ADIDAS PRODUCT CODE
This is widely the most common way to check if your Adidas shirt is the real deal or not. Since the early 00s, Adidas has introduced SKU code tags on their football shirts and it widely common for modern shirts. It consists of a 6 digit code and includes the manufacturing date below it too.
So it's very important to check it on any football shirt you get. Here are few photos of the code on a legit shirt from our store below.
However, it is very common in fake shirts to have a SKU code tag too. Be cautious and always make time to check them out before making a purchase on any Adidas shirt. The very common codes used on fake shirts are 'CW1526' and 'G87445' — the first one belongs to a 'Columbia 2018 Home' shirt and the second one to a 'Germany 2014 Home' shirt.
90s Adidas shirts were manufactured in Tunisia, Slovenia, Portugal and the UK. Early 00s shirts were based in Thailand, Portugal and China whereas most of the Modern Adidas football shirts are being manufactured in Cambodia, Vietnam & China.
Here are some pictures below of the two codes being used on fake shirts we have come across so far.
ADIDAS LOGO
Secondly, it is very important to check the Adidas logo on the shirt.
Authentic Adidas logos are characterized by precise stitching or high-quality heat transfer, sharp edges, and consistent font proportions. In contrast, fake shirts often feature logos with uneven spacing, misshapen letters, or poor alignment. The texture and finish of the logo can also be telling—authentic versions usually have a clean, professional look without bubbling, peeling, or misprints.
OLD ADIDAS SHIRTS
The most difficult Adidas shirts to legit check are the 1980s and 1990s era as they require close attention to several vintage-specific details.
First, examine the fabric and overall construction — original jerseys from this era were typically made with thicker, more durable polyester blends, often featuring subtle patterns or textures unique to the time. The adidas trefoil logo (used until the early 1990s) should be carefully inspected for accuracy in shape, proportion, and stitching or print quality. Labels inside the collar are also telling; genuine vintage tags often display 'Made in' information, sizing in multiple languages, and specific fonts that counterfeiters rarely replicate accurately.
Finally, compare the jersey to known authentic versions from catalog scans, match footage, or trusted collector sources from specific Facebook's Football Shirt Legit Check groups — as reference images can help verify everything from sponsor placement to number font.
Here are some samples of tags of football shirts from the 80s and 90s below.
CUT/WORN OFF TAGS
There are some cases where the previous owners of the shirts cut off either the wash care tags or the neck tag due to irritation of their placement. In such cases, there are a few chances we can identify the authenticity of such shirts from the stitching, logo placement and fabric used.
Do reach out to us if you have doubts regarding such shirts. We will try our best to help you verify the authenticity of your shirt.