Few nations blend style, flair, and footballing heritage quite like France. The bleu, blanc, rouge has graced some of the most memorable tournaments in history, from home glory at Euro ’84 to the euphoric World Cup of ’98. Each France shirt tells a story: of players, moments, and a national identity defined by elegance and excellence.
Here’s our ranking of France’s most iconic retro kits of all time.
1. France 1998 Home Kit
If there’s one France shirt everyone remembers, it’s this one. The Adidas 1998 home kit captured the essence of French pride, royal blue with bold red and white stripes across the chest, perfectly balanced and instantly recognisable.
Worn by Zinedine Zidane as he scored twice in the World Cup final at the Stade de France, this kit became a symbol of national unity and football immortality. Its timeless design has been reissued several times, but nothing compares to the original glory.
👉 Shop France Retro 1998 Home Kit
2. France 1984 Home Kit
Before Zidane, there was Michel Platini, and before ’98 there was Euro ’84. The 1984 Adidas home kit remains one of the cleanest and most elegant in football history.
The shirt’s royal blue base, white collar, and subtle red trim perfectly mirrored the French flag while maintaining simplicity and sophistication. Platini’s nine goals in that tournament sealed the shirt’s legendary status.
3. France 2000 Home Kit
France entered Euro 2000 as world champions, and they looked it. The shirt carried over the ’98 design but added a refined red collar and gold detailing, symbolising the team’s dominance.
It became the visual identity of a golden era: Zidane, Henry, Thuram, and Barthez combining artistry with efficiency to win back-to-back major trophies.
4. France 1982 World Cup Kit
Subtle, classy, and worn during one of the greatest semi-finals ever played, France vs. West Germany in Seville. The 1982 kit featured lighter blue tones and a delicate red-and-white shoulder stripe, epitomising 80s Adidas minimalism.
Though France fell heartbreakingly short, the shirt remains an icon of a team that redefined attacking football.
5. France 1978 Home Kit
In the late 70s, France transitioned into modern football with a new visual identity. The 1978 Adidas home shirt introduced the famous three-stripe sleeves and the iconic FFF rooster crest, symbols that still define France’s look today.
It was worn by a young Michel Platini at his first World Cup, marking the start of a new footballing chapter.
6. France 1996 Away Kit
An underrated gem from the mid-90s, this away shirt flipped the colour palette, white base with blue and red bands across the chest. It carried that perfect pre-’98 vibe of optimism and freshness, later influencing France’s modern away kit designs.
Its clean simplicity and association with the rebirth of the national team make it a true collector’s favourite.
7. France 2006 Home Kit
By 2006, France’s shirts had evolved into sleek, body-fitted Puma designs. The home kit worn by Zidane and Henry in Germany was minimalist yet full of emotion, especially as Zidane bid farewell in that unforgettable World Cup final.
It’s a shirt that represents both grace and heartbreak, the final act of one of football’s greatest players.
8. France 1994 Home Kit
Bright royal blue, red sleeve piping, and a modernised tricolour chest band, this kit bridged France’s old-school Adidas heritage with its 90s resurgence. It’s one of those “lost era” shirts that feels nostalgic precisely because it preceded glory.
Today, it’s a favourite among collectors who love 90s kits with personality and boldness.
9. France 1986 Away Kit
The clean white 1986 away kit, with minimalist red-and-blue trim, became synonymous with Platini’s final World Cup. It’s pure 80s elegance, no gimmicks, just refinement and confidence.
Though overshadowed by Maradona’s magic that year, this shirt remains a timeless reminder of French finesse.
10. France 2010 Home Kit
A modern classic in retrospect, the 2010 shirt by Adidas revisited the vintage 1980s aesthetics, thicker horizontal chest bands, royal blue tones, and gold accents. While the tournament was a disaster, the shirt itself was a nod to France’s design roots and remains one of the best retro-inspired looks of the modern era.
From Platini’s precision in ’84 to Zidane’s brilliance in ’98, France’s retro kits trace the nation’s footballing identity... elegance, heritage, and that unmistakable bleu flair. Whether you collect for nostalgia or style, every France shirt carries a story stitched into its seams.
💬 Which one is your favourite, Zidane’s ’98, Platini’s ’84, or Henry’s 2000?
