Authenticity Guide™

Authenticity is one of the most important aspects when buying a football shirt. Unfortunately, counterfeit shirts are common in the market, and it can sometimes be difficult to tell the difference between an authentic piece and a fake one. This guide will help you identify key details found on original football shirts. Follow the step-by-step guide below to learn how to check labels, materials, stitching, and other important features. If you need any help identifying on of (y)our shirts, we'd be glad to help you! Use our contact form, email adress or message us on one of our social media accounts.

Step 1 - Know your shirt type

It's important to know what type of shirt you have so you can easily follow the other steps. We can divide original football shirts into four types. You can often determine your shirt type from the style code, so if you're unsure, you can skip to step 2.

1. The first shirt type is the basic version. These are simple shirts that are often lower quality and cheaper than fan versions. Since 2010, these have been produced in increasing numbers, but they are now becoming increasingly scarce.

2. The second and most common is the fan version. These are shirts specifically made for fans and sold in official club stores. You can often recognize them by their embroidered logos and thick, durable fabric.

3. Thirdly, there are the player version shirts. These are made of lightweight material and feature extra textures to enhance player performance. They are specifically designed for performance on the pitch and are often recognizable by a heat-pressed logo. This version is also often available in official club stores and costs more than the fan versions.

4. Finally, we have match issue shirts. These are player-version shirts, specifically made for the club's matches. Often, the size isn't printed on the collar, but somewhere on the bottom, inside of the shirt. Sometimes, the sizes aren't labeled as Medium, Large, etc., but rather with numbers. These shirts have been in a dressing room and were made available for a match. We also refer to match-worn shirts as match issue shirts, as they are the same shirts, but one has been worn and the other hasn't.

Basic Version or Fan Version?

Galatasaray 2014/15 Home Shirt Front 618795-606

Basic Version

Galatasaray 2014/15 Home Shirt Front 618797-606

Fan Version

Player Version or Match Issue?

Player Version

Match Issue

Step 2 - Identify the style code

A style code identifies a specific shirt. It's often located inside the shirt on one of the labels. We've listed the following manufacturers, including where to find the style code and what to do with it. Check which manufacturer your shirt is from and follow the instructions.

Always check all labels for pen marks, as this is a huge sign that it is a fake shirt.

Nike

You can find the style code from Nike shirts on a small white tag just behind the big washing labels. On this tag, you can see different codes and symbols, as well as the size of the shirt. Make sure to use the code beneath the size (847291-612). Type this exact code in your internet browser (preferrably Google) and go to images. If the exact shirt is shown multiple times, and the images are from reliable sources (Unisport, Classic Football Shirts or ourselves, Football Shirt Paradise), this is a sign of an original shirt. If Google shows images from different shirts and photos of style codes, often from Chinese websites, it is definitely a fake shirt.

Make sure test with this given image. Type '847291-612' in your browser and go to images. This is an original Atletico Madrid 2017/18 Home Shirt.

Adidas

You can find the style code from Adidas shirts on a small white tag on the left side of the collar. On this tag, you can see different codes and symbols. Make sure to use the code beneath the date of production (HF2159). Type this exact code in your internet browser (preferably Google) and go to images. If the exact shirt is shown multiple times, and the images are from reliable sources (Unisport, Classic Football Shirts or ourselves, Football Shirt Paradise), this is a sign of an original shirt. If Google shows images from different shirts and photos of style codes, often from Chinese websites, it is definitely a fake shirt.

Make sure to test with this given image. Type 'HF2159' in your browser and go to images. This is an original Argentina 2022 Away Shirt.

Puma

You can find the style code from Puma shirts on the big washing label inside the shirt. On the front of this label, you can see different codes and symbols. Make sure to use the code at the top that says 'STYLE NO' (755594-03). Type this exact code in your internet browser (preferably Google) and go to images. If the exact shirt is shown multiple times, and the images are from reliable sources (Unisport, Classic Football Shirts or ourselves, Football Shirt Paradise), this is a sign of an original shirt. If Google shows images from different shirts and photos of style codes, often from Chinese websites, it is definitely a fake shirt.

Make sure to test with this given image. Type '755594-03' in your browser and go to images. This is an original Manchester City 2019/20 Third Shirt.

Manchester City 2019/20 Third Shirt Sterling Tags 755594-03

Hummel

You can find the style code from Hummel shirts on the big washing label inside the shirt. On this label you should look for the code that says 'Style no' (216503). It could be anywhere on the big washing labels. If a code doesn't directly gives you the images of the shirt, just type the name of the manufacturer behind it (216503 Hummel). Type this exact code in your internet browser (preferably Google) and go to images. If the exact shirt is shown multiple times, and the images are from reliable sources (Unisport, Classic Football Shirts or ourselves, Football Shirt Paradise), this is a sign of an original shirt. If Google shows images from different shirts and photos of style codes, often from Chinese websites, it is definitely a fake shirt.

Make sure to test with this given image. Type '216503' in your browser and go to images. This is an original Real Betis 2022/23 Third Shirt.

Step 3 - Inspect the badges

If a style code indicates a correct signal or if your shirt is from a manufacturer that does not have a reliable style code, continue with step 3, inspect the badges.

When inspecting the badges, always make sure you have a photo of the real logo with you. Keep in mind that a badge should be embroided/heat pressed, depending on your shirt type. The most important thing, with inspecting the logos, is the outerlines. Badges should always have the same space between outer lines everywhere on the badge. This original Barcelona logo is a good example. See how there is even space everywhere around the badge.

Step 4 - Inspect the stitching

Stitching is crucial for identifying an authentic football shirt. Major manufacturers like Nike, Adidas, and Puma have access to top-notch equipment, and this is reflected in the stitching. Check for straightness and, especially, consistency. If there's no continuous pattern, it could be a sign of a counterfeit shirt.
For the past few years, some manufacturers have been using a single row of stitching at the bottom of their shirts instead of two, as was customary. Search for the shirt online and see if it should have one or two rows of stitching.

Real Madrid 2021/22 Away Shirt Tags GR3985

Step 5 - Inspect the material

Basic and fan versions have a thick, soft fabric. The shirts are specially made with comfort as the primary feature. If the fabric feels stiff and cheap, it's almost impossible for it to be an original shirt. Keep in mind that shirts from before 2010 were of much lower quality, making it difficult to assess the material.

Player version and match issue shirts are always very light, stretchy, and breathable. Nike makes them very thin, while Adidas makes less of a difference compared to the basic and fan versions.

Extra step - Unique codes

The previous steps are all ways to instantly identify a genuine shirt. This additional step isn't, and therefore shouldn't be definitive in your final assessment.

Some manufacturers like Nike, Castore, Puma, and Umbro use unique codes. These are always located on the outside of the shirt and can contain 7 to 12 numbers/letters. If you type these codes in full into your browser (preferably Google) and see different shirts and photos of these "unique codes," then it's always a fake. If you type the code, go to the images section, and don't see anything related to football shirts, this is a good sign. This is usually a sign of an authentic shirt, but don't rely on it as your final assessment. In recent years, there have been several fake shirts with unique codes that didn't yield any results.

Make sure test with this given image. Type 'H094319403' in your browser and go to images. This is an original Barcelona 2019/20 Home Shirt.

Barcelona 2019/20 Home Shirt Messi Tags AJ5532-456

Let us help you

Our Authenticity Guide™ will be updated every once in a while, as new ways to distinguish authentic shirts from fakes emerge. This page always contains the most recent version of our guide.

If you're still unsure whether a shirt is original or fake, or if you have something else you need to get rid of, don't hesitate to contact us via the contact form, social media, or email us at info@footballshirtparadise.com. We'd be glad to help!

Want to save yourself the hassle of checking shirts? Take a look at All Football Shirts or visit our Weekly Deals, which renew each Thursday. These are several selected shirts with incredible discounts!