Leo Messi caganer becomes most sold in history
Traditional Catalan Christmas figurine of ex-Barça player is bestseller year after year
The Leo Messi caganer has become the best-selling in the 31-year history of Caganer.com, one of the largest producers of these traditional Catalan Christmas figurines.
There are seven caganer versions of Leo Messi, with the latest depictions wearing the jersey of Inter Miami, his current club, and holding the World Cup trophy in the Argentina national team kit. Other versions show Messi in the FC Barcelona jersey, with the Ballon d'Or or in his PSG jersey, his former club before Inter Miami.
With all these versions combined, Messi is the most sold figure in the history of Caganer.com, surpassed only by the classic peasant caganer with the traditional red Catalan hat known as the "barretina". Barack Obama, Donald Trump and Carles Puigdemont are among the other successful pieces of the company.
The sculptor of Caganer.com, Marc Alós, says that "people of all nationalities buy them, not just Argentinians and Catalans," pointing out that many tourists who like football buy the Messi caganer.
A family tradition
Caganer.com is a family business that has been handcrafting the popular Caganer figurines since 1992.
For more than three decades, they have been creating new figures each season, paying homage to celebrities and fictional characters. Their clay representations are not meant to mock, but to express respect.
Since July, the company has opened eight shops, five of them in Barcelona. There are also shops in Madrid, Platja d'Aro and Torroella de Montgrí, where the production workshop is located.
Until December 23, they will be on display at two Christmas fairs in Barcelona: Santa Llúcia and Sagrada Família.