all comes on the back of a commercially successful European Championship in 2017, which was watched by a record-setting cumulative TV audience of 178 million. Now it’s reported that another record has been broken as nine countries, including Argentina, Brazil, Japan and South Africa, have submitted formal bids to host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The next step forward is clear. In order for these enterprises to become sustainable the women’s game still needs yet more funding from large corporations, the types behind the big-name brand sponsorships that power men’s sports.

Enter Barclays. A long-serving partner to the Premier League, Barclays last week penned a £10m sponsorship deal with the Women’s Super League (WSL), the top tier of women’s club football in England. The groundbreaking deal sets a precedent for other big-money deals in this country and around Europe. Beverage industry giants are also leading the way with prominent partnerships between Budweiser and the England Lionesses and Gatorade and Manchester City.

Here at Icons, we work closely with such blue chip partners, such as Mastercard, Pepsi and Heineken, helping them promote their sponsorships of tournaments such as the UEFA Champions League. Big name brands have the spending power to help support women’s football, to help it grow, but they are also understandably interested in a return on their investment.

It is clear now that there is rising interest in the women’s game, led by these visible and record-setting increases in gate numbers and TV viewing figures. What should follow, naturally, is increased investment from sponsors wanting to get in early and capitalise on the sport’s growth.

Earlier this year, we met with The Football Association to discuss the Official England Licensed Memorabilia range and licence. We agreed there were huge positives to take away from the Lionesses’ success at the recent European Championships and that the team has great potential. It’s a young, hungry and undeniably exciting team. Potential like this always has the ability to excite potential partners and sponsors on the lookout for areas of rapid growth where they can find a speedy return on investment.  

A World Cup year is a crucial time for any sport, but especially affects one that so often experiences scepticism from outsiders. With women’s football on a remarkable and culturally-important rise in the build-up to this summer’s tournament in France, clubs, brands and media outlets are actively increasing their involvement in various ways.

We can see the potential the sport has – that’s why we signed with one of its brightest stars earlier this year. Perhaps now it is time for more brands and corporations to sit up and pay attention.

See the full range of Lieke Martens signed memorabilia by clicking here.

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From Our CEO: Adding To An Iconic List of Ballon d’Or Winners

February 11, 2019
From Our CEO

What do George Weah, Jean-Pierre Papin, Andriy Shevchenko, Matthias Sammer and Hristo Stoichkov have in common? Of course, it’s pretty well-known that they are all past Ballon d’Or winners. But the few names on this short list share something else, too. These are the only five names from the past three decades who’ve won the Ballon d’Or but aren’t Icons… yet.

Every other former winner of football’s most coveted individual prize has undertaken a signing session for Icons, from Marco Van Basten to Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane to Lionel Messi. And so, when mercurial midfielder Luka Modric won this year’s accolade, it was only a matter of time before he joined our roster. Well, it was 58 days, to be exact.

In fact, our recent signing with Luka also kept alive another impressive streak of ours: we can now say that we have worked with the winners of the award from each of the past fourteen seasons.

Luka was delighted to join the list and even allowed our signing team to hold the actual Ballon d’Or award that he has at home on his mantelpiece in Madrid. ‘Signed By The World’s Best’ indeed!

So, how do we get to these players? Well, to be frank, it’s a combination of judgement and luck. We first worked with Messi, for example, when he was just 17-years-old. The year was 2006 and we had been tipped off about this new sensation in Barcelona by our man on the ground in Spain. I could write for days with similar stories. We met Cristiano Ronaldo as he arrived in Manchester. Kaka had been an Icon for a number of years before he won a Ballon d’Or. We even saw a 19-year-old Neymar Jr playing in Sao Paolo – that was 2013 and we were sat next to Kaka’s father. It was Ronaldo Nazario who had let us know that this guy might be a future Ballon d’Or winner. Neymar Jr hasn’t won it yet, of course, but we’re playing the long-game.

We like to think we can spot talent and it was great to see our first Icon of the Future, Callum Hudson-Odoi, who signed for Icons back in May 2018, selling more items during our January Sale than many of the biggest names in the sport. It shows we might be on to something with the Chelsea starlet. Maybe he too will have something shiny on his mantelpiece in a decade’s time…

I always say that as a kid I collected football stickers but nowadays I collect footballers. So come on, George, Jean-Pierre, Andriy, Matthias and Hristo – it’s time to get in touch and join the world’s most truly iconic club.

See the full range of all-new Luka Modric signed memorabilia by clicking here.

See our unrivalled collection of memorabilia signed by nominees and winners of the Ballon d’Or by clicking here.

Follow Icons on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for all our latest blog posts, special offers and competitions.


From Our CEO: Experience The World’s Best with Icons XP

October 19, 2018
From Our CEO

One of the pivotal moments of my life happened in Barcelona. It was 2001 and I was drinking cheap cava in a hillside terrace bar overlooking the city. Dusk fell and the cityscape turned sparkly. I had a job I hated for a dotcom startup in London and I was on a football tour in the Catalan capital.

“Why don’t I just quit my job and come and live here? It’s got sun, sand and sexy football – what more could you want?” I asked.

Five months later I’d left everything behind to move to Barcelona to play, watch and teach people how to talk about football. Some of my friends were incredulous. They said: “You’re just going out there for the experience. Why would you do that?”

Fast forward to 2018. I’m reading an article written by the founder of Airbnb, Brian Chesky. He’s talks about how his company have been able to create a trust platform, unlocking the spaces left vacant in people’s spare rooms and empty houses. Their next step, he explains is to create 100 million entrepreneurs, unlocking the potential not of spaces but of people. “We’re creating Airbnb experiences where people all over the world offer their talents, skills and knowledge to others to buy as they travel. Hidden city tours, salsa classes, art history lessons, Airbnb can use its trust platform to put consumers together with suppliers,” Chesky says.

Now, what that got to do with memorabilia?

Well, firstly, if we can bring memorabilia together with memories, we are tapping into what Generation XP want more than anything: stories to tell. At Icons, we have access to the world’s biggest superstar footballers and we can get to the world’s greatest sporting events. Hey, it’s why I do what I do.

So, this month we’re launching Icons XP with the tagline ‘Experience The World’s Best’. As with lots of these ideas, we start in Barcelona. Icons now have a private corporate box at Camp Nou. If you love Leo Messi, you can now buy Experience Memorabilia package from Icons.com and be our guests at his next game to see him play in the flesh. We were in the box for the Joan Gamper Trophy earlier in the year and the little magician we love so much scored right in front of us. Imagine watching El Clasico or a UEFA Champions League semi-final and seeing Leo, Luis Suarez or Philippe Coutinho doing something truly iconic? Maybe we can even get them to pop into the box after the match to say hello… we’re working on it.

Now wouldn’t that would be an iconic experience?

While it starts with Barcelona it most certainly does not end there. Icons are co-promoting a speaker tour that brings Manchester United legend Eric Cantona to London, Manchester and Ireland throughout October. Icons founder Edward Freedman worked with Eric at United and, in fact, Cantona was the first player he got to sign shirts, making him the very first on a long and ever expanding list of Icons. For Eric’s tour, Icons XP is offering VIP and VVIP tickets that allows fans to come backstage to meet Eric himself. When we did this two years ago a grown man fainted upon meeting Le God. That’s what it means to our customers.

Memories plus memorabilia. That has a nice ring to it, I think.

If we can bring fans closer to their heroes through events, tickets, boxes or meets and greets, we will. Our roster comprises the biggest names in sport and we have a reputation for running the best competitions and giveaways for money-can’t-buy prizes. If The FC Barcelona Experience and Eric Cantona Live work, we’ll expand, offering more and more experiences to our customers. Maybe we can even put together those experiences in cities around the world with Airbnb’s local experts. A Diego Maradona tour around Boca in Buenos Aires, for example. Maybe a Steven Gerrard framed memento from a trip to Anfield or a native New Yorker talking you through the iconic nights of Madison Square Gardens.

Icons XP is a new way to get closer to your heroes. And we couldn’t be more excited to bring it to you. See you in Barcelona soon.

  • FC Barcelona Experience Memorabilia packages are available for matches throughout FC Barcelona’s 2018/19 campaign, including the world-famous El Clasico derby plus crucial La Liga clashes, thrilling Copa Del Rey ties and, of course, those epic UEFA Champions League nights. Contact experiences@icons.com for prices, match availability and further information.
  • Eric Cantona kicks off his UK speaker tour on October 24th with a show at the Hammersmith Apollo in London. VIP and VVIP tickets are available for all dates. Click here for more information.