Soccer brings people together in amazing ways. People from all walks of life, all jobs and all beliefs come together to support their team.
And when it comes to supporting your local or national team, there is nothing more unifying or tribal than donning your teams’ colors with pride, it shouts out that you belong, that this is where your loyalties lie.
Of course, it helps if your favorite kit looks great too, and over the years there have been some truly exceptional soccer jerseys that have become almost as integral to that year’s team as the results or trophy wins.
All soccer fans pine for “the good old days” when their team was great and when players played for the love of the game rather than the love of the money. We look back through rose-tinted eyes and remember how great it was to support our country or team, and wear our kit with pride.
There have been many classic soccer kits over the years, many tied in with a league or cup win that cements them into fan folklore, some kits just looked fantastic, and that’s why we remember them.
Let’s take a look at the 15 best soccer jerseys of all time, maybe your team is in there too, maybe you’ll remember the squads that wore them on their way to World Cup glory?
15. New York Cosmos 1975
The 1970s MLS was a completely different league than the one we see today. It was a time when the new soccer teams were just starting to find their feet. The Cosmos played in a blue kit from 1970 through 1975, until the signing of Pele, a legendary player from Santos Brazil.
Santos was wearing white and the New York Cosmos changed the kit to match the winning mentality Pele brought along. The club won the NASL Championship in 1977.
This iconic green/white soccer kit has been worn by legends all over the world and is beloved by fans around the globe.
14. Boca Juniors 1981
This unique kit is a symbol of the Argentine kings, Diego Maradona, who wore it while representing them.
A beautiful kit with a blue shirt and shorts with a yellow stripe across the shirt, you won’t find many soccer fans that can’t quickly identify this legendary kit. It’s as cool today, 40 years ago.
13. England 1990
This classic England home kit will be remembered for its design and the three-lions emblem that proudly stands on the chest.
Easily one of England’s best ever kits, the white shirt showed the blood up nicely as the players put their heads and hearts on the line to nearly make it all the way.
12. Ajax 1971
Three consecutive European cups and one of the first truly global soccer superstars. We bring you the Ajax 1971 Home Kit.
Classic white shirt and shorts with a red stripe down the front of the shirt, the kit itself is not revolutionary, it’s the players the shirts covered that make this kit one to remember.
Total football, or as it is called by the Dutch masters, was a team of stars led by Johan Cruyff. They tore through their local league and took over Europe.
Teams couldn’t get near the ball, and when they did, they lost it again, as armies of Ajax players swarmed forwards to overwhelm their opponents. This team, and this kit will always be fashionable; style and quality will always be in fashion.
11. Celtic 1967
If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, as the old saying goes. Glasgow Celtic have been true to their style since 1967. The classic green and white hoops of the Scottish giants saw them lift the 1967 European Cup in their historic kit, and they’ve been wearing it ever since.
Each player of the Celtic team was born within 30 minutes of the club. This is an incredible testament to the club. The team and their kit will be remembered as the first British team in Europe to win a trophy.
It is impossible to overstate the impact of Celtic winning 1967 the European Cup. The boost to their reputation has led to a significant rise in replicating the iconic green.
Celtic’s white hoops, and at least 35 professional teams still use the same design.
10. USA 1994
Hosting a World Cup in football is an enormous undertaking. Playing for your country at home in a tournament like this must be overwhelming.
The USA team did a great job against tough opponents, and reached the knockout stage where they lost to eventual winners Brazil.
A side note is that the 1994 USA World Cup was financially very profitable due to increased sales of merchandise like kits.
The American kit, the famous denim print with stars on the front and a nod to the USA flag, was the emblem of optimism and energy brought by the USA to the tournament. It is still a favorite among fans to this day.
9. West Germany 1990
We also have the World Cup-winning West Germany kit, from 1990. It is a simple yet powerful kit.
This timeless classic is easily identifiable by wearing black shorts and a white shirt with the red, yellow, and black bands of the German flag.
After beating England in a semi-final, West Germany defeated Argentina in a final at the Olimpico Stadium Rome. This was the last tournament before Germany’s unification at the end.
This is why this kit deserves to be remembered.
8. England 1966
The England team won the only World Cup, and the kit still looks great half a century after it was made, the well-known long-sleeved red shirt is a must-have.
This classic kit, which is all red except for the three lions emblem and stylish, is historically important and unique because it was the first time England has ever won a major tournament.
This kit is timeless and has a look that recalls a time when soccer balls were twice as heavy as bowling balls. Players used a bucket of water to heal a broken leg.
7. Holland 1988
With a nickname like ‘Oranje’ it is no surprise that the Dutch national team went for their distinctive orange jerseys for their national kit.
The Netherlands had a strong team, particularly their Milanese contingent, van Basten, Rijkaard and Gullit. In 1988, they won their only tournament.
Dutch soccer has always been a hotbed full of talent. The 1988 kit is a perfect example of the reckless style of Dutch soccer that dominated the Euros in that year.
Holland has always been the perennial runners-up in tournaments in bright orange, and they have never lost the title. Their kit is a winner. It will continue to be a classic for as long soccer fans enjoy beautiful soccer.
6. Argentina 1986
Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand Of God’ goal aside, the 1986 World Cup was a triumph for the Argentinian team, a superb solo goal by Maradona after his infamous handled goal took Argentina to the final where they defeated West Germany 3-2.
The kit’s iconic light blue-and-white stripes go hand in hand with the players who wore it. Although the kit has remained largely unchanged over the decades, Lionel Messi has become an Argentinian team talisman.
The 1986 kit has to go down as one of the most recognizable and provocative kits ever made, if you’re an Argentina fan, you’ll love it, if you’re an England fan, maybe not so much.
5. Fiorentina 1998
Fiorentina might not be well-known for their league and cup wins, but their 1998 home kit is a victory in every way.
The stunning purple kit of ‘La Viola’ is one of the most recognizable, elegant, and understated kits around. This kit, sponsored by Nintendo and worn daily by soccer legends like Gabriel Batistuta for over 20 years, is still one of the most popular soccer kits.
4. USA Women 2019
Domination, nostalgia, and style were the order of the day for the USA women’s victory in the 2019 World Cup.
The kit was a revival of the 1999 World Cup winning kit. It featured three stars on the shorts that represented the previous Cup victories. A new star has been added to the kit after the 2019 tournament win. More will be added as the team dominates.
A retro white kit that looked great, and clearly bred confidence in a repeat performance of their stunning 1999 victory, the USWNT will go down in history as one of the greatest women’s soccer teams of all time, wearing a kit that will also stand the test of time.
3. Milan 1988
By the end of our list, you may be tired of hearing the words ‘classic’ or ‘iconic’, but that’s what makes the kits on here the best in the world, the memories and emotions they evoke are what makes them stand apart from the average.
The Milan team of 1988 is what makes the red-and-black kit so memorable. Players like Ruud Gullit and Marco van Basten from the Netherlands led the team to the European Cup in stunning fashion.
A great team, featuring a defence consisting of Franco Baresi (Alessandro Costacurta) and Paolo Maldini. This team took Italy and Europe to the next level for many years.
And their iconic kit became intricately connected to that success, even today the kit is in demand, any fan that collects soccer kits has to have a Milan shirt in their collection, it’s practically legally binding.
2. Barcelona 2010
Everybody loves a winner and the Barcelona team of 2010 won every challenge the soccer world put in front of them. A team including Lionel Messi and Xavi, Iniesta, Puyol, and others wore the 2010 kit with amazing success.
Barcelona, unlike many other teams, did not have a sponsor on the front of their kit. Instead, they had Unicef and made an annual charity donation. This is a great move that adds style to the shirt.
Such was Barcelonas’ dominance in this period, it is hard to look at this kit without feeling nervous, if your team was lining up against this team, in this kit, you were likely due an absolute thrashing.
1. Brazil 1970
The 1970 Brazil team is a must-see on any list of soccer players and kits.
The yellow jersey of the greatest national soccer team is ranked number one, due to its historic significance.
This soccer kit is a canary-yellow jersey with blue shorts, white socks and white socks. It and the team are unmatched. This team boasts some of the most beloved players, and has won tournaments that have thrilled billions.
Even if you don’t play soccer, the kit can be used to identify the team. Soccer fans get all nostalgic about the golden age of soccer. The kit represents everything great about soccer and the World Cup.
If you’re on the lookout for some soccer jerseys, I listed the best places to buy soccer jerseys in this post.