The Messi Licensed Fashion Kidswear merchandise selling rights in Malaysia were exclusively granted to Al-Ikhsan Sports for a period of three years starting January 2023. Al-Ikhsan Sports was also the first sports retailer in the world to launch the MESSI brand.
MESSI merchandise are targeted to kids aged two years old to teenagers. The products were launched in 30 selected Al-Ikhsan stores in West and East Malaysia, Football Republic and Al-Ikhsan’s website on 6 January 2023.
Mr Vach Pillutla, Chief Executive Officer of Al-Ikhsan Sports commented on this historic occasion saying, “It is indeed a great honour to be associated with the brand Messi. For all fans globally, the Messi magic goes beyond just the pitch and he is now the symbol of how someone can rise from mere working class and emerge as the foremost proponent of the game and excel consistently at the highest level. We hope that with this merchandise, the kids can imbibe the age-old virtues of hard work, honest effort and high levels of integrity from Lionel Messi”.
Al-Ikhsan Sports plans on keeping with their core purpose of making sports affordable for all, thus, all MESSI merchandise will be sold from RM 59 for round neck tees to RM219 for hoodies and jackets. “We intend on increase distribution to more stores in the next six or eight months and make the merchandise available to all the 20 million football fans across Malaysia, added Mr Pillutla.
Mr Jan Van den Berg, Chief Executive Officer of Vingino Netherlands which owns the global rights for the Messi Kidswear License was present at the launch and commented “We are very happy to be associated with Al-Ikhsan Sports, the #1 Multi Brand Sports retailer in Malaysia. They have football in their DNA and I am sure that no one can do better justice to the Messi branded apparel than them. We look forward to a long term partnership with them.”
