How to identify an original Nike football shirt?

Nike is among the biggest football shirt manufacturers in the world. They make jerseys for elite clubs like PSG, Barcelona and Inter Milan. A partnerships with these clubs comes with some strict conditions. All shirts, from home shirts to training wear, have to be of elite quality and offer their players the best possible advantage on the field.

Football shirts from Nike are also some of the most counterfeited products in the football shirt market. With this guide, you will become a pro at distinguishing an original from a fake Nike football shirt.

The first and most important thing to do when identifying a Nike shirt, is looking at the style code. Look for a small white tag with some numbers on it, inside of the shirt. On most (newer) Nike shirts, this label sits at the back of the large washing labels.

You should use the 2nd code from below and type this into Google or another search engine. This Nike number has the following template on newer shirts: XXXXXX-XXX. When you search for this code in Google and go to images, you should see the particular shirt if it's original, listed by trusted sellers, not from China. The shirt is 100% fake if you see different shirts or only images from Chinese/Asian sellers.

Most new Nike shirts also have a unique code, besides the style code. This unique codes sits on the bottom left of the shirt and consists of ~9 numbers.

Search for this code in Google, just as you did with the style code. If no shirts show up, it is a sign that the shirt could be original. When other shirts or images of this unique code show up, the shirt is 100% fake. This code is unique per shirt and thus should not give any images on Google.

One of the most difficult things to produce is the badge of particular clubs/nations. That is why most fake shirts show visible imperfections compared to the official badges, made by Nike. Always check if the spacing on all sides is the same and is how it should be.

The sizing details on original Nike football shirts both feel and look premium. It is perfectly outlined and has clearly visible fonts and style. This one is a bit tricky but you will be able to see the difference once you have seen both of them in real life.

You should also check the washing labels inside the shirt if it has any pen marks or numbers written on it. This is often a sign that the shirt is fake. Nike labels/tags are always perfectly aligned and are made of premium material, so they don't itch or fade easily.

Original Nike fan version shirts are made out of durable and expensive fabric and their player versions are lightweight, breathable and texturized. We made an article about the differences between fan version and player version football shirts.

Fake shirts often are really lightweight but not breathable. This, in combination with a cheap fabric, makes it itchy and uncomfortable. The difference with an original Nike shirt is easy to spot, although you probably do have to feel and see both shirts in real life to notice it.

Nike stitching is always tidy and clean, even with older shirts from the late 20th century. Fake manufacturers are getting better at this but they are still nowhere near the level of Nike. If you see an untidy bit of stitching, it is probably a fake shirt.

The difference between an original and fake Nike football shirt can sometimes be clearly visible, but can also be hard to spot, like with stitching. Fake shirt manufacturers improve daily and force Nike to produce even better quality and find more/new ways to authenticate their shirts. By reading this guide, you are now an expert in identifying an original Nike football shirt and distinguishing it from a fake one.