20 best football kits of all time, including Arsenal’s bruised banana, England’s 1966 strip and Nigeria’s 2018 design
CLASSIC football shirts are fashionable.Last summer, Euro 2020 fever gripped the nation, as millions of football fans rocked their favourite retro jerseys.
Are any of these three classic kits crowned the best ever?
And this season, up and down the country in the Premier League, we’ve seen fans in stands rocking old school jerseys of their teams rather than the more modern kits.
But which shirt is the best football kit of all-time?
BBC Sport went on a mission to find out just that, with the top 20 listed below.
Check out who makes the cut, in reverse order, starting with…
20. Mexico 1978
Cuellar and Sanchez sported big hair and clean-cut Levi’s jerseys in 1978
Echoing colours from the Mexican flag, Levi’s created this green, red and white masterpiece for the World Cup in 1978.
The deep colours and the long sleeves contrasted the massive barnets of the likes of Leonardo Cuellar and Hugo Sanchez beautifully.
A real blast from the past.19. Belgium 1984
Belgium wore a diamond-patterned jersey in 1984
Recently re-released by adidas, the Belgium strip from 36 years ago was truly unique.
With a red background and diamonds sparkled across the chest in their national flag’s colours – red, gold and black – it was a real beaut.
A kit fit for a Golden Generation if they fancy bringing it back for the current first team…18. Colombia 1990
Who could forget Carlos Valderrama’s hair… and kit
This South American stunner was so popular they brought it back for the 2018 World Cup.
Who could forget the glistening yellow jerseys flowing underneath the huge hair – and short-shorts – of Carlos Valderrama?
Those little red and blue diagonal stripes, too…17. Barcelona 1997 away
You can’t think of Barca’s away jersey in 1997 without picturing Ronaldo
You know this one…
The sky-blue effort, with a single stripe of each club colour – deep blue and burgundy – running down the right-side and across the shoulders.
A lovely effort worth a reimagining…16. Cameroon 2002
Cameroon went sleeveless for a spell in 2002 – with Eto’o resorting to an undershirt
You know something’s impressive if it ends up being banned – think 1984 Air Jordans, sneaker-heads.
Sticking with the basketball theme, Cameroon – including Samuel Eto’o – once sported their SLEEVELESS jerseys.
They were deemed illegal and banned for life.15. England Women 2019
The Lionesses’ first-ever unique jerseys were a sight to behold
Last year, the Lionesses launched their very first unique kit – rather than wearing their own version of the men’s kit.
And both the home and away (white and red wine respectively) were absolute stunners.
Neat and uncluttered, they’ll go down in the history books as one of the best ever.14. Boca Juniors 1981
Everyone remembers this Boca Juniors classic from 1981
Think Diego Maradona…
The blue shirt with the thick yellow stripe running horizontally across is truly iconic.
Despite being nearly 40 years old, it’s still highly sought after by jersey collectors.13. Denmark 1986
Denmark debuted this jersey for their first-ever World Cup
Denmark reached their first-ever World Cup finals in 1986 with a talented squad including Michael Laudrup and celebrated with a shirt which divided opinion.
A “50-50” top was half block red and half light-red and white stripes – with the sleeves sporting the opposite pattern.12. Chelsea 1970
Chelsea reimagined the 1970 classic recently to mark the 50th anniversary of the FA Cup win
If you think you’ve seen this one recently, it’s because you have… sort of.
The West Londoners wore the simple, stunning blue and yellow shirt for the first time in 1970 as they won the FA Cup.
Chelsea paid homage to that kit 50 years on with a similar, reimagined version in the FA Cup.
11. England 1990
England’s two kits from Italia 90 were crackers – it’s just a shame about the result
In truth, both kits from 30 years ago at Italia 90 were absolute beauties.
The “away” blue, speckled kit is a cult classic, while the clean white with the navy blue collar is equally incredible.
There’s no way this kit wouldn’t have made the top ten if England had gone on to win in the year of Gazza’s tears.
10. Man Utd 1990 away
Man Utd sported this blue and white look in 1990
Same year and not too dissimilar in style to England’s away effort…
Man Utd’s blue and white patterned attempt is still seen out and about today amongst fans.
9. Ajax 1971
Ajax won three straight European Cups with this classic kit
White shirt with a thick, red, vertical stripe.
It’s a classic, isn’t it?
It’s the jersey that kicked it all off for the Dutch giants, as Ajax would go on to win THREE European Cup trophies in a row in this beaut of a football shirt.
8. Liverpool 1984
Liverpool clinched the 1984 European Cup with this red and white gem
Speaking of beautiful jerseys and winning the European Cup, here’s the Reds’ entry from 1984.
Classic red, sponsor less and sporting lovely thin stripes down the front – Liverpool are wearing a similar, reimagining of the jersey this season.
With the current Kop crop running amok in the Premier League, maybe it’s the real key to their powers…7. Arsenal 1991 away
The original bruised banana kit… enough said
The original bruised banana.
Arsenal have brought this back lately, but you can’t beat the original black and yellow zig zags.
Somehow doesn’t make the top five, though…
6. Celtic 1967
Celtic won the 1967 European Cup with this simple design
The Scottish giants incredibly went on to win the European Cup this year – and the kit will be remembered forever.
The simplest of green and yellow hoops, its classic, minimalist approach will go down in the history books forever.
They’ve rarely strayed away from this tried and tested kit since…
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5. Nigeria 2018
Nigeria took the world by storm with their 2018 masterpiece
So popular, this one sold out across the world within days of its release.
In the 2018 World Cup, Nigeria were suddenly everyone’s second team with its stunning light-green, black and white, patterned run-out.
An instant classic.4. England 1966 away
No England kit comes close to the 1966 red design
This was always going to be near the top, thanks to England’s one and only World Cup victory, on home soil no less.
The red, long-sleeved shirt was simple with its Three Lions across the chest.
If England ever want to see Harry Kane holding the trophy aloft a la Bobby Moore, they better get back to this beauty as soon as possible.3. West Germany 1990
West Germany’s kit in 1990 helped them win the World Cup
Yet another World Cup winners kit on the list, the German effort is a worthy podium-taker.
Arguably the nation’s most-famous effort ever, the white shirt with the flag’s colours – black, red and gold – edging their way across the chest was a lovely touch.2. Holland 1988
Holland won their first-ever piece of silverware in this stunning 1988 kit
If you don’t immediately know the one, think Marco van Basten’s sensational volley.
Holland finally won a trophy with this gorgeous, orange effort for a nation at the peak of their powers.1. Brazil 1970
The 1970 Brazil team have the best kit of all time, according to voters
And coming it an No1, it’s the iconic gold and blue of Brazil.
Quite possibly the best team any World Cup has ever seen, with the likes of Pele on the books, it’s easy to see why it sticks in the memory.
The flashes of green around the neck and arms on the home strip were a thing of beauty. More
