The sight of Ronaldinho in a Ronaldinho Paris Saint Germain jersey is basically a glitch in the matrix for modern football fans. We are so used to seeing him in the Blaugrana stripes of Barcelona or the yellow of Brazil that his two-year stint in the French capital feels like a fever dream. But honestly? It was the most important era of his career. It was raw. It was unpolished. It was Paris before the oil money, before the Galacticos, and before the world knew that a human being could make a football look like it was attached to his feet by a magnet.
Most people today hunt for these jerseys because they represent "The Gaucho" in his infancy. You've probably seen the grainy clips of him destroying Marseille or scoring that impossible lob against Guingamp. He wasn't the refined Ballon d'Or winner yet. He was a kid with a ponytail and a smile that could light up the Eiffel Tower, playing for a PSG side that was struggling to find its identity.
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The Number 21 vs. The Number 10
Here is the thing that trips up most collectors. If you are looking for a "real" Ronaldinho Paris Saint Germain jersey from his debut season in 2001, he wasn't wearing the number 10.
That shirt belonged to Jay-Jay Okocha.
Imagine that. Two of the most creative, "street" players in history sharing a locker room. Ronaldinho actually wore number 21 during that 2001-2002 campaign. It looks weird to see it now, kinda like seeing Michael Jordan in a 45 jersey. It was only after Okocha left for Bolton Wanderers in 2002 that Ronaldinho inherited the iconic 10.
If you find a 2001-02 home kit with "Ronaldinho 10" on the back, it’s technically a historical inaccuracy, though plenty of fans did it anyway back then. The 2002-2003 season is where the 10 truly became his, and that’s the shirt that usually commands the highest prices on the vintage market.
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Design Details: The Hechter Legacy
The jerseys from this era (produced by Nike) are peak early-2000s aesthetic. We’re talking about the "Hechter" design—that classic thick red vertical stripe down the middle, flanked by white borders on a deep navy base.
- 2001-2002 Home: This featured a slightly offset red stripe and the "Opel" sponsor. This is the "Okocha era" transition kit.
- 2002-2003 Home: This one is the holy grail. The sponsor changed to "Thomson." It’s a cleaner look, and it’s the jersey Ronaldinho wore during his final, most dominant months in France before moving to Catalonia.
- The 2025 Reissue: Interestingly, PSG and Nike recently leaned into this nostalgia. In August 2025, they reissued the 2004-2005 "Total 90" jersey. Even though Ronaldinho had already left for Barça by '04, he was the face of the marketing campaign alongside Pauleta. It’s a bit of revisionist history by the club, but fans ate it up because that T90 template is legendary.
Why the "Thomson" Sponsor is Such a Vibe
In the world of kit collecting, sponsors matter. The "Opel" jerseys are classic, sure. But the "Thomson" era just feels more... Ronaldinho. It was during this period that he became a global superstar.
He was essentially too big for the league at the time. Ligue 1 wasn't the powerhouse it is today, and PSG was often mid-table. Yet, here was this Brazilian wizard doing things that didn't make sense. If you own an original Ronaldinho Paris Saint Germain jersey with the Thomson logo, you’re holding a piece of the moment when French football realized it was hosting a once-in-a-century talent.
Spotting the Fakes in 2026
The market for vintage kits is absolutely flooded right now. Because the 2001-2003 era jerseys are so simple in design, they are incredibly easy to forge.
If you're hunting on eBay or Grailed, look at the inner neck tags. Authentic Nike jerseys from 2002 will have a specific "Made in" tag—usually Portugal or Morocco for the European market—and the embroidery on the PSG crest should be dense, not messy. The "Thomson" or "Opel" logos weren't heat-pressed like modern shirts; they were often felt-like (flock) or sublimated into the fabric. If it feels like a cheap plastic sticker, run away.
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Also, check the font. The Ligue 1 numbering in the early 2000s had a very specific, rounded 3D effect. Most "retro" remakes you find for $30 on social media use a generic block font that looks nothing like what Ronnie actually wore at the Parc des Princes.
How to Value and Style These Kits
Prices for an original 2002-03 Ronaldinho shirt in "Excellent" condition are currently hovering between $300 and $550. If it’s the long-sleeve version? Add another $150. Long sleeves were Ronaldinho's signature look, especially during those cold Parisian winters.
As for styling, we’ve moved past the "only wear it to the gym" phase. These are lifestyle pieces now. The deep navy and bold red of the PSG kits work surprisingly well with baggy denim or even a trench coat—very much "Blokecore" but with a bit more soul.
Actionable Next Steps for Collectors:
- Verify the Year: Double-check if the player-name matches the jersey's season. Remember: 2001 = #21, 2002 = #10.
- Texture Check: Feel the sponsor. Real vintage "Thomson" shirts usually have a fuzzy, felt-like texture.
- Check the 2025 Reissue: if you want the look without the $500 price tag, look for the official 2025 Nike x PSG T90 "Legend" reissue. It’s a modern fit but carries the same soul.
- Wash with Care: If you do snag an original, never, ever put it in the dryer. The flocking on the sponsor will crack and peel instantly. Cold wash, hang dry only.