As iconic as the players who wore them on the pitch
Earlier this year, Sotheby’s sold Diego Maradona’s match-worn shirt from Argentina’s 1986 World Cup win over England. That was the game in which Maradona scored both the Goal of the Century and the Hand of God, making the shirt one of the most famous ever. Something reflected in its final sale price just shy of $10 million USD.
Sought-after vintage shirts don’t have to be match worn or cost millions, though, and certain replicas have also increased in value over the years. We worked with Classic Football Shirts to compile a list of grails spanning modern classics, ‘90s shirts which have since surged in value and all-time grails.
Real Madrid FC20Real Madrid Third 2015-16 – £100
Showing how quickly a shirt can gain value – and fitting firmly into Classic Football Shirts’ “modern classics” description – is Real Madrid’s third shirt from the 2015-16 season. The shirt’s design was inspired by Madrid’s night sky, and features two different shades of blue. It’s easy to see why it’s become so sought after so quickly, with its three-button collar adding to its smart aesthetic.
Get it from Classic Football Shirts for £99.99 +
AdvertisementGetty Images19Inter Home 2014-15 – £150
Another shirt that has shot up in value in a relatively short time is Inter Milan’s 2014-15 home shirt. It wasn’t a vintage year for the club – they finished 8th – but there was a definite vintage influence on the kit design. The classic stripes were gone, and an all-black base was used instead. The key feature, though, is the light blue pinstripes which help to elevate the whole thing.
Get it from Classic Football Shirts for £149.99 +
Nike / Getty Images18Nigeria Home 2018 – £150
It’s a shirt that needs no introduction. When Nigeria’s home kit for 2018 was launched websites crashed and records were broken. Eventually, news sites were breathlessly running stories every time it restocked. In just four years, the shirt – which was even nominated for the prestigious Beazley Design Award – has climbed in value to around the £150 mark.
Nike17Roma Third 2019-20 – £175
The youngest kit on this list comes from Roma. The 2019-20 season saw Nike use its Vector logo on a number of third kits, but it was Roma that wore it best. The kit combines the club’s Giallorossi colours with a deep blue shirt. The design was finished with a repeated pattern of the Lupetto logo – depicting a wolf’s head – inside a circle.