Football shirts are more than simply shirts of your favorite team. They represent feelings, emotions, memories and for collectors even more. For football clubs, football shirts are not only an important revenue stream, but the best way to connect with their fans and demonstrate the beauty of football.
By Bruno Ivich.
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and as such, football shirts are some of the most sought after pieces of sportswear on the market. Football shirts have become more than just a garment that represents a team or a player; they have become a cultural phenomenon that transcends sports. Some of the most iconic football shirts have been worn by legendary players and have achieved a status that goes beyond sport.
What are the characteristics that make a football shirt sell more?
There are several characteristics that can make a football shirt sell more. Firstly, the design and style of the shirt is important. This includes factors such as the color scheme, the placement of logos and sponsorships, and the overall aesthetic appeal of the shirt. Additionally, the popularity of the team and its players can also have a significant impact on sales. Fans are more likely to buy a shirt if they feel a strong emotional connection to the team or individual player. Finally, price and availability are also key factors to consider. If a shirt is priced too high, or if it is difficult to find in stores or online, it may discourage potential buyers.
Design
The design of a football shirt is one of the main characteristics that defines its success on the market. Football shirts have become a canvas for designers to express their creativity and produce iconic designs that are recognized around the world. A good football shirt design can be simple, but it must be eye-catching, unique and instantly recognizable. Some of the most iconic football shirts of all time have been Brazil’s yellow shirt, Italy’s blue shirt and Argentina’s blue and white striped shirt. These shirts have become cultural symbols of the countries they represent.
History of its players
Another characteristic that makes football shirts the most sold ones in history is the players who wear them. Football shirts have become synonymous with the players who wear them, and thus, fans often want to emulate their favorite players by wearing the same shirt. For example, this situation has been the case with Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar. In 2018, Ronaldo’s Juventus shirt became the fastest-selling shirt in club history with over 520,000 shirts in the first 24 hours of its release. The same happened in 2021 when Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Manchester United, and it became the most sold jersey on the planet.
Evoked Emotions
A third characteristic of successful football shirts are related to the emotions they bring to fans. Football shirts are not just a piece of sportswear, but they are also a way for fans to connect with their teams and express their passion and loyalty. Fans want to show their support for their teams and the players they love, and wearing a football shirt is a way to do that. Football shirts have become a way for fans to express their identity, and as such, they have become a fashion statement that transcends sport.
If we analyze the most sold jerseys in the history of football, we will find:
- Lionel Messi – Barcelona and Argentina
- Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Juventus, Portugal
- Neymar Jr. – Paris Saint-Germain and Brazil
- Kylian Mbappe – Paris Saint-Germain and France
- David Beckham – Manchester United, Real Madrid, LA Galaxy, England
- Zlatan Ibrahimovic – Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester United, AC Milan, Sweden
- Ronaldinho – Barcelona and Brazil
- Diego Maradona – Napoli and Argentina
- Pelé – Santos and Brazil
- Luis Suarez – Barcelona and Uruguay
All of these shirts were successful because of a combination of great traditional designs that connect to history, the amazing players that wore them and the emotions and memories of glory evoked on fans. Without a doubt, much of the success of a jersey depends on what players wear the shirt in the present, always along the aesthetic design. The design is for sure a must that in some situations have allowed small clubs to be present on a global audience such as it happened with Venezia FC. Therefore, European clubs must always keep design and novelty in mind. Not all clubs have the legends on their team, so capitalizing on new technologies and designs will always be a way to go and reconnect further with existing fans. It is all about a matter of strategy and design.
In conclusion, the characteristics that make football shirts the most sold ones in history are their design, the players who wear them, and the emotional connections fans have with their teams. Football shirts have become more than a sportswear, they are cultural symbols of passion, identity and loyalty among fans around the world.
