It's only 2024, but we've already seen some seriously strong contenders for the best football kits of the 2020s overall.
From European giants getting their classic colours spot on, to national teams mixing it up to stunning effect, these are shirts we'd love to have in our wardrobes (if we haven't already).
There's been a clear trend at the beginning of the decade of clubs harking back to successful eras, with iconic strips reimagined and modernised. Old-school crests, centralised design elements and popular accents are all remisicent of simpler, more prestigious times.
So, without further ado, let's dive straight into the countdown...
The best football kits of the 2020s
Erling Haaland and Jude Bellingham lit up the Bundesliga and Champions League alike during their time at Borussia Dortmund – and fittingly, they did so in this striking lightning-bolt strip.
The German giants best shirt in years, it's a shame it only lasted one season – such is the, err, lightning fast cycle of kits these days.
Though they finished third in the Bundesliga that season, Dortmund did go on to win the DFK-Pokal, while the 40 home league goals they scored in just 18 matches at the Westfalenstadion highlights just how much the players enjoyed wearing this stunning effort, too.
9. North Macedonia home, Euro 2020 (Jako)
North Macedonia's flag of a bright yellow sun and rays on a red background is one of the snazziest in the world – so it was only right that the national football team gave more than a subtle nod to it on their shirt at Euro 2020, their major tournament debut.
German brand Jako will never be the coolest kit manufacturer, but no one take this brilliant 'fit – donned most notably by North Macedonia's greatest ever player, Goran Pandev – away from them.
Euro 2020 was also the nation's first, and only, appearance at a major international tournament as an independent country. While things didn't go amazingly on the pitch - they lost all three games and finished bottom of Group C - their fans were able to cheer two goals at the tournament from Pandev and Ezgjan Alioski that will live long in the memory.
8. Manchester United away, 2021/22 (Adidas)
Paying homage to their classic away strip from the early 90s, Manchester United sported this very stylish number on the road during the 2021/22 campaign. A highlight in what was a disappointing season for United, the shirt contrasted stunningly with the much brighter blue shorts completing the kit.
Indeed, games didn't exactly go to plan while wearing their away kit in 2021/22. The iconic blue and white pattern was used in a horrible 4-0 loss to Liverpool at Anfield, as well as the 4-1 defeat to Watford that saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer lose his job as manager.
Ah well, at least they looked good being humiliated, we guess?
7. Japan home, 2022 World Cup (Adidas)
Japan produced their best ever World Cup showing in 2022, stunning former winners Germany and Spain to top their group and reach the last 16. Famously, Japan wore this iconic kit during a 2-1 win over Spain in the group stages, the same game in which Kaoru Mitoma somehow managed to keep the ball in play as he cutback for Ao Tanaka, knocking out Germany in the process.
And the Samurai Blue did it decked out in one of their finest kits (and they have had quite a lot of them), this gloriously patterned Adidas effort complete with distinctive yellow names and numbers.
6. Fiorentina away, 2023/24 (Kappa)
Fiorentina emphasised the "Florentine floral uniqueness" of their 2023/24 away strip upon announcing it. We can see exactly what they mean – and we blimmin' love it.
Part football shirt, part Hawaiian shirt, this is absolutely beautiful proof that going bold in kit design can pay off big time. The white base, the violet accents, thos stunning floral sleeves and sash - bellissimo.
It's just a shame it might not be looked upon as fondly by I Viola supporters as we at FourFourTwo do - Fiorentina wore the away kit during their 1-0 Europa Conference League final defeat to Olympiakos, providing them with yet more heartbreak in the competition after losing to West Ham in the final the year before.
5. Belgium home, Euro 2024 (Adidas)
For their Euro 2024 home shirt, Belgium eschewed their regular red in favour of this considerably more regal-looking shade – and it worked an absolute treat!
With gold accents and a stunningly subtle diamond print, the shirt is everything a nation would've wanted as they aimed for glory in Germany. Alas, it wasn't to be, with Kevin De Bruyne and Co. crashing out in the last 16 to France. Jan Vertonghen still has nightmares from arguably the best kit he has ever pulled on.
4. Arsenal home, 2022/23 (Adidas)
We love a collared Arsenal shirt, we really do, and Adidas delivered sartorial excellence to the Gunners with their 2022/23 home jersey.
Topped off with an eye-catching lighting bolt pattern around the collar, this one was worn by the North London giants as they mounted a strong Premier League title push under Mikel Arteta.
While it wasn't to be that term, this kit signifies a real coming of age for a team ready to step up and be counted. Before 2022/23, Arsenal weren't really given a chance; fast forward a couple of years and they're one of Europe's pre-eminent forces.
3. Barcelona home, 2020/21 (Nike)
Barcelona's iconic 'blaugrana' stripes have fallen victim to some truly shocking rehashes in recent years (none more shocking than the outrage-sparking checkerboard design of 2019/20), but the Catalan giants rocked one of their very best kits during the 2020/21 season.
Featuring a lovely gradient and neatly divided by the thinnest sliver of yellow, this was a bit of a masterpiece by long-time kit providers Nike.
It's also the final kit Lionel Messi ever wore as a Barcelona player. For that significance alone, it deserves a seat at the top table of best kits of the 2020s.
2. Leeds United third, 2023/24 (Adidas)
These days, if Leeds United are referred to by a nickname, it’s invariably the Whites – but the Yorkshire outfit historically have a far less generic one: the Peacocks.
And their away strip for the 2023/24 campaign honoured to that moniker with a suitably flamboyant display of design genius – one that was sure to, err, ruffle a few feathers in the Championship.
With a blue base and turquoise accents, the Leeds United away kit looked incredible at away grounds in the second tier of English football, with Wilfred Gnonto, Ethan Ampadu and Georginio Rutter all exciting in this dazzling strip.
1. Ajax third, 2021/22 (Adidas)
Ajax fans’ tradition of singing along to reggae classic ‘Three Little Birds’ in the stands only began in 2008 – but by 2021, the Dutch giants had released a call kit in honour of the inimitable Bob Marley.
An immediately sought-after modern classic, this shirt – aptly featuring three little birds on the back – flew off the rails. The red front-of-shirt accents worked perfectly against the black base, while the red, yellow and green Adidas shoulder stripes and sleeve cuffs provided a beautiful pop of colour.
The Amsterdam outfit won the Eredevisie this season under Erik ten Hag, too, with a strong squad clearly inspired by FourFourTwo's greatest kit of the 2020s (so far).
