We should all know the drill by now. It’s the end of 2025, so it’s time to look back on the best jersey designs of the year from across the globe.Has to have been released in this calendar year and worn in a proper match. Them’s the only rules…
It’s been another year of amazing kit designs, with challenger brands again pushing the big three to up their game, and that has only served to give us all better kit designs, rich in story, detail, collaboration and, most importantly, style. Adidas are undoubtedly leading the way at present, as I highlighted here. However, the likes of Kappa and Macron continue to provide some of the best kits around, while PUMA went outside the box for one of the most creative collaborations of the year.
But let’s face facts: a top 20 list is always going to be divisive – there’s no way you’ll agree with all I’ve selected, and certainly not in the order I’ve done them. There will likely be some glaring omissions in your opinion (no Arsenal third shirt, what the actual F*@£), and that’s absolutely fine. I’ve approached this list in a broad fashion, through SoccerBible’s Creative Soccer Culture lens, trying to pick a broad selection of 20 from the literally thousands of shirts on offer.
So yes, there’s no Arsenal third shirt (a beautiful design, admittedly), but that’s because I opted for the Ajax’s third shirt. Could equally have gone for Flamengo third, for example, or Lyon’s anniversary kit, but they’re all very similar – clean, stripped back white bases. Likewise, whilst I love Oxford United’s away shirt, it doesn’t beat Mexico’s De Oro shirt in the black and gold stakes. Still, there will be those of you that will want to argue the case, and again I say, that’s fine. These lists are designed to be engaging anyway, and if you want to sound off, well, that’s what social media is for, right? So without further ado, here are my personal Top 20 jersey designs of 2025.
20. PSG Fourth (Jordan)
Making history, this was the first football jersey to be initially conceptualised with long sleeves, featuring intricate wing motifs inspired by Jordan's iconic "Wings" logo. Only draw back is that it has to be long sleeves (is that even a draw back?).
19. Red Star FC Home (Kappa)
There are a few teams in the world that you can rely on for great shirt designs, and Red Star FC are one of them. Bringing in designer Tom Ducarouge, the theme here was concrete, and it's a visual tweak on tradition that really works.
18. Sorrento Home (Ezeta)
Ezeta are well known now for their almost decadent designs, and Sorrento benefitted this year with a home shirt that AC Milan would be proud to wear. Red and black stripes, core to Sorrento’s identity, are elevated by a pattern that honours the ancient Neapolitan art of wood inlay.
17. Galatasaray Third (PUMA)
Pulling design features from the historic gates of Beyoğlu Lyceum, PUMA produced the type of shirt that demands a double-take. Dripping in a premium burgundy and gold colour palette, this was a shirt that went under the radar for many.
16. UD Almeria Away (Macron)
Proper eye-catcher, this. Macron leaned hard into local heritage for this design, drawing direct inspiration from the rich legacy of ceramic craftsmanship found across the region.
15. RC Deportivo Third (Kappa)
Bit of a regal feel to this one – out goes the usual crisp white; in comes a subtle off-white base, paired with delicate gold detailing. Sublimated symbols loaded with meaning, topped off with the type of sash you'd expect to see on Miss Iceland.
14. Levante Home (Macron)
Another example of how to navigate the difficult balance of tradition and progression that is a home shirt. Here Macron's design retains the club's usual combination of navy blue and claret, within which, tone-on-tone, there are fine diagonal lines, lending a rich texture to the overall look. Add a touch of gold and voila!
13. Ajax Third (adidas)
There have been a fair few clean designs from adidas this year, particularly the anniversary shirts that have been dropping (Lyon, Flamengo to name a couple), but Ajax's third shirt just takes it. It's a design steeped in legacy, cultural pride, and timeless aesthetic cues that nod to Amsterdam’s rich 750-year story. The combination of blue and red on that cream base really makes this one unique.
12. Bayern Munich 125th anniversary shirt (adidas)
The presence of the Trefoil has elevated plenty of shirt designs this year (spoiler: this is not its last appearance!), but it feels right at home on a Bayern Munich shirt. When that Bayern Munich shirt is the club's 125th anniversary offering, it just goes up another level.
11. Denmark Women Home x ROTATE (hummel)
This is one that we reckon probably flew under a lot of people's radar, but absolutely should not have. Not only was it a collaboration between a fashion label and an international team, it was also a perfect example of the growth and increasing influence of the women's game. The design itself was a perfect combination of retro and progressive along with big and brassy with some refined details. Quite the package all said!
10. Club Atlético Aldosivi Third (Kappa)
Club's often achieve great things in football – that's what they all strive for, the very essence of playing the game. So greatness is achieved, it's only right that brands recognise it. Here, Kappa honoured Club Atlético Aldosivi's promotion to Argentina’s Primera División with a beautiful design – classic collar, gradient stripes and some timeless references and storytelling throughout.
9. Hamburger SV Home (adidas)
This is one of those designs that just smacks you in the face and demands your attention and admiration. The central alignment of Three Stripe branding, club crest and sponsor all riding on top of that chevron... [chef's kiss].
8. Germany Home (adidas)
It would be so easy to fill this list with shirts from the adidas World Cup collection – Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, Japan, Italy... and so on. There's just so much goodness. But there's something poignant about Germany's being their last from adidas; a long standing relationship coming to an end. But the design, that at once feels nostalgic and forward-facing, is a fitting final flourish.
7. Corinthians Third (Nike)
Nike's T90 revival was in full swing this year, with the iconic T90 template rolled out for most premium Swoosh teams across the globe. But arguably none got it better than Corinthians, with that bold injection of colour on the dark base, topped off with the pièce de résistance, the circled numbering on the right of the chest.
6. Juventus Third (adidas)
Following very much in the same footsteps as their third shirt design from last season, but that is certainly no bad thing. It not only embraces the traditions of the famous Piedmont region, but also leads the way as high fashion continues to take a hold on football culture. When minimalism gets turned up to the max.
5. Monterray Third (PUMA x Kid Super)
Similar to the adidas World Cup collection, there is a lot to love with this whole set, designed by the creative genius that is Kid Super. Opted for the Monterray kit, where the white base features hand painted mountain regions with navy accents to create a vibrant and beautiful piece of art.
4. OGC Nice Third (Kappa)
One part of what was hands down the best kit set of the 25/26 season. The home was very tidy, the away was clean. But this third shirt? It's a proper step into the fashion world. Elegance captured in football shirt form.
3. Mexico De Oro (adidas)
Sleek, symmetrical, simple, and unmistakably Mexico. Trefoil in place? Check. Stripped back crest? Check. Heritage-infused design? Check. All the ingredients for an absolute banger.
2. Club America away (adidas)
The first time in over two decades that the Three Stripes graced the Águilas' chest — and the return did not disappoint. Adidas doubled down on retro vibes, reworking late-90s and early-2000s influences with a sleek, contemporary twist. Big, bold and perfect.
1. Oakland Roots third (Charly)
Honestly, nothing else like it out there. Unique, elegant and beautifully bespoke, while also being designed by internationally recognised, Oakland-based artist Muzae Sesay in collaboration with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (SFMOMA), elevating the design through story and connection and lending the whole thing a proper Creative Soccer Culture vibe.
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