More Than a Shirt: the Iconic Legacy of Brazil’s Football Shirt

Description

The national Brazil football shirt is one of the most recognized symbols from sport’s history. Its intense yellow colour with green, blue and white details reflects not only the country’s flag but the vibrant spirit of the team and Brazilian people. When it comes to football the jersey is not only a piece of clothing, but also a statement of the whole identity, of style and performance as well. The Brazil jersey has become emblematic thanks to the team’s success and the legends who wore it such as Pelé or Ronaldo (and no, not Cristiano). If you want to know the history behind the famous Brazilian football shirt, keep on reading.

The Origins and the First Brazil Football Shirts

Until 1950 the Brazil football shirt was completely white ( https://www.soccerlord.se/product-category/international/brazil/ ) with blue details, this being a neutral choice without a direct connection with the national Brazilian flag. However after the disaster suffered in the 1950 World Cup final when Brazil dramatically lost to Uruguay at the Maracanã stadium the need for a symbolic change was felt. The failure was so painful that the white shirt was considered a symbol of bad luck and a lack of national identity.

In 1953 the Brazilian Football Federation organized a competition to create a new jersey design that includes the colours of the national flag, namely yellow, green, blue and white. The competition was won by Aldyr Garcia Schlee, a young 19 year old illustrator. His design with a yellow jersey with green details, blue shorts and white socks quickly became a symbol of football’s renaissance. The yellow shirt was first worn in 1954 and has since been associated with Brazil’s success and spectacular style, ‘joga bonito’.

Football Kit Archive ( https://www.footballkitarchive.com/brazil-kits/ ) also mentions ‘However, the Brazil home jersey was completely white with a blue collar until a horrific defeat at Maracanã in the 1950 World Cup, prompting pundits to criticise the attire for lacking patriotism. As a result, a national competition was started and the now iconic look was selected. Interestingly, Brazil wore a white jersey with blue trim for Copa América 2019 reminiscent of the country’s first home kits. Brazil’s away shirt is usually blue with white trim. The team’s kits are manufactured by Nike, and the club has a partnership with the company that runs until 2026. The team’s kits are popular with fans and are often seen as a symbol of the team’s identity and success.’

The Symbolism of the Colours

The colours of the national Brazil football shirt are not randomly chosen because they reflect directly the profound symbolism of the national flag and the cultural essence of the country. Yellow is the main colour in this design representing the tropical sun, the energy, the optimism and the joy to live, all these being defining traits of the Brazilian people. It is a vibrant colour that transmits the dynamism and enthusiasm with which Brazil approaches football. Then the green is usually present on the sleeves and the collar and it represents the country’s natural wealth such as the rainforests, the abundant flora and the deep connection that Brazilians have with nature. Therefore, the green is an element that anchors the football shirt in Brazil’s unique geography.

The blue is usually used for the pants or in different details and it refers to the clear sky and the spirituality present in Brazilian culture being directly inspired by the background colour of the national flag. And last but not least the white is used more subtly and it wants to transmit the purity, peace and hope. All the colours combined transform the national football shirt of Brazil into a visual symbol of the national identity. It is vibrant, distinctive and deeply significant for both the players and supporters.

The Evolution of the Brazil Football Shirt

The design of the national football shirt of Brazil has evolved constantly over the decades but it has always maintained the essential elements that make it unmistakable: the vibrant yellow, the stars on the chest and the CBF federation logo. In the ‘70 it became legendary thanks to Brazil’s performance led by Pelé when they won the third World Cup. The design was simple without sponsors but with a memorable visual impact. Then in the ‘90 with the advancement of technology and the commercialization of football the materials have become lighter and more breathable. The shirt from ‘94 also worn by the famous players Bebeto and Romário was the first design with a polo collar and subtle graphic details marking a new era in aesthetics.

The 2002 design worn by Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho is considered one of the most successful because it has a modern cut, Dri-FIT technology and a clean but elegant design. Brazil won the fifth World Cup with this shirt adding a fifth star on the chest.