WORLD CUP 2022
Argentina World Cup shirt sold-out worldwide: Adidas say 3 star version available in December 2022
The blue and white striped Adidas jersey is unavailable to buy across the world but will be put on sale before 2023.
The cameras flashed around Lionel Messi as he lifted the World Cup trophy at the Lusail Stadium on 18 December, cementing the moment into history, wiping clean the slate of all past failures, getting ready to stick the photo of him and football’s top prize over everything else. He was presented with a black bisht, a ceremonial robe worn by Qatar’s highest societal members, before lifting the golden trophy in the air. The world watched on: football looked, for once, like it had given itself the happy ending to a story that it had needed for so long.
The Qatari ceremonial robe was soon removed, however, and the blue and white striped shirt he wore as he tapped in his two penalties and the 3-2 goal (that some say was illegal) was replaced for one with the all-important 3rd gold star, awarded to the winner of the World Cup. For this World Cup tournament, Argentina’s Adidas shirt was given a classic design from the German brand, going with the typical stripes that have become so iconic over the years, with the more radical decisions being made on the purple away kit. Adidas had some top designs and top players representing their brand at the competition, but as Gonzalo Montiel sent Hugo Lloris the wrong way, only one item of clothing was sent immediately to the top of everyone’s wish list.
Adidas’ reaction to the Argentina interest
The shirt was sold out in many places days before the final was played, but after Argentina were confirmed finalists after brushing aside Croatia, online orders for the both the home and away shirts exploded, leaving the albiceleste garment unavailable across the world, in every size, for men, women and children. Even the Al-Hilm, the official ball of the World Cup final and semi-finals, sold out on the Adidas website across Europe and beyond.
The Argentinian Football Association issued a statement in which they said “we can’t do anything about it, although it’s in our interest to sell more. It is a matter of Adidas and there are problems in the country that affect them, such as the obstacles to imports and the lack of manpower, as well as the high level of public anger.”
Messi broke the record for the most likes ever on Instagram wearing the shirt, and Buenos Aires was filled with people wearing the colours of the national team as the population celebrated the victory. In response to the victory, Adidas released a celebratory shirt that the players wore during the open-top bus parade.
Where can I buy an Argentina football shirt?
An update on 21 December came from the Adidas website, in which the company announced that the 3-star shirt will be available to buy on 26 December, for 90€. It is not known how many will go on sale, and the likelihood is that the garment will sell out in minutes, if not seconds. The reaction has been simply colossal regarding the memorabilia of Messi’s greatest moment, everyone wants a memento of the history we witnessed against France.
