Modern Shirts (2000s and onwards)
Most football shirts from the early 2000s onwards have a unique product code that can be used to verify whether the shirt is authentic.
The product code can typically be found on the care label inside the shirt. By searching for the code together with the manufacturer’s name (e.g. Nike or Adidas), you can check whether the search results match the shirt you have.
Please note that player issue shirts, long-sleeved models, and other variations often have their own unique product codes.
Examples
Nike:
The product code here is 287535. On some newer models, it will be displayed slightly differently, with 2 letters followed by a 4-digit number, which you can enter, for example AB3456.
On Nike shirts, the product code can be found inside the shirt, near the care label.
Adidas:
The product code here is JN8884, meaning the second line. On newer Adidas jerseys, the code will be inside the neck of the jersey, whereas on older models it is located at the bottom of the jersey, similar to Nike jerseys.
Puma:
The product code here is 751515, the code that appears after STYLE NO. Just like Nike jerseys, it will be at the bottom of the jersey on the inside. On some jerseys, it is part of the wash label, and others have a small separate flap as shown in the picture.
Newer jerseys from Under Armour and Warrior Sports also have such a code, very similar to those on Puma jerseys, so the process will be the same.
Vintage Jerseys (before 2000)
Older jerseys from the 1980s and 1990s usually do not have a product code. Here, authenticity is assessed based on a number of details such as:
- Brands and labels
- Club logo and manufacturer logo
- Sponsor prints
- Material and stitching
- Overall jersey quality
It may therefore require a bit more research to verify older jerseys.
Be aware of the price
If a rare or sought-after jersey is sold at an unusually low price, it should raise suspicion. Original retro jerseys are no longer produced, and the most popular models are often difficult to find.