20 Of The Best Soccer Jerseys Of All Time

Arsenal (1991 away) best football jerseys of all time

Soccer jerseys are not just for distinguishing players on a team, and they have become ingrained in the fabric of football culture. They represent identity and pride. 

Picking the greatest football jerseys of all time is not simple by any means. There will always be room for debates, as there are lots of classic jerseys. 

Thus, many kits will miss out as there is only room for 20 on this list. Let’s go! 

1. Holland (1988)

Holland 1998 kit Best Soccer Jerseys of all time.

We start with what is undoubtedly one of the absolute best soccer jerseys of all time — Holland’s 1988 jersey.

The Netherlands national football team, also known as the “Oranje,” has had several iconic jerseys throughout its history.

The jersey worn by the team in the 1988 European Championship is one of the most well-known and recognizable.

Till today, the Dutch jersey for Euro 1988 remains evergreen. What even made it unforgettable was the team’s victory at the tournament. 

The 1988 European Championship was held in West Germany, and the Netherlands team, led by captain Ruud Gullit, had a strong showing in the tournament. 

Marco Van Basten’s winning goal in the final is still one of the best goals ever scored. 

For the jersey, the iconic orange was retained. But was designed in an all-over tonal pattern, with lighter sections across the shirt to create a series of arrows.

The design of the jersey was intended to be a modern take on the traditional orange shirt, and it was created by the Dutch sportswear company Umbro.

It was perfected with a V-neck collar and the then Adidas Trefoil logo. 

The jersey worn by the Netherlands in the 1988 European Championship is still remembered fondly by many fans and is considered one of the most iconic shirts in international football history.

2. Nigeria (2018)

Nigeria best 2018 World Cup kit
Image: Nike

So popular was this one that it sold out across the world within days of its release!

The Nigeria national football team’s jersey for the 2018 FIFA World Cup featured a unique and striking design that was well-received by fans and critics alike.

At the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Nigeria caught the eyes of viewers with their stunning home kit. 

The shirt featured a zig-zag pattern in light green and white across the chest, with a black and white version on the sleeves. 

The jersey was made by the sportswear company Nike.

It broke records — with 3 million pre-orders and a long queue of buyers waiting outside Nike’s London store.

The Super Eagles’ 2018 World Cup jersey became an instant all-time classic.

Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) and Nike both recieved high praise for the design of the jersey, with many calling it the best jersey at the tournament.

3. Ajax (1971)

Ajax (1971) soccer kit Best Soccer Jerseys of all time

Ajax wore an iconic white shirt with a broad red vertical band between 1971 and 1973.

The jersey features a simple, clean design with a red and white vertical stripe pattern, with the club’s crest on the left breast.

What made the jersey iconic is its association with the Ajax team of the early 1970s, one of the greatest club teams in the history of football.

Led by legendary coach Rinus Michels and featuring stars such as Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, and Piet Keizer, the team played a fluid, attacking style of football known as “Total Football” that captivated audiences around the world.

The team’s performances on the field, combined with their striking kit, made them recognizable and admired by football fans all around the world.

This team dominated Dutch football, winning three European Cups in a row (1971, 1972, 1973) which is the clubs greatest achievement.

The success made during that period made the kit unforgettable. 

The design was made by a company named Umbro, they created this design in 1970-71 and it was worn by the team until the 1974 season.

4. West Germany (1990)

West Germany (1990) best soccer jerseys ever

From the late 1980s until after the 1990 World Cup (and the reunification of Germany), West Germany wore white shirts that bore the black, red and yellow band of the German flag, with black shorts. 

The 1990 World Cup, which was held in Italy, was a successful tournament for the West German national team.

They reached the final, where they defeated the favored Argentine team 1-0 to win the World Cup for the third time in their history.

Winning the 1990 FIFA World Cup made the jersey a timeless classic.  

5. Colombia (1990)

Carlos Valderamma Colombia 1990 kit
Credit: David Cannon /Allsport

Worn by players such as Carlos Valderrama and Carlos Escobar, Columbia’s kit was one of the most recognizable at the 1990 World Cup.

The yellow Adidas kits are still treasured in the South American country. 

The jersey features the colors of the Colombian flag, which are yellow, blue, and red.

The shirt has a v-neck collar, and the main body of the shirt is primarily yellow, with blue and red diagonal stripes on the chest.

The shorts are blue and the socks are red. The team badge and the logo of the shirt manufacturer, adidas, are both prominently displayed on the chest.

The cut of the shirt and its multi-colored sleeves reminds Colombians of the team that advanced beyond the group stage for the first time in history. 

The team was led by coach Francisco Maturana, and included some of the most iconic and talented players in the history of Colombian soccer such as Carlos Valderrama, Faustino Asprilla, René Higuita, and Freddy Rincón.

6. USA (1994 away)

American soccer player John Harkes playing for the USA against Switzerland in a FIFA World Cup Group A match at Pontiac Silverdome, Pontiac, Michigan, 18th June 1994. The match ended in a 1-1 draw
(Photo by Ben Radford/Getty Images)

Hosting the 1994 World Cup was a huge achievement for the USA, and their team captured attention with their denim away jersey. 

It is rare to see an away kit overshadowing the home one, but that’s exactly what happened for America. 

They wore it in all their 3 group games and experienced good fortunes in it too. 

The United States of America sensationally advanced to the knockout stages, where they were then eliminated by Brazil — while wearing their red-and-white-striped home jersey!

7. Arsenal (1991 away)

Arsenal (1991 away) best football jerseys of all time

Arguably the most famous and fondly remembered Arsenal jersey is the yellow and navy away kit won from 1991 to 1993.

Nicknamed “The Bruised Banana,” it remains a fan favorite to this day. The aesthetic design will forever remain iconic in history. 

8. Denmark (1986)

Denmark (1986) best soccer jerseys of all time
( Photo by Gerard Bedeau / Onze / Icon Sport )

For the country’s first-ever World Cup appearance, Denmark’s 1986 kit was designed by Hummels — who twisted the classic red and white colours.

Divided into two halves, the shirt featured one solid red section half against a red and white pinstripe half. 

Furthermore, the same design was made on the sleeves — which were created in an opposite order. 

Hummel’s chevrons and the navy-trimmed V-neck collar made the jersey irresistible to neutrals. 

Morten Olsen, one of greatest Danish footballers of all time, wore this jersey in the 1986 World Cup.

9. England (1990)

England (1990) best football jerseys of all time
(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images)

England’s home shirt at the 1990 FIFA World Cup is an all-time classic. What made it memorable was the team’s unexpected run at the tournament. 

England reached the semi-finals, only to suffer a heartbreaking penalty shootout defeat to West Germany. 

Some inspired performances from the likes of Paul Gascoigne and Gary Lineker at the competition made the kit one of the most iconic to English fans in the nation’s entire history.

The 3rd kit was equally mind-blowing and could easily make this list on its own. 

10. Barcelona (2010)

BARCELONA, SPAIN - OCTOBER 20: Andres Iniesta of Barcelona runs with ball during the UEFA Champions League group D match between Barcelona and FC Copenhagen at the Camp nou stadium on October 20, 2010 in Barcelona, Spain. Barcelona won the match 2-0.
(Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Barcelona is renowned for playing beautiful football with many short passes, amazing skills, and deadly finishing.  

In 2009 they did not just display beautiful soccer but won it all. They won all six available trophies!

The team — coached by Pep Guardiola — is widely considered to be the greatest club side in history. 

Barca’s blue and garnet (deep red) striped jersey the following season — featuring UNICEF on the front — will never be forgotten. 

Fans still don this jersey proudly to date. 

11. Romania (1994)

Gheorghe Hagi Romania 1994 kit greatest soccer jerseys of all time
Gheorghe Hagi, Romania (Photo by Neal Simpson/EMPICS via Getty Images)

Romania was once a football powerhouse and regularly qualified for the World Cup.

In 1994, they were one of the dark horses to win the tournament. 

The design of the jersey was quite unique, featuring a yellow shirt with blue and red diagonal stripes running across the chest.

The colors of the stripes and the shirt itself, yellow, blue and red, are the colors of the Romanian flag, it showed a strong nationalism sentiment and a very patriotic statement.

With a squad that contained the likes of Dan Petrescu, Gheorghe Popescu, and the great Gheorghe Hagi, Romania reached the quarterfinals — losing to Sweden on penalties. 

With the nation having suffered football misfortune since the jersey from the 1994 World Cup has become even more iconic.

12. AC Milan (1988)

AC Milan 1988 football jersey best football Jerseys in history

The great AC Milan team of 1988 made the club’s red and black kit become lovely and memorable for everybody. 

Players like Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, Franco Baresi, Alessandro Costacurta, Paolo Maldini, Carlo Ancelotti, and Frank Rijkaard won the European Cup in spectacular fashion.  

This legendary team took Italy and Europe by storm for many years. And their jersey became intricately connected to that success. 

13. Liverpool (1984)

Liverpool (1984) best jerseys in football history

Worn during one of the club’s most successful seasons, Liverpool’s 1984 jersey has become iconic to their fans on Merseyside — as well as around the world.

The club won the treble of the English League, the League Cup, and the European Cup. Remarkable! 

That famous squad contained the likes of Kenny Dalglish, Mark Lawrenson, Ronnie Whelan, Alan Hansen, Ian Rush, and Graeme Souness.

14. England (1966 away)

Declan Rice England 1966 away kit
West Ham Store

Sometimes simple is beautiful. And this was the case with England’s 1966 World Cup away jersey. 

It was worn in the final of the country’s only FIFA World Cup win, and it is clear why this shirt has become one of the most iconic the world has ever seen.

The kit was designed and manufactured by Umbro, an English sportswear company that has a long history of outfitting the England national team.

15. Argentina (1986)

Diego Maradona Argentina 1986 Best Soccer Jerseys of all time
Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport

Argentina’s 1986 FIFA World Cup kit is one of the most famous (and most worn) jerseys in soccer history. 

Images of Diego Maradona always come to mind. The “hand of god,” “goal of the century,” dribblings, and sheer passion. 

The iconic light blue and white striped kit has remained largely unchanged to date. 

Argentina are the country that has won the most football trophies, and their jerseys have been popular all over the years.

16. Fiorentina (1998)

Fiorentina's 1998 jersey best soccer jerseys of all time

The stunning purple kit of Fiorentina in 1998 is one of the most recognizable, elegant, and underrated soccer jerseys ever made. 

Sponsored by Nintendo and worn by players like the great Gabriel Batistuta, the shirt remains evergreen. 

The jersey has become a favorite among many Fiorentina fans and has a special place in their memories, even after all this years, it is considered as one of the best in Fiorentina history, and many still like to wear it in matches or just as a fan memorabilia.

17. Brazil (1970)

Brazil (1970) kit best soccer kits of all time

In 1970, Brazil lit up the World Cup and showed exactly how much of a force they were in soccer as they outplayed all their opponents. 

With a squad full of talents, the likes of football great Pele, Carlos Alberto, Jairzinho, Tostao, and Rivelino displayed one of the finest football ever seen. 

To many, that squad is the best football team ever. Their equally brilliant jersey would never be forgotten. 

18. Mexico (1998)

Mexico 1998 kit best soccer kits of all time

Mexico’s classic kit at France ’98 is one of El Tri’s best-ever home looks. 

The Aztec designs, collar, and fine-tuned sleeves of the baggy shirts were a beauty to behold. 

Mexico also had one of the best kits at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

19. Arsenal (2005)

Thierry Henry Arsenal 2005 jersey best football jerseys in history

For the 2005/06 season, Arsenal’s jersey paid tribute to its iconic Highbury Stadium — which it was due to leave at the end of that season. 

The usual red and white were replaced with a maroon color. The design was a tribute to the first kit ever worn at Highbury. 

Henry broke the 30-goal barrier that season, and that 2005 special-edition kit became an instant classic.

20. France (1998)

18 June 1998, Paris - FIFA World Cup - France v Saudi Arabia - Zinedine Zidane of France.
(Photo by Mark Leech/Offside via Getty Images)

France’s jersey for the 1998 World Cup on home soil was designed to pay tribute to the Platini-led side that won Euro 1984. 

It had horizontal white and red bars across the front. The blue collar was changed to white; the French tricolor was incorporated into the collar’s trim and the sleeves, while Adidas’ logo stood on the front.

Another reason why this was one of the best soccer jerseys of all time was because it was worn by the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Lilian Thuram, Fabien Barthez, Didier Deschamps, an Patrick Viera.

Total
65
Shares
Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Prev
11 Football Players Who Ended Up Getting Fat
Steve McNulty soccer players who got fat

11 Football Players Who Ended Up Getting Fat

Footballers usually carry around very fit and trim bodies

Next
What Games Do The World’s Best Soccer Players Like?
What Games Do The World's Best Soccer Players Like

What Games Do The World’s Best Soccer Players Like?

The best soccer players are known for their skill, agility, and tactical

You May Also Like
Total
65
Share