A Clash of Kits as Well as Clubs
El Clásico is the biggest rivalry in club football — a spectacle that spans generations and continents. But beyond the tactics, the titles, and the stars, there’s another layer that defines these battles: the kits. Some are historic. Some are hideous. All are unforgettable.
Here are the 10 best and 10 worst kits ever worn in El Clásico history.
The 10 Best El Clásico Kits
10. Real Madrid Away (2016–17, Adidas)
A bold purple palette turned classic after Madrid’s Champions League final win. Worn by Ronaldo, Isco, and Casemiro — it became synonymous with silverware.
9. Barcelona Home (1999–2000, Nike)
A nod to the club’s split-color roots, remembered for Rivaldo’s brilliance rather than trophies.
8. Real Madrid Champions League Home (2001–02, Adidas)
Zidane’s volley. No sponsor. Clean white and blue accents. Just pure football heritage.
7. Barcelona Fourth Kit (2019–22, Nike)
Catalan pride embodied. The Senyera design lasted three seasons and saw Messi’s final Barça years.
6. Barcelona Home (1989–92, Meyba)
Cruyff’s “Dream Team” shirt, etched into club lore — even if not worn in the 1992 final.
5. Barcelona Home (1995–97, Kappa)
Romario’s 5-0. Ronaldo’s 47 goals. A kit linked with two of Barça’s most electric forwards.
4. Real Madrid Away (1999–2000, Adidas)
Black with gold trim. Champions League-winning class against Valencia, featuring Roberto Carlos and Raul.
3. Real Madrid Home (2011–12, Adidas)
100 points. 121 goals. Gold trim for a golden Mourinho-led season.
2. Real Madrid Home (2021–22, Adidas)
Subtle, elegant — and worn during epic Champions League comebacks. A kit of resilience and royalty.
1. Barcelona Home (2010–11, Nike)
The Guardiola-Messi masterpiece. Bold stripes, yellow trim, Unicef sponsor. Footballing perfection.
The 10 Worst El Clásico Kits
10. Barcelona Home (2017–18, Nike)
Stripes distorted toward the sides. Trophies didn’t save it from design criticism.
9. Real Madrid Away (2015–16, Adidas)
Sweat-heavy grey with neon accents. Rafa Benítez’s tenure never looked worse.
8. Barcelona Home (2019–20, Nike)
Checkered chaos. A poor design choice for a chaotic season.
7. Real Madrid Third (2013–14, Adidas)
Bright orange? Even La Décima couldn’t make this one a fan favorite.
6. Real Madrid Third (2014–15, Adidas)
A Yohji Yamamoto dragon print that felt better suited for Paris Fashion Week.
5. Barcelona Home (2021–22, Nike)
Badge-inspired chaos, mismatched shorts, and no Messi. The fans never embraced it.
4. Real Madrid Third (1996–97, Kelme)
Split into quarters with paw prints. A graphic overload that no legend could rescue.
3. Barcelona Away (1997–98, Kappa)
Orange base, blue stripe, black lines. Even the 90s couldn’t excuse this one.
2. Real Madrid Third (2005–06, Adidas)
Grey-on-grey in the Galáctico era. Symbolic of failure and Florentino’s resignation.
1. Barcelona Away (2012–13, Nike)
The “Tequila Sunrise.” Orange-to-yellow fade, yellow socks — and eternal ridicule.
More Than a Match — A Fashion Legacy
From all-time classics to unforgettable disasters, El Clásico kits tell stories beyond the scoreboard. Some became timeless. Others… time forgot — for good reason.
