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Record-breaking Cristiano Ronaldo steals a march on Lionel Messi in the shirt-sale stakes as Manchester United's returning No 7 brings in £187m since his number was revealed EIGHT DAYS AGO... with the new Paris Saint-Germain magician on just £104m

They were the two biggest transfers of the summer.

Lionel Messi finally left Barcelona after 21 years at the club to join Paris Saint-Germain, while Cristiano Ronaldo has made a sensational return to Manchester United after ending his first spell at Old Trafford in 2009.

Fans have since gone crazy in their clamour for replica shirts of the two successful players - but it is Ronaldo that has stolen a march on his rival when it comes to sales, according to Love the Sales.

The 36-year-old's iconic new No 7 has brought in u00a3187.1million since his number was confirmed
The figure dwarfs sales of Lionel Messi's Paris Saint-Germain - u00a3103.8m so far since his arrival
Ronaldo - who took the number off Edinson Cavan

Excitement has reached fever pitch ahead of the Old Trafford legend's return this weekend

United have already made u00a313.1m from Ronaldo's shirt - paying for his up-front fee of u00a312.9m

Their research reveals that the Portuguese maestro's iconic No 7 shirt has brought in £187.