Boca Juniors, River Plate and Argentine passion
Blue and gold against white with a red stripe: the Argentine clubs are often summed up by the rivalry between Boca Juniors and River Plate, the two giants of Buenos Aires. Here you will find their home and away shirts signed by adidas, as well as retro pieces from Copa Football dedicated to Diego Maradona, from the 1995 shirt to embroidered t-shirts and socks sporting the number ten.
The Superclásico is also experienced in the stands.
Boca Juniors: the blue and gold of the Bombonera
Boca Juniors was founded on 3 April 1905 by young descendants of Italian immigrants from the port district of La Boca. According to tradition, its blue and gold colours come from the flag of a Swedish ship that entered the port, and they were permanently adopted in 1907. The club plays at the Bombonera, officially the Alberto J. Armando stadium, which opened in 1940, with its almost vertical stands vibrating to the chants. Boca has won six Copa Libertadores, in 1977, 1978, 2000, 2001, 2003, and 2007, as well as three Intercontinental Cups. Its home shirt remains true to the yellow horizontal band on a blue background.
Other clubs from the Americas and beyond
Argentinian clubs are alongside other pages by country. American Clubs gather franchises from MLS, from LA Galaxy to Inter Miami, Portuguese Clubs include Benfica and FC Porto, and Dutch Clubs feature Ajax and PSV. Brazilian Flamengo and Mexican Club America are grouped on the Other Clubs page, and all teams outside the major European leagues can be found on the parent page Other clubs.
River Plate: the red band and the Monumental
Founded on 25 May 1901, River Plate was born in the same neighbourhood of La Boca as its rival, before moving to the north of Buenos Aires, to Núñez. Its white shirt featuring a diagonal red band is one of the most recognisable in football. The club plays at the Monumental, which was inaugurated in 1938, and has won four Copa Libertadores, in 1986, 1996, 2015, and 2018; the last one, won against Boca in a return final relocated to Madrid, remains in everyone's memory. River also won the Intercontinental Cup in 1986, and shares a common kit supplier with Boca, adidas.
Maradona and the retro Copa de Boca Juniors shirts
Diego Maradona wore the Boca shirt during two spells: in 1981, the year he led the club to the Metropolitano championship title, and then from 1995 to 1997, to finish his career. His last match on 25 October 1997, was a Superclásico won at the Monumental. The Copa Football pieces celebrate this link: the Copa Maradona Boca Juniors 1995 shirt replicates the kit from his comeback, the polo and t-shirt with embroidery feature the vintage badge, and the socks bear the number ten. A captain's t-shirt and a retro t-shirt stamped with the ten complete this range designed for nostalgic fans.
Good times for a Boca or River shirt
The shirts of both Argentinian clubs are less available in Europe than those from major leagues, so it’s best to aim for the right timings. The Black Friday and the end-of-year holidays are great for gifting a South American football fan, to spot in the Team Promotions. The winter sales, followed by the French Days in spring on the Teams page, offer other opportunities, before the summer sales and the return of training push previous kits to Clearance.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Boca Juniors called that?
Boca comes from the La Boca neighbourhood, at the mouth of the Riachuelo, where the club was born. Juniors, an English word, was added by the founders to give a distinguished touch to the name, at a time when British influence marked Argentinian football.
What does the nickname Xeneize given to Boca mean?
Xeneize means Genoese in the Ligurian dialect: the nickname reminds that the founders and a good portion of La Boca's inhabitants were immigrants from Genoa. Boca supporters proudly claim it.
Why is River Plate nicknamed the Millonarios?
The nickname dates back to the 1930s when River signed several players at a high price, including striker Bernabé Ferreyra. It has remained since and the club has made it a source of pride rather than mockery.
Is the Copa Maradona shirt suitable for playing?
It is designed to be worn daily rather than on the pitch: its cut and vintage collar prioritise style. For playing, it’s better to choose a current adidas club shirt, which has technical fabric that wicks sweat better.
Where does the name Superclásico come from?
The term refers to the most anticipated fixture in Argentinian football, between the two most popular clubs in the country. Born in the same neighbourhood, Boca and River have seen their duel evolve into a social and sporting rivalry that grips Buenos Aires over time.
