20. Club America: home, 1994/95
It looks like it's aping Birdman and Rio carnival – yet Club America's mid-90s masterpiece has become one of the most beautiful shirts ever to fly from Mexico. That sponsor looks great – and it's topped off with a central badge in the heart of the design. Slightly better for us than the Germany lookalike.
19. Various: Stand Up Speak Up shirts, 2005
In 2005, Nike launched an anti-racism campaign on the back of Thierry Henry being racially abused by then-Spain manager Luis Aragones. Arsenal and Manchester United wore shirts with the campaign's logo instead of the Swoosh – before international sides did something even more significant.
When the Netherlands played England in a friendly, the Oranje was gone, replaced with a black-and-white half-and-half shirt in the American brand's then-contemporary Total 90 template. Portugal and Russia also wore these beauties which made quite an impression at the time.
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18. Barcelona: away, 1996/97
One night against Compostela, Ronaldo had his Goal of the Century moment, scoring a worldie so wonderful that manager Bobby Robson held his head in disbelief. He did so wearing this.
The Kappa cult classic that the Catalonians wore for Sir Bob's only season in Spain was one that came with plenty of beautiful memories – and the uniqueness of this is still vivid. The polygonal blocks interlinking in front of the traditional Blaugrana colours were resurrected for a prematch shirt of 2021/22, too.
17. France: home, 1998
Ahh, c'est belle. France stood on top of the world in 1998 with a collection of nebulous misfits who hadn't yet crystallised into their final form but Les Bleus' home tournament vintage is the definitive look. The horizontal bands of red, the Adidas stripes, the golden cockerel, the collar for upturning in that very French fashion. It's absolutely beautiful – and though France have gone darker for recent tournaments, the regal blue will never be bettered than that halcyon summer.
16. Mexico: home, 1998
Depicting Aztec god Quetzalcoatl on the front of their shirts, Aba Sports took some local inspiration to make Mexico stand out in 1998. Patterned bases of tops had never been quite so brash and brilliant: it has become the considerable bar to which all over El Tri shirts have since been judged… and there have been plenty of corkers.
15. Blackburn Rovers: home, 1994-96
How often does club's greatest achievement happen in their best-ever kit? For Blackburn, the two came together in 1995.
The 'SAS' strikeforce of Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton scored 52 goals between them in all competitions en route to lifting the Premier League title and, boy, did they look good doing it. The perfect shade of blue and no frills but for the ever-so-'90s collar and buttons. Blackburn home shirts are unusual and recognisable, and this is the best of the bunch.
14. Newcastle United: away, 1995-97
Has there been a more iconic duo than Newcastle’s home and away kits in 1995/96?
Each featured a smart grandad neck, iconic Brown Ale sponsor and classic three stripes. Les Ferdinand complained to then Chairman, Sir John Hall, that it looked like a rugby kit. Newcastle scorelines during this had more in common with the oval-shaped game, to be fair.
13. England: third, 1989-91
England's acid-house third kit of 1990 was never worn in Italy – saved instead for a single game against Turkey and New Order bouncing about with John Barnes and Keith Allen. It has become one of the most iconic England shirts ever, worn by Harry Kane on the front of FourFourTwo and it's a constant at tournaments for Three Lions fans.
12. Manchester United: away, 1990-92
One of the most magical Adidas patterns in the backcatalogue – and it never looked so good at here. United had enjoyed blue away kits and white when Adi thought, "Why not both?", finishing this one with red lining and the stunning Trefoil logo. It was reworked for the 2021/22 away shirt.
11. Northern Ireland: away, 1992
Worn during Northern Ireland’s most famous victory, against hosts Spain at the 1982 World Cup, this kit is smart, sexy and sophisticated.
The lovely green collar and cuffed sleeves are connected with the Adidas stripes, while the green pinstripes sit perfectly on top of that shiny white base. The combination of colours is pretty difficult to beat.
