/ Illegal Markets Grow at the Expense of Soccer
April 17, 2026The counterfeiting of jerseys generates millions and affects clubs, tax revenues, and formal employment; strengthening trademark enforcement is key, especially ahead of the World Cup.
Alessandri
On World Intellectual Property Day, we reflect on the role of intellectual property in protecting the designs, trademarks, and inventions that drive and inspire sports in all its forms. In a year marked by the upcoming World Cup in North America, it is worth asking what threats, risks, and challenges trademark owners will face in the face of an event of this magnitude.
Soccer is the most popular sport in the world. It transcends borders, languages, and cultures. This popularity is reflected in an incalculable demand for the various items offered by teams and their licensees, ranging from balls, apparel, and other sporting goods to collectibles and art pieces. A central part of this business lies in the sale of jerseys for various teams, national teams, and players. Cristiano Ronaldo, upon his return to Manchester United, broke a record by selling over a million jerseys in less than 24 hours. Lionel Messi surpassed 1.5 million jerseys upon his arrival at Inter Miami in the United States.
The Multi-Million-Dollar Trade in Counterfeit Jerseys
This lucrative business attracts the interest of international illicit trade networks dedicated to the manufacture and distribution of large volumes of counterfeit jerseys. There are factories dedicated to the mass production of these products, which are then sold in areas known as hotspots for the sale of counterfeit goods. It is estimated that 1 in every 3 jerseys sold worldwide is counterfeit. This illicit market exceeded 850 million euros in 2025[1], causing severe harm that directly impacts club finances, in addition to fiscal losses associated with tax evasion and negative effects on formal employment. In Chile, hundreds of thousands of counterfeit jerseys are seized by the National Customs Service when they are attempted to be brought into the country, primarily by land from countries such as Peru or Bolivia[2].
Enforcement as a Protection Tool
It is of vital importance that both clubs and national teams have enforcement tools (compliance, anti-piracy) to ensure the proper protection of their intellectual and industrial property rights. Training and information campaigns, along with response actions upon the identification of counterfeit products in the market, are key to ensuring the proper protection of the intellectual property rights of the various clubs.
[1] https://www.abc.es/deportes/futbol/millonario-negocio-detras-camisetas-futbol-falsas-20250822173348-nt.html
[2] https://www.aduana.cl/arica-aduana-incauta-millonario-cargamento-de-camisetas-de-futbol/aduana/2025-11-27/160608.html
