No flaws found. The maroon is deep and even, and the woven geometric camouflage pattern shows up beautifully in raking light. The fluorescent orange MESSI 10 printing is complete, without a single corner lifting — the usual weak point on these Nike prints (close-up in photo 5). The Champions League patches, the « 5 » badge and the RESPECT patch are intact. Rakuten sponsor solid and supple, UNICEF on the back crisp. No bobbling, no holes, no stains.
| Size | S |
| Manufacturer | Nike (Dri-FIT technology) |
| Season | 2017-2018 (league and cup double season) |
| Version | Maroon third, woven camouflage pattern, orange details |
| Sponsors | Rakuten (front), UNICEF (back) |
| Printing | Messi No.10, integrated FCB crests |
| Patches | UEFA Champions League (starball) + « 5 » badge + RESPECT |
| Auth. code | 847253-683 independently verifiable |
Unsure about the size? Check my vintage football shirt size guide.
100% AUTHENTIC
✦ Authenticity guaranteed for life
Item checked by hand in my authentication workshop. If an item bought from me is ever identified as a unofficial piece, I refund it in full. Guarantee with no expiry date.
- Original Nike inner label photographed (photo 4): model reference 847253-683, size S, full barcode — a code you can cross-check yourself online
- Five-colour embroidered FCB crest with black outline (photo 3): dense stitching, St George's cross and Catalan bars perfectly defined
- Right sleeve: UEFA Champions League patch together with the « 5 » badge, reserved for clubs who have won the competition five times. Only a handful of clubs in the world wear it — and it dates the shirt precisely
- Official printing with miniature FCB crests built into the « 1 » and the « 0 » (photo 5), and the word « BARÇA » woven tonally at the bottom of the back
- Full method: authentication guide
🛠️ Workshop note — The Champions League patches change everything on this shirt. Without them it's a retail third. With them it's a piece dated to the 2017-2018 European campaign — and the « 5 » badge confirms we're after 2015 and before a sixth title. A marker I check every time.
📖 2017-2018: the almost perfect season
This was Barcelona's first season after Neymar left. Everyone announced the end of a cycle. The result: a league and Copa del Rey double and a near-immaculate league campaign, carried by a Messi at his absolute peak. This maroon camouflage third, released the same year, is one of the boldest designs Nike ever drew for the club.
📅 May 2018 — Spanish champions with a single defeat. Barcelona went unbeaten through La Liga until matchday 37, before losing at Levante (5-4) on 13 May. One defeat in 38 matches: one of the most complete seasons in the club's recent history.
📅 21 April 2018 — Copa del Rey final: Barcelona 5-0 Sevilla. A demolition, with Messi among the scorers. The double was sealed.
📅 Messi, European Golden Shoe. He finished as La Liga's top scorer with 34 goals and took the Golden Shoe. At 30, he was carrying the whole team — and that's the No.10 on your back.
👑 The camouflage third — deep maroon, geometric pattern woven into the knit, fluorescent orange accents on the shoulders and printing. It's a shirt that looks like no other Barcelona kit, and that's exactly why collectors chase it today.
❓ Frequently asked questions about this shirt
Is the shirt 100% authentic?
Yes. Original Nike inner label with reference 847253-683 photographed (photo 4), embroidered FCB crest, official printing with crests built into the digits, UEFA Champions League, « 5 » and RESPECT patches to specification. Real photos of the exact item sold, lifetime authenticity guarantee.
What does the « 5 » badge on the sleeve mean?
It's UEFA's « multiple winner » badge: it indicates the club has won the European Cup / Champions League five times (1992, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2015). Only clubs with at least five titles are entitled to wear it alongside the starball patch. It's also an excellent dating marker.
Why is UNICEF on the back rather than the front?
Barcelona wore UNICEF on the chest from 2006 to 2011 — paying the charity themselves, a first in football. When the club signed its first paying sponsors, UNICEF moved to the back below the number, where it still sits. So it's entirely normal on a 2017-2018 shirt.
How does this S fit?
The flat measurements are listed above: 48 cm pit to pit and 70 cm in length. Nike shirts of this generation have a slim cut, so this S works as a modern S worn close to the body. Measure a shirt you already own and compare — that's the safest check.
How much is shipping and how long does it take?
Dispatched within 48 working hours with tracked Colissimo delivery (€5.99 in mainland France, free from €99.99). International rates and delivery times are detailed in my shipping FAQ. 14-day returns if unworn.