The History of the Real Madrid Jersey: From 1902 to Today

On March 6, 1902, Madrid Football Club was officially founded. A few weeks later, its founders chose the club’s colors: a white jersey inspired by Corinthian FC, the famous English amateur club that the Padrós brothers had discovered during their trips to London. This initial choice, seemingly insignificant, would go on to become one of the most powerful symbols of identity in world soccer. This article traces the history of the Real Madrid jersey, from that English inspiration in 1902 to the contemporary Adidas editions—more than 120 years of evolution.

Real Madrid’s jersey is currently the best-selling in the world in certain seasons, ahead of Manchester United, PSG, and Barcelona. Its seemingly simple design (all white with a crest on the chest) hides a little-known rich history: changes to the crest, sponsors that defined their eras, historic equipment manufacturers, and away and third kits that have become increasingly bold since the 2000s.

The English origins of the white jersey

In 1902, when brothers Juan and Carlos Padrós officially founded Madrid Football Club, they faced a simple question: what colors should they choose to identify their team? The answer came from London. During his travels in England, Juan Padrós had been struck by the Corinthian Football Club, an amateur club founded in 1882 whose players wore all-white jerseys. The choice of white was therefore a natural one, paying homage to this British ideal of sportsmanship and fair play.

The club’s first jersey was therefore plain white, with no visible distinctive crest, paired with navy blue shorts that later changed to a lighter shade of blue depending on the season. This simplicity was typical of early European clubs in the early 20th century, when jerseys served primarily to identify the team without any particular aesthetic considerations.

To understand how this initial choice came to be the standard for 120 years without ever being questioned, we’ve written a feature on the origins of Real Madrid’s white jersey, which details the various historical theories behind the choice of this color.

The Evolution of the Crest, from 1902 to the Royal Crown

The original crest from 1902 was simple: a circle featuring the intertwined initials MCF (Madrid Club de Fútbol) in English letters, rendered in an elegant typeface. This crest remained relatively unchanged during the club’s early years, with only minor variations in the lettering or the color of the circle.

In 1920, King Alfonso XIII granted the club the honorary title of “Real” (Royal). This royal distinction was marked by the addition of a stylized crown above the crest, which thus became that of Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. The crown was temporarily removed in 1931, with the proclamation of the Second Spanish Republic, which abolished all royal symbols in the country. The club was then simply called Madrid FC during this republican period.

At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, the title "Real" was restored under Franco's regime, and the crown reappeared on the crest. A diagonal purple stripe was added to the crest at that time, and it has remained the club’s distinctive graphic element to this day (with the exception of a period when it was temporarily removed for certain religiously sensitive markets).

The Bernabéu Era and the First European Cups

Starting in 1943, under the presidency of Santiago Bernabéu, the club entered a period of historic European dominance. The white jersey remained unchanged in its primary color, but became the symbol of a team that dominated the European Cup with five consecutive titles between 1956 and 1960. To understand the full story of this era, our feature on Santiago Bernabéu traces the 35-year presidency of the visionary who ushered the club into the modern era.

During the 1950s and 1960s, the jersey bore no visible sponsors or equipment manufacturer logos (commercial contracts did not exist in this form). Iconic images of Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, and Francisco Gento show a clean white jersey, featuring only the crest on the chest. A simplicity that, in retrospect, contributes to the visual appeal of the photographs from that era.

It was in the 1970s that the jersey gradually began to take on a more commercial character. Equipment manufacturers started adding their logos, and the idea of a sponsor on the chest began to gain traction in European soccer. Real Madrid was one of the last major clubs to give in on this issue, out of a commitment to the visual purity of its historic jersey.

Sponsors who left their mark on their era

Real Madrid’s first jersey sponsor appeared in 1982: Zanussi, an Italian home appliance brand. Longtime fans remember this with a mix of nostalgia and regret, as that first sponsor was seen as the end of an era of visual purity. The following season, Reny Picot (dairy products) took over, followed by Parmalat in the 1990s, another major Italian food brand.

The following sponsors: Otaysa, Teka (starting in 1992 and for several seasons), then Realmadrid.com briefly in the late 1990s, before Siemens Mobile came on board in 2002 during the Galácticos era. A period when the Real Madrid jersey became one of the most valuable advertising platforms in world soccer. The German brand paid several million euros a year to appear on the players’ chests.

After Siemens, the jersey featured BenQ Siemens (2006–2007) and bwin (2007–2013), before Emirates came on board in 2013. The Emirati airline became the club’s main jersey sponsor, with a contract that has been renewed several times and remains in effect today. The amounts of the successive contracts are among the highest in world soccer.

The arrival of Adidas as an equipment supplier

Adidas became Real Madrid’s official kit supplier in 1998, taking over from Kelme, which had outfitted the club for several seasons. This partnership between the German brand with the three stripes and the Madrid club is one of the most enduring and iconic partnerships in world soccer. More than 25 years later, Adidas still outfits the club and has even extended its contract several times for increasingly longer periods.

The design of Real Madrid’s Adidas jerseys follows a specific set of guidelines: maintaining the dominant white color of the home jersey, incorporating the brand’s signature three stripes (usually on the shoulders, sometimes on the sides), and offering a subtle variation each season for fans. The away and third jerseys, on the other hand, allow for more creative freedom.

Adidas also contributed technical innovations. These included breathable Climalite and later Climacool fabrics, quick-drying technology, and cuts tailored to the needs of modern professional players. These innovations drove the evolution of the jersey, transforming it into both a high-performance sports garment and a commercial product that sells millions of units worldwide each season.

Home and alternate jerseys: from understated to bold

Historically, Real Madrid’s away jersey was most often blue (dark or light) or gray, in contrast to the white of the home jersey. For a long time, there were few dramatic changes to this relatively classic design. It wasn’t until the 2000s, with the rise of sports marketing, that away and third jerseys became full-fledged merchandise items in their own right, featuring increasingly bold designs.

The black jersey has become a recurring signature of recent seasons, particularly for the third kit. This color—unusual for a club historically associated with white—has become a staple in the 2010s and 2020s. It is particularly popular with younger generations and allows Adidas to offer more contemporary designs, sometimes featuring gold or pale pink accents depending on the season.

The third kits also feature cultural references to Madrid (the colors of the city’s flag, patterns inspired by local architecture) or to the Madridista identity (stars symbolizing European Cup victories). Each season brings something new, making them prized collector’s items among fans.

The Galacticos Era and the Globalization of the Jersey

The arrival of the Galácticos starting in 2000 (Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário, Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo) coincided with the global expansion of Real Madrid’s jersey. Sales skyrocketed internationally, particularly in Asia and Latin America. The jersey with “Beckham 23” on it became one of the best-selling jerseys in the world as soon as the Englishman arrived in 2003. To understand the business strategy behind this globalization, our feature on Real Madrid’s Galácticos details the entire process.

Cristiano Ronaldo followed suit with his CR7 No. 7 jersey, which became one of the best-selling sports products worldwide between 2009 and 2018. The club opened official stores in Asia, signed international distribution agreements, and turned the jersey into a true lifestyle product that appealed to more than just its long-time fans.

Revenue generated by sales of jerseys and other merchandise has become a major source of income, directly contributing to the club’s ability to sign new stars. It’s a virtuous cycle that other major European clubs are trying to replicate, with varying degrees of success.

Contemporary jerseys and modern editions

Real Madrid’s recent jerseys maintain a sense of visual continuity (white remains a staple) while incorporating technical and design updates each season. Limited editions, reissues of historic jerseys, and commemorative jerseys (such as those marking European Cup anniversaries) have become key marketing tools.

The arrival of stars like Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham, and, more recently, Kylian Mbappé in 2024 has kept the appeal of personalized jerseys alive for new generations. Sales of Mbappé’s No. 9 and then No. 10 jerseys (the number he has worn since the 2025–2026 season) are among the highest in the club’s history. To understand the Frenchman’s arrival at the club, our feature on Mbappé at Real Madrid traces the entire story.

The player versions (made with the same technical fabrics worn by the pros) and fan versions (with a looser fit and different fabrics) are now available side by side in all official stores, at different prices. Retro jerseys from major seasons (1998 Champions League, 2002 Centennial, 2014 Décima, 2017–2018 European treble) constitute a separate line that is particularly popular with collectors.

Key Takeaways

• Real Madrid's jersey has been white since 1902, a choice initially inspired by England's Corinthian FC, which the Padrós brothers discovered during their travels.
• The crest was awarded the royal crown in 1920 when King Alfonso XIII granted the club the title “Real.”
• The crown was removed during the Second Spanish Republic (1931–1939), then restored under Franco with the addition of a purple band.
• The club's first jersey sponsor was Zanussi in 1982, followed by Reny Picot, Parmalat, Otaysa, Teka, Siemens Mobile, BenQ Siemens, bwin, and Emirates since 2013.
• Adidas has been the club’s official kit supplier since 1998, taking over from Kelme, in one of the most enduring kit sponsorship partnerships in world soccer.
• The Galacticos era (beginning in 2000) marked the global expansion of Real Madrid jersey sales, which have ranked among the world’s top sellers every season since then.
• Away and alternate jerseys (especially black ones) have become commercial products in their own right, featuring increasingly bold designs.

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