The 1990 shirt is the one
Adidas dressed Colombia from 1988 to 1990, and the shirt from that period is the highest rated in the country’s history among collectors, ahead of everything the team has worn since. Yellow, block print red numbering, the 10 on the back belonging to Carlos Valderrama. Adidas has since released an official remake, which makes it one of the rare classic South American shirts you can buy new rather than hunt second hand.
Context helps explain the affection. Italia 90 was Colombia’s first knockout appearance, ended by Cameroon in Naples on 23 June, 2-1 after extra time, with two Roger Milla goals. The second came from a dribble Rene Higuita attempted far outside his box, which Milla read. Higuita called it a mistake the size of a house, and it is where the Loco nickname stuck for good.
Higuita’s goalkeeper shirts, the collector’s footnote
Higuita wore three different Adidas goalkeeper designs during that single tournament: a grey chevron pattern against the United Arab Emirates, the design collectors call Space Invaders against Yugoslavia and West Germany, and another grey arrow print against Cameroon. If you are shopping for the Higuita era rather than the Valderrama era, that is three separate shirts, not one.
The scorpion kick everyone remembers came later, at Wembley on 6 September 1995 against England, and by then Colombia wore Umbro. It is a common mix up: the scorpion shirt is not the 1990 Adidas one.
1994, and a shirt that carries more than football
Colombia went to USA 94 as one of the favourites and went out bottom of their group. In the match against the United States, defender Andres Escobar turned a cross into his own net. He was killed in Medellin in the early hours of 2 July 1994, five days after the elimination, at 27. More than 120,000 people attended the funeral. Umbro made that shirt, and it is worth knowing what it represents before buying or gifting one.
What the archive costs, and the current kit
Colombia’s second hand catalogue is affordable by big nation standards. Shirts from the late 2010s start around 25 dollars in graded condition and the range tops out near 140. Alongside that, the current 2026 Adidas kit is in normal US distribution: a yellow home shirt released on 6 November 2025 covered in a butterfly print that references Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and a navy away from 20 March 2026.
Colombia won group K at the 2026 World Cup ahead of Portugal, beat Ghana 1-0 in the round of 32, and went out to Switzerland on penalties in Vancouver after a goalless game. That is a second consecutive World Cup exit on penalties.
| What | Detail | US price |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 home, Adidas | Official remake available | New, in distribution |
| 2026 home, Adidas | Yellow, butterfly print | In US distribution |
| Late 2010s originals | Graded, single items | From about 25 USD |
| Archive ceiling | Rare items | Around 140 USD |
Related: the current Colombia shirts.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most iconic Colombia shirt?
The 1990 Adidas home shirt worn by Carlos Valderrama at Italia 90. It is the highest rated Colombia shirt among collectors and Adidas has released an official remake, so it is one of the few classic South American kits available new.
Is the scorpion kick shirt the 1990 one?
No. Rene Higuita’s scorpion kick came at Wembley on 6 September 1995 against England, by which point Colombia were supplied by Umbro. The 1990 kit was Adidas, and Higuita wore three different goalkeeper designs during that tournament alone.
How much does a vintage Colombia shirt cost?
Graded originals from the late 2010s start around 25 dollars, and the archive tops out near 140, which is affordable compared with the bigger national teams.
What does the 2026 Colombia shirt look like?
The home shirt, released on 6 November 2025, is yellow with an all over butterfly print referencing Gabriel Garcia Marquez, with blue and red accents. The away, out on 20 March 2026, is navy with a vertical pattern in a darker blue green.