Tag: Ballon d’Or

Our First Official Messi Signing Of 2023!

For the first time since he and his Argentina compatriots won the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, Lionel Messi met with our team to put pen to product at a private and exclusive signing session in Paris.

The official signing took place on January 30th and presented our team with the first opportunity of 2023 to get highly sought-after Argentina shirts signed by the man who led his nation to its third world title.

Messi was on inspired form throughout the tournament in November and December, scoring a whopping seven goals – including a brace in the Final – and earning the adidas Golden Ball as the competition’s best player.

We at Icons watched with immense pride as Messi then lifted the iconic trophy at the Lusail Stadium in Doha following a pulsating Final that will live long in the memory.

Icons Shop Ltd CEO Dan Jamieson, who was at the Final in Qatar to see Messi’s Argentina defeat France, said: “They say when you bet on a game the result means more.

“We went all-in on Leo a long time ago and he pulled off the big one. After all the twists and turns my heart hurt. Even the crowd around us got involved as they wondered why England fans were supporting Argentina so much!”

It’s no wonder that in the ensuing hours, days and weeks we received an overwhelming influx of orders for exclusive Official Messi Signed Merchandise and Official FIFA World Cup Memorabilia from all over the world.

At an undisclosed location in Paris, Messi signed Argentina shirts both home and away, personal dedications, 2022 FIFA World Cup footballs, Adidas boots, artwork and more amazing items for his many adoring fans.

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.



Second Messi Signing of 2022 for Icons.com!

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 BarcelonaParis 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.



Lionel Messi Signs Again for Icons.com!

Icons.com’s decade-long official relationship with Lionel Messi has paid off once again as the global superstar put pen to product in our first signing of 2022 with the Argentine maestro.

The private signing session took place in Paris on April 13th, 2022 at which Messi signed a superb collection of incredible pieces of memorabilia, including shirts, boots, balls and photos.

We now have even more Official Messi Signed Merchandise in stock, including FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain and Argentina shirts. They are also available to buy online in our official and exclusive FC BarcelonaUEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

In terms of pure ability and astonishing natural talent, Messi has continued to set the bar high and has forged a career that will be talked about for decades to come. Having scored an incredible 672 goals in 778 FC Barcelona appearances, Messi not only broke a club record but also a La Liga record.

Every piece of Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that shows Messi signing these great items at the session in question, as well as details of the date and location of the signing. Our official COAs are created under license by Icons Shop Limited. So, any Messi signed product that doesn’t come with an official COA is not official and therefore cannot to be trusted.

For all the latest on which global megastar 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.



Another Signing with Superstar Lionel Messi!

Icons.com are delighted to confirm that Lionel Messi has once again put pen to product at the latest of our official signing sessions with the global superstar.

The private signing session took place in Paris on December 16th, 2021 at which Messi signed a vast array of incredible pieces including shirts, boots, balls and photos.

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

We all know that Messi needs no introduction but it’s impossible not to marvel at his superhuman ability and hall of fame playing record. Now plying his trade at PSG, Messi has been the focal point of some of European football’s most deadly attacks in every season he has played.

Breaking over 20 records at FC Barcelona, including the club’s all-time goalscoring record and winning the Ballon d’Or more than any other player, Messi now set his sights on breaking records in France at another of the world’s biggest clubs.

As Lionel Messi’s official and exclusive worldwide signing partner and licensee, we at Icons.com pride ourselves on the fact that we have been signing with him since the age of 17. That’s almost 20 years of signing with one of the world’s greatest ever players.

All Official Messi Signed Merchandise comes with a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) that shows Messi signing the item in question at our session, as well as detailing the date and location of the signing. The COA is officially branded and created under license by Icons Shop Limited.

For all the latest on which global megastar 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.

The private signing session took place in Paris on 16th December 2021 where Messi signed a vast array of incredible pieces including shirts, boots, balls and photos.

Messi signed Barcelona, PSG, Argentina shirts are available to buy online now not only in sleek Icons.com presentation options but also in our official and exclusive FC BarcelonaUEFA Champions League and FIFA World Cup memorabilia collections.

We all know that Messi needs no introduction but it’s impossible not to marvel at his vast ability and playing record. Now plying his trade at PSG, Messi has been the focal point of Barcelona’s attack force in every season he has played.

Breaking over 20 records at Barcelona, including becoming their all time top goal scorer and winning the most Ballon d’Or awards, Messi will no set his sights on breaking some records in France, which we are sure he will.

As Icons are Lionel Messi’s official and exclusive worldwide signing partner and licensee, we pride ourselves on the fact that we have been signing with him since the age of 17. That’s almost 20 years of signing with the worlds greatest player.

All 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 Messi branded and created under license by Icons.

For all the latest on which global megastar 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.



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

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.

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Football’s back! Six unmissable storylines to look out for in 2017-18

At last, it’s back! The real football has returned! From now until late May of next year, it’s non-stop, full-on, unadulterated football and we at Icons.com could not be more excited.

After all, this season has the potential to be bigger, better and more exciting than ever. And not just in England. Let’s not forget the thrills that await around the continent; in Spain, Germany, Italy and France, where the best footballers on the planet do battle in front of the biggest crowds for the right to claim the world’s most coveted prizes.

In fact, with so much going on around the world on the opening weekend of the season, you could be forgiven for not knowing where to start or what to look out for. Well, it’s lucky we’re here then, isn’t it? Here are six things you need to keep an eye on this season.

 

1. Bem-vindo Neymar Jr

So, it actually happened. With Neymar Jr’s switch from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222million, world football’s transfer record has been broken by a factor of two. Our office stopped in its tracks to watch – perhaps a little out of disbelief – as the mercurial Brazilian forward was presented in front of the world’s media last week. With a glitzy unveiling in front of a sell-out crowd days later, the Parc de Princes has had more than a little Hollywood about it over the past month.

This season the 25-year-old will surely set his sights not only on a sweep of the domestic titles on offer at his new club but also a shot at one or both of the two individual honours that would certify his superstar status: the Ballon D’or and FIFA’s The Best Award. Will the football gods also write a mouthwatering script that reunites him with Barça in the UEFA Champions League? It may be time to start warming those balls…

 

2. The main event

Speaking of the UEFA Champions League, this season’s race for club football’s most sought-after prize promises to be as thrilling as ever. Real Madrid made history at the end of last season as they became the first team to successfully defend their title but Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo aren’t quite content with just two-in-a-row. The Spanish champions have won the famous tournament in three of the last four years and they’ve developed a taste for success.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United are back, adding three previous winners and two of the competition’s most storied teams to the mix. Jurgen Klopp and Jose Mourinho have a great knack of inspiring magic on European nights but can the trophy really return to the North West as early as this season?

Not if the rest of Europe has something to say about it. A certain aforementioned Brazilian seems dead-set on making his mark at PSG but to get to Kiev they may have to return to the scene of last season’s most remarkable tie: Camp Nou. All this while Carlo Ancelotti plots Bayern Munich’s return to the European throne and Gianluigi Buffon prays for one last shot at the trophy that has always eluded him.

As an official UEFA licensee, Icons.com is the proud home of official UEFA Champions League signed memorabilia.

 

3. A six-horse race

The Premier League is getting stronger in competitive terms, there’s no doubt about that. Almost all of the world’s best managers are taking charge of talented, hungry and exciting teams in England’s topflight and that means the title could go almost anywhere.

In Manchester, Pep Guardiola is building an attack-minded team at City with the signing of Monaco’s Bernardo Silva to add to Sergio Aguero’s goals, while United have a new hitman in the form of Romelu Lukaku. Liverpool are still a side of pure pace up front and should be an entertaining watch considering their attacking prowess.

Meanwhile, in London, Antonio Conte has one of the world’s most exciting attacking midfielders in Eden Hazard and Mauricio Pochettino will just be happy that both Harry Kane and Dele Alli (see below) have gone the summer without their heads being turned. Arch-rivals Arsenal have satisfied the wishes of their fans with the purchase of Alexandre Lacazette and the retention of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil (at the time of writing, anyway). So, who exactly is supposed to be the frontrunner here?

Find out who we fancy to come out on top in our special 2017-18 season predictions blog.

 

4. Dele’s big year

The breakout season is history, the sophomore slump was nowhere to be seen. Now the most exciting young talent at both Tottenham Hotspur and England can stretch his legs and really show us what he’s got. Gunning for a hat-trick of PFA Young Player of the Year awards – and perhaps the main gong too – Dele Alli faces a season of much promise.

Playing in front of potentially 90,000 fans at Spurs’ temporary home of Wembley Stadium won’t faze the England regular, nor will the prospect of a second season in the UEFA Champions League group stages. In fact, knowing the boy-wonder personally from our signing sessions, we’re not sure exactly what could faze him, if anything. Here is a confident 21-year-old who has the world at his feet. Which reminds us, isn’t there some sort of big international tournament coming soon?

We are immensely proud to have an official contract with Tottenham and England sensation Dele Alli. For exclusive signed products, visit Icons.com today.

 

5. All the world’s a stage

Ah, yes, the FIFA World Cup. Next summer sees the return of the biggest football tournament on the planet and with potentially one last chance at winning that most coveted trophy, the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo will be desperate to deliver glory to their respective countries. Neymar Jr, Philippe Coutinho, Paul Pogba, Antoine Griezmann and Dele Alli will be among the young but established stars hoping to capture the world’s attention and with the talent on offer it promises to be a tournament full of drama.

Whisper it but England look to be stronger than in recent years with Wayne Rooney surely determined to bow out of international football on a high alongside a stellar mix of young and experienced players mostly plying their trade in the Premier League.

Capture the spirit and excitement of the FIFA World Cup with officially-licensed FIFA World Cup signed memorabilia, exclusive to Icons.com.

 

6. La Liga’s on a knife-edge

Madridistas could be forgiven for still being a little hungover when their domestic season starts with a Supercopa Clasico on Sunday evening. Last season, Real won their first league title since 2012 and became the first team in history to retain the UEFA Champions League. Their supremacy is currently unquestioned but this season their hated rivals will want revenge.

Lionel Messi’s ultra dramatic, last-gasp winner in the sides’ pulsating encounter at the Bernabeu merely fanned the flames that could well spark all-out war this term. Barça haven’t experienced for years the upheaval they’ve suffered over the past few months with Neymar Jr gone and now a new man at the helm. Who knows how Ernesto Valverde plans to stop the Zidane juggernaut?

 

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CLOSED | WIN a Cristiano Ronaldo Signed Nike Boot with FOOTY.COM

Video via FOOTY.COM on Facebook

After a stellar 2016 in which he not only won the UEFA Champions League for a third time but also inspired a first ever major trophy as the captain of his country AND bagged a fourth Ballon d’Or, Cristiano Ronaldo‘s standing as the best player in world football became less of a debate and more of a cold, hard fact.

We at Icons.com love us some CR7. So much so, in fact, that we’ve been working closely with the global phenomenon for over a decade. A Sporting Lisbon legend, a Manchester United hero, a Real Madrid superstar – however you choose to view his career, Ronaldo remains one of our most popular icons.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with our friends at FOOTY.COM to offer the ultimate giveaway for Cristiano fans.

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That’s right, this week we’re offering you the chance to win a Cristiano Ronaldo signed Nike Mercurial Victory VI boot.

Throwing your hat in the ring for this spectacular prize couldn’t be easier. Just head over to FOOTY.COM, pop in your name and email address and you’re in. The competition ends on Sunday March 12th at midnight (GMT) so enter now before it’s too late!

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Leo Messi: Ten Years An Icon

Lionel-Messi-Signing-Session-Icons

Title after title, honour after honour, record after record, Barcelona and Argentina superstar Leo Messi has written his way into the history books as one of the greatest to ever play the game. In that space of time, Messi has won four Champions Leagues, seven La Liga titles, three Spanish Cups and two FIFA Club World Cups, among various other honours. Add to that his four straight Ballon d’Or awards between 2009 and 2012 and countless golden boots.

In 2014-15, the 28-year-old teamed up with Luis Suarez and Neymar Jr to form the world’s most deadly attacking trio. Together they claimed the treble with Barcelona, culminating in a 3-1 defeat of Juventus in a typically ruthless display at the showpiece Champions League final in Berlin. It was a fitting way for Messi to mark ten years in the red and blue of Barcelona.

Having made his debut for the club back in October 2004, he was soon showing fans the sort of flair that would come to exemplify his electric playing style. The 2005-06 season would be Messi’s breakthrough year, as he played a significant role in Barcelona’s league and Champions League double. Records would soon tumble, as Messi emerged as the club’s most talented young star. The world at large began to notice his immeasurable talent in the 2006-07 season after he scored a number of marvellous goals, including an incredible solo effort against Getafe at the Camp Nou.

Barca were Champions League winners again in 2009, with Messi scoring the second goal in a 2-0 defeat of Manchester United in Rome. By now the world was in awe of Messi and his Barcelona teammates Xavi and Andres Iniesta. It was also to be the year that Messi would win his first of four consecutive Ballon d’Ors. A year later he would equal Ronaldo’s record for league goals in a single season as Barca secured the second of what would be three back-to-back La Liga titles.

But many will argue that 2010-11 was the ultimate season for Messi and Barcelona. Under Pep Guardiola, Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, David Villa and co. added to their league title with a third Champions League triumph in six years. Their Wembley coronation came after another defeat of Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United and, just as in 2009, Messi was on hand to score a vital goal – a swerving shot from just outside the box that bamboozled United keeper Edwin van der Sar and put Barcelona 2-1 up.

In 2011-12 Messi became Barcelona’s all-time leading scorer, amassing more goals than Cesar Rodriguez’s 232 following a superb hat-trick against Granada. It came just two days after he’d scored five in one match against Bayer Leverkusen in a remarkable Champions League victory. He ended 2012 with a record for most goals in a calendar year, having notched 91 for club and country, eclipsing Gerd Muller’s long-established benchmark of 85.

As of last season, Leo was showing little sign of slowing down, having finally overtaken Raul to become the Champions League’s all-time leading goalscorer and surpassing Telmo Zarra’s mark as La Liga’s most prolific marksman. Thanks in no small part to the explosive and unstoppable front three of Messi, Suarez and Neymar Jr, Barcelona swept aside all before them to complete their second ever treble-winning campaign.

At the time of writing, Messi has accumulated 24 club titles, 412 goals in 482 games for Barcelona and is just ten shy of becoming Argentina’s all-time topscorer. Whatever the future holds for this mercurial genius, Leo Messi has in a single decade broken more records and won more honours and awards than almost any other footballer in the history of the sport.

We at Icons are immensely proud to be celebrating ten years of signings with Leo Messi. Every piece of official Messi-signed merchandise is created under license by Icons Shop Ltd and now comes with an official Messi signed merchandise Certificate of Authenticity, which carries an image of Leo signing the product line.

The full range is exclusively available on Icons.com.