The Best and Worst Barcelona and Real Madrid Kits
El Clásico, an iconic encounter between two La Liga giants, Barcelona and Real Madrid, is much more than just a match. It’s a clash of styles, a battle for dominance, and a showcase of the most emblematic uniforms in world football. Over the years, both teams have delighted fans with memorable designs, but they have also made mistakes that the players would rather forget. Here, at Alofoke Deportes, we present a ranking of the 10 best and 10 worst uniforms that these two giants have worn.
The Best
- 10. Real Madrid: Third kit, 2016-17 (Adidas)
This uniform, with an unusual purple color, won over the skeptics. Real Madrid wore it in Cardiff on June 3, 2017, in a memorable performance that culminated in a 4-1 victory over Juventus in the Champions League final. Cristiano Ronaldo, Casemiro, and Isco were key in this triumph that established the jersey as an icon.
- 9. Barcelona: Local, 1999-2000 (Nike)
This design, which pays homage to the club’s first jersey, evoked memories of Rivaldo’s golden era and his Ballon d’Or. The uniform, commemorating the club’s 110th anniversary, was used again in the current season to celebrate Barcelona’s 125th anniversary.
- 8. Real Madrid: Champions League, 2001-02 (Adidas)
Real Madrid conquered “La Novena” with a great goal by Zinedine Zidane in the final against Bayer Leverkusen. The white jersey, without a sponsor, with blue details and the three Adidas stripes, symbolized the elegance and simplicity of football.
- 7. Barcelona: Fourth kit, 2019-22 (Nike)
This uniform, with the colors of the Catalan flag (Senyera), was a resounding success and was maintained for two seasons. The design, with diagonal red lines on a yellow background, was used in the last years of Lionel Messi at the club.
- 6. Barcelona: Local, 1989-92 (Meyba)
The jersey worn by Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team”, with Guardiola, Koeman, Laudrup, Romario and Stoichkov, is a symbol of a golden era. Although they didn’t wear it in the 1992 European Cup final, they did wear it in the celebrations.
- 5. Barcelona: Home, 1995-97 (Kappa)
This jersey, with which Romario dazzled and Ronaldo Nazário scored 47 goals in a season, is remembered by culé fans.
- 4. Real Madrid: Away, 1999-00 (Adidas)
The black uniform with gold details, worn in the Champions League victory against Valencia, is a classic. Fans remember this design with nostalgia, evoking images of Roberto Carlos, Fernando Redondo, and Raúl.
- 3. Real Madrid: Home, 2011-12 (Adidas)
The golden jersey, which accompanied the team in the record-breaking season, when they achieved 100 points and scored 121 goals. Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, and Gonzalo Higuaín led a team that will be remembered.
- 2. Real Madrid: Home, 2021-22 (Adidas)
This uniform, with a round neck and blue and gold details, witnessed the magical and inexplicable campaign in the Champions League, with epic comebacks against Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Manchester City.
- 1. Barcelona: Local, 2010-11 (Nike)
The jersey that accompanied the best Barcelona in history, led by Lionel Messi, in the Champions League final against Manchester United. The simplicity of the stripes, combined with yellow details and the Unicef logo, make it a classic.
The Worst
- 10. Barcelona: Local, 2017-18 (Nike)
The maroon lines narrow towards the blue sides, a design that did not convince many. Although the team won the Copa del Rey, the elimination in the Champions League against Roma did not help improve the perception.
- 9. Real Madrid: Away, 2015-16 (Adidas)
A gray uniform with green details, which did not stand out in a season with ups and downs. The 4-0 defeat in the Clásico and the arrival of Zinedine Zidane contrasted with the victory in the Champions League.
- 8. Barcelona: Local, 2019-20 (Nike)
The checkered design, similar to that of Croatia, generated controversy. The season, marked by the change of coach, the defeat against Real Madrid and the humiliating 8-2 defeat against Bayern Munich, did not help improve its image.
- 7. Real Madrid: Third kit, 2013-14 (Adidas)
The orange uniform, compared to a traffic cone, clashed in a historic season, crowned with the conquest of “La Décima” in Lisbon.
- 6. Real Madrid: Third kit, 2014-15 (Adidas)
The dragon-print design, created by Yohji Yamamoto, did not convince on the field. The team failed to excel in LaLiga or the Champions League, and Carlo Ancelotti left the position.
- 5. Barcelona: Local, 2021-22 (Nike)
The patchwork design, inspired by the club’s crest, and the differently colored shorts, were a failure. Lionel Messi, who left the club that summer, was probably relieved not to have to wear it.
- 4. Real Madrid: Third kit, 1996-97 (Kelme)
The design divided into purple and white quarters, with small rectangles, was a failed experiment. Although the Teka logo and the Kelme claws were iconic, not even Clarence Seedorf could make this uniform work.
- 3. Barcelona: Away, 1997-98 (Kappa)
Orange, with a thick blue line in the center and two black lines on the sides, was a failure. Unlike other questionable designs from the 90s, this one hasn’t resurfaced as a retro classic.
- 2. Real Madrid: Third kit, 2005-06 (Adidas)
The gray uniform, with a team full of stars like Ronaldo Nazário, Zidane, Beckham and Roberto Carlos, was a failure. Real Madrid did not win any title in the 2005-06 season, which led to the resignation of president Florentino Pérez.
- 1. Barcelona: Away, 2012-13 (Nike)
Known as “tequila sunrise”, this uniform with yellow socks and shorts that blended into orange, is a clear example of a design that has not endured over time. A mistake that, surely, was the product of a night of drinks.
