$200 for Messi's MLS Jersey?! Check Out What Pelé's Cosmos Throwback Costs.

The hype around Lionel Messi in the MLS is straight-up bonkers, and the price tag for his Inter Miami jersey has shot into the stratosphere. Fans are lining up to snag that pink threads, droppin' as much as $195 for the official version. This whole scene is a stark contrast to another iconic jersey in American soccer history: the New York Cosmos kit, the one Pelé made famous.

While Messi's jersey has become this major status symbol, the Cosmos jersey, which screams old-school cool from the golden age of US soccer, is surprisingly easy on the wallet. You can find replicas of the Cosmos shirt for anywhere between $30 and $75 – a massive difference compared to what you'll shell out for Messi's.

This price gap tells the tale of two very different eras. Messi's jersey reps the here and now, the future of the MLS fueled by the arrival of the Argentine superstar and the global media circus that follows him. Inter Miami, with Messi at the helm, has become a worldwide phenomenon, and their jersey is a must-have for millions of fans across the globe.

On the flip side, the Cosmos jersey is a nod to the past, a tribute to a time when legends like Pelé, Beckenbauer, and Chinaglia were revolutionizing soccer stateside. Even though the Cosmos ain't around as a pro team anymore, they still live large in the memories of fans, and their jersey is a symbol of nostalgia, a reminder of a time when soccer felt a little less corporate and a lot more romantic.

Crazy Price Difference: Messi's Inter Miami Kit vs. Pelé's Way Cheaper Cosmos Jersey.

The difference in price between these two jerseys ain't just about market value for each team and player; it also reflects two totally different ways of lookin' at the game. Messi's jersey is a mass-market product, driven by the big machine of marketing and globalization. The Cosmos jersey, though, is more of a cult classic, a piece of history that reminds us of a simpler, more nostalgic time when the price of passion wasn't quite so steep.

Bottom line, this comparison between the Messi and Cosmos jerseys makes you think about how soccer's evolved and how it connects with the market. While Messi's shirt reps the fast-paced, commercialized present, the Cosmos jersey throws us back to a simpler, more sentimental past, where wearin' your love for the game didn't break the bank.