The making of West Germany’s iconic 1990 football shirt

In July 1990, West Germany won the World Cup for the third time, beating Argentina 1-0 in Rome.

The shirt the victorious players were wearing that night has become one of the most sought-after by classic kit collectors.

With its distinctive black, red and gold zigzag across the chest, West Germany’s 1990 shirt was a game changer in the world of football kits and helped usher in a new era of bold designs.

In 2025, Guy Kilty spoke to the shirt’s designer, Ina Franzmann, about how she created the famous kit.

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(Photo: West German midfielder Lothar Matthaeus and forward Pierre Littbarski celebrate with the World Cup trophy. Credit: AFP via Getty images)