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Argentina 1986 Home Shirt: Maradona's World Cup

Le Coq Sportif, sky blue and white stripes, and the shirt worn when one player took over a tournament.

By Kickio· 8 September 2026· 6 min read

The short answer

  • The Argentina 1986 home shirt was made by Le Coq Sportif and worn as Argentina won the World Cup in Mexico.
  • Diego Maradona wore it in the final against West Germany in the Estadio Azteca.
  • For the quarter-final against England, Argentina wore a lighter blue shirt sourced in Mexico, not this one.
  • Genuine 1986 originals are scarce; official retro reissues are far more common and worth much less.

There are World Cup shirts, and then there is the one Diego Maradona wore in Mexico in 1986.

Quick facts

  • Country: Argentina
  • Type: Home shirt
  • Worn: 1986 World Cup
  • Manufacturer: Le Coq Sportif
  • Sponsor: None (international shirt)
  • Design: Sky blue and white vertical stripes with the AFA crest
  • Why it is a grail: Worn in the final in Mexico City by the most talked-about team in World Cup history

The design

The albiceleste stripes are one of football''s oldest identities, and Le Coq Sportif kept the 1986 version simple: broad sky blue and white stripes, a plain collar, the AFA crest on the chest, and the manufacturer''s logo. No sponsor, no graphic, no gimmick. The interest is in the details - the exact stripe width, the collar shape and the fabric - which is also where reproductions usually give themselves away.

The tournament

Argentina won the 1986 World Cup, beating West Germany 3-2 in the final in the Estadio Azteca, and Maradona was the reason. His quarter-final against England is the most replayed match of the era for two goals scored four minutes apart - one with his hand, one after running through half the England side.

A footnote that collectors care about: for that England match Argentina wore a lighter blue alternative shirt sourced locally in Mexico, not the standard away kit. The home striped shirt is the one worn in the final.

Afterlife

Le Coq Sportif have produced official retro versions, and Argentina''s 2022 World Cup win renewed demand for everything Argentine. Genuine 1986 shirts in wearable condition are now genuinely scarce.

How much is the Argentina 1986 shirt worth?

Original 1986 Le Coq Sportif shirts sit well above the price of retro reissues, and match-issue or player-issue examples are in a different market again. Recorded sales and current listings for this shirt on Kickio are shown below.

How to spot a fake Argentina 1986 shirt

  • Labels. Period Le Coq Sportif neck and care labelling, with correct 1980s sizing. Modern tags mean a reissue at best.
  • Crest. The AFA crest on originals is embroidered with period detail; reproductions often simplify the sun and lettering.
  • Stripes. Check stripe width and how the stripes meet the shoulder seams against known reference photos.
  • Fabric. 1980s polyester has weight and a slight shine. Soft, thin, modern-feeling fabric is a red flag.

How does the Argentina 1986 shirt fit?

Mid-1980s cut: boxy, short in the body, roomy in the sleeve. Expect a period Large to feel closer to a modern Medium in length. Measurements matter more than the label.

Why it stays on the Grail List

It is the shirt attached to the single most famous individual performance in World Cup history. Nothing else needs to be said for it.

Sources

Previous on the Grail List

Denmark 1986 Home Shirt: Danish Dynamite in Hummel Pinstripes

Next on the Grail List

Fiorentina 1998-99 Home Shirt: Purple, Fila and Nintendo

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