We might have taken Wednesday’s defeat to Argentina pretty badly, but we’re not petty enough to deny that Argentina have produced some truly stunning kits. Their history is littered with iconic moments, legendary players and unforgettable football shirts. The light blue and white of Argentina is instantly recognisable, etched into football folklore thanks to their World Cup triumphs in 1986 and 2022, and moments of brilliance from the likes of Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
With that in mind, we thought we’d count down five of our favourite Argentina shirts uploaded to Showboat by our collectors. Sadly, one shirt missing from the app is Maradona’s ‘Hand of God’ shirt, which sold for a record-breaking £7.1m a few years back. But there are still some blinding shirts in here that we’re incredibly proud to have on Showboat. So, as the world’s worst football journalist likes to say, here we go. Five incredible Argentina shirts on Showboat.
5. Argentina - 1998/99 - Away Shirt
This shirt stands out for us for a host of reasons. It’s a lovely special edition, firstly. The shirt itself is a gorgeous navy blue and represented a departure from Argentina’s traditional away shirts, moving towards something altogether more modern (everyone remembers the collared classic from the 1994 World Cup, don’t they?).
But if football shirts really are all about memories, then this shirt is what you’d call a core memory for us here at Showboat HQ. Argentina wore it in their infamous clash with England at the 1998 World Cup. That game remains one of the best we’ve ever seen and Michael Owen’s goal still gives us chills. But so too does the memory of arguably the best player on the pitch that day: Ariel Ortega.
El Burrito (or ‘The Little Donkey’) captivated us, and much of the world, with his touch, his vision and his willingness to take on anyone, no matter how much bigger they were. A true Argentinian number 10, and the main reason this shirt, complete with his nameset, makes this list. He’s also a player we’ve written about in more detail here.
4. Argentina - 1978 - Away Shirt
This shirt, worn during Argentina’s 1978 World Cup triumph, is a showstopper. It also evokes one of the most controversial eras in football, both for Argentina and FIFA. Many argue the World Cup should never have been held in Argentina because of the political unrest at the time. Many more argue that the hosts’ victory was tainted by allegations of match-fixing and a ruling military government determined to legitimise its own reign. The manager of Hungary, Argentina’s first opponents, claimed beforehand: “Everything, even the air, is in favour of Argentina.”
Another controversy surrounded Argentina on the pitch as the wonderfully talented 17-year-old Diego Maradona was omitted from the squad. César Luis Menotti, the head coach, feared the tournament, and particularly the matches in Buenos Aires, would become about Maradona and prove a distraction for the rest of his team. Ultimately, he was proven right as the man playing in Maradona’s position, Mario Kempes, won the Golden Boot and was named Player of the Tournament. Still, there’s no escaping the feeling that the world was denied the chance to see a teenage Maradona on the biggest stage of them all.
As for the shirt, it’s that lovely shade of blue we rarely see anymore. The Adidas Trefoil and three stripes are on full display. It’s beautifully understated. This one, in only satisfactory condition and a size small, is valued at around £180. A larger shirt in better condition would be worth substantially more..
3. Argentina - 1993 - Goalkeeper Shirt
90s goalkeeper shirts are our thing. You all know that by now. They’re a class unto themselves. Memories become irrelevant. So, too, does tournament success. They stand alone.
This 1993 number, sadly, was replaced for the 1994 World Cup, so it never quite got the spotlight it deserved. But it’s a shirt to admire. Everything from the sublimated AFA crest to the geometric shapes and trippy colour scheme just works. It’s valued at around £160 but, if you’re lucky enough to find one at that price, you should probably snap it up.
2. Argentina - 1999 - Home Shirt
Argentina’s long history with Adidas was very briefly interrupted by a two-year spell with Reebok which, for many collectors, led to a short but brilliant golden era. Sadly, Argentina never wore Reebok at a World Cup. This shirt did see Copa América action, but it was not a memorable tournament for Argentina, who lacked a cutting edge and were knocked out by eventual winners Brazil in the quarter-finals.
The shirt itself features Argentina’s famous light blue and white vertical stripes, complemented by light blue sleeves, which were a completely new addition at the time. A white V-neck collar with black trim and black-accented sleeve cuffs complete the design. Expect this shirt to sell for around £155 from any reputable supplier.
1. Argentina - 1996 - Home
One of the most valuable Argentina shirts on the entire Showboat platform is this match-worn Claudio Caniggia jersey. Caniggia’s story has always felt more cult than mainstream, largely because of Diego Maradona’s grip on the Argentine consciousness throughout the 1980s and 90s. At the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Caniggia scored two crucial goals to help Argentina reach the final, but was suspended for the showpiece against West Germany and proved to be an enormous loss to his team.
Caniggia enjoyed a remarkably long international career spanning from 1987 to 2002, although it was a patchy one too. He never scored for Argentina again after the 1994 World Cup and became the first player ever to be sent off from the bench when he was shown a red card at the 2002 World Cup. Caniggia more than earned his cult-like status, then. As such, this shirt is valued at a hefty £825.
You can shop classic Argentina shirts in the Showboat app or on our website here.
