It was the white and purple. Honestly, that’s what stuck. When Adidas dropped the Real Madrid jersey 2022-23 season kit, it didn't just feel like another annual update meant to squeeze money out of fans. It felt heavy. It felt like history. If you look at the shirt closely, you see those subtle, embossed "RM" logos patterned into the fabric, which sounds like a small detail until you’re standing in the sun at the Bernabéu and the light hits it just right. It was a throwback. Specifically, it was a love letter to the club's 120th anniversary.
People forget how much pressure was on this specific design. Madrid had just come off a season where they basically defied the laws of physics in the Champions League. You remember those comebacks against PSG, Chelsea, and City? Yeah, the 2021-22 shirt saw those, but the Real Madrid jersey 2022 had to carry the "Decimocuarta" legacy into a new era. It had to look like a champion's kit before the season even kicked off.
The collar that divided the fanbase
Let's talk about the polo collar.
Some people hated it. They said it was too "grandpa vibes" or that it got in the way during a high-intensity match. But for the purists? It was everything. It featured purple and black detailing on the neckline, a direct nod to the iconic purple that used to be a staple of the Madrid home kits in the 80s and 90s. If you grew up watching the Quinta del Buitre or even the early Galactico era, that purple hit a very specific chord of nostalgia.
Adidas designer Inigo Turner basically confirmed that the goal was to blend the past with the future. They used a recycled polyester pique fabric, which sounds fancy but basically just means it’s breathable without feeling like a cheap plastic bag.
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It's weirdly heavy for a modern kit, too. If you’ve ever held the "Authentic" version—the one the players actually wear with the Heat.Rdy tech—it feels significantly different from the "Fan" version. The badges are heat-transferred on the player version to reduce weight and friction, while the fan version has that classic embroidery. Personally, I always prefer the embroidered crest. It lasts longer in the wash, and there's something satisfying about feeling the texture of the crown and the stitching.
Why the purple away kit was a sleeper hit
While everyone was obsessing over the home white, the away Real Madrid jersey 2022 was quietly doing something very cool. It was light purple. Not like a "washed out" purple, but a vibrant, almost electric lavender.
The graphic on it was this blurred, tonal geometric pattern. It looked like something out of a 90s arcade game, but in a way that actually worked on a football pitch. Most people didn't realize that the pattern was inspired by the atmosphere of the city of Madrid itself on match days. It was a bit more experimental than the home kit, which gave the club some breathing room to be "modern" while the home kit stayed "classic."
The third kit that year was black and lime green. A bit polarizing, sure. It was inspired by the new look of the renovated Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The metallic lines were meant to mimic the steel outer shell of the ground. It was fine, I guess, but it never had the soul of the home white or the lavender away.
Technical specs for the nerds
If you’re looking to buy one of these now on the resale market—which is booming, by the way—you need to know what you’re looking at.
- Material: 100% recycled polyester.
- Tech: Heat.Rdy for the pros, AeroReady for the rest of us.
- Color Code: Officially "Cloud White" with "Light Purple" accents.
- Sustainability: It was part of the "Primegreen" series, which was Adidas' big push to end plastic waste.
The Benzema and Vini factor
You can’t talk about the Real Madrid jersey 2022 without talking about Karim Benzema. This was the shirt he wore right after winning his Ballon d'Or. There is a very specific image of him with the captain's armband over the long-sleeve version of this kit that just looks iconic.
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And then there’s Vinícius Júnior. This was the season he really solidified himself as a global superstar. Seeing him fly down the wing with those purple stripes on his shoulders... it just fit. The kit became a symbol of a transition. It was the bridge between the old guard of Modrić and Kroos and the new "rockstar" era of the club.
Most people get wrong that the kit was just a "copy" of the 2002 centenary shirt. It wasn't. While the 2002 shirt was legendary because of that Zidane volley, the 2022 version had more intricate textures. The button-up collar was also more structured than the 2002 version. It was a more sophisticated evolution.
How to spot a fake (Because there are millions)
If you're hunting for a Real Madrid jersey 2022 on eBay or Grailed today, you have to be careful. The fakes are getting scarily good, but they usually mess up the collar.
On the authentic Adidas shirt, the purple and black lines on the collar are perfectly crisp. On fakes, the stitching often bleeds together. Also, check the inner neck tag. It should have a small "120 Años" logo printed inside. If that logo is blurry or missing, walk away.
Another giveaway is the "RM" embossed pattern. On the real deal, it’s subtle. You shouldn't see it from ten feet away. It’s a "if you know, you know" kind of detail. If the pattern is super shiny or feels like it’s printed on top of the fabric rather than woven into it, it’s a knockoff.
The longevity of the 2022 design
Football shirts usually have a shelf life of about 12 months before they’re shoved into the back of a closet. But the Real Madrid jersey 2022 has stayed relevant. Maybe it’s because it was the last "simple" kit before things started getting a bit more chaotic with the gold accents in later years.
It represents a time when Madrid felt invincible.
It’s also surprisingly versatile. Because it has a collar and a fairly clean design, it’s one of the few football shirts you can actually wear out in public without looking like you just walked off a training pitch. It’s got that "blokecore" appeal that’s been taking over fashion.
What to do if you want to collect one now
Don't just buy the first one you see. Prices for the Real Madrid jersey 2022 are actually rising because it's considered a "classic" anniversary year.
- Check the product code: Every Adidas jersey has a small tag inside with a 6-digit alphanumeric code. For the 2022 home shirt, it should be H18499. Google that code. If it brings up a different shirt or no results, it's a fake.
- Look for the "LFP" patch: The La Liga patch on the sleeve should have a slight 3D texture.
- Consider the player nameset: A "Benzema 9" or "Modrić 10" will hold value much better than a blank kit. Just make sure the font is the official Real Madrid 2022-23 font, which was slightly rounded and had the club crest at the bottom of the numbers.
Moving forward with your collection
If you’re serious about football kits, the Real Madrid jersey 2022 is a mandatory entry. It captures a specific moment where the most successful club in the world decided to stop chasing trends and just embrace being "The Greatest."
To keep your jersey in top shape, never, ever put it in a dryer. The heat will absolutely destroy the sponsors and the heat-pressed logos. Wash it inside out on a cold cycle and hang it to dry. If you’re buying it as an investment, keep the tags on. A "New With Tags" (NWT) 120th-anniversary Madrid shirt will likely be worth a small fortune in another ten years.
Take a look at the stitching on the hem. If it's double-stitched and straight, you've got a winner. If it's frayed or uneven, you're looking at a replica or a low-quality knockoff. Focus on the details, and you'll end up with a piece of history that looks as good today as it did when it debuted at the Bernabéu.