A World Cup Spark Ignites a Passion

Matias Bueno’s love for football shirts was born during the 2006 World Cup, cheering for Brazil and Portugal - his family’s roots. “Watching legends like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Luís Figo, Pauleta, and a young Cristiano Ronaldo inspired a lifelong passion,” he says. Initially focused on Brazil and Portugal kits, his collecting took a new direction in 2023 while traveling in Fiji. The thrill of hunting down the national team jersey in a foreign land sparked a mission: to collect a shirt from every FIFA-affiliated country he visits.

“Football, travel, and geography are interconnected passions,” Matias explains, and his 100-shirt collection reflects this unique blend of adventure and fandom.

A Gallery of Global Favorites

Choosing a favorite shirt is nearly impossible for Matias, so he splits them into two categories: design and sentiment. For design, he loves the green-hued 2024 away kits of Lithuania and Belarus, the sleek Kazakhstan 2024 away, the elegant Guatemala 2024 away, and the striking Kyrgyzstan 2024 home.

“They’re surprisingly stunning in person,” he says. Sentimentally, gifted shirts like the Iraq 2024 Adidas home, Kuwait 2019 and 2024 kits, and Kazakhstan 2024 home carry priceless personal stories. “Each one has a connection that makes it special,” Matias adds, highlighting the emotional weight of his collection.

Rare Treasures from Obscure Nations

While some shirts, like his Qatar kit, hold high monetary value, Matias’ rarest pieces are national team jerseys from lesser-known footballing nations. Standouts include the Fiji 2000 home, Uzbekistan 2024 home, Kyrgyzstan 2024 home and away, Chinese Taipei 2024 kits, Turkmenistan 2025 home, Gibraltar 2019 home, and Luxembourg 2022 kits.

“These are shirts you almost never see outside their home countries,” he says. A few rare club jerseys, like Santa Clara from the Azores, add local flavor to his global collection, reflecting his knack for finding unique pieces.

A Mission Across Borders

Matias’ collecting focus is clear: every FIFA national team jersey, with a special emphasis on Brazil, Portugal, and Santa Clara, which connect to his heritage. “Brazil and Portugal are my family’s countries,” he says, making those kits deeply personal. His broader mission to collect shirts from every FIFA-affiliated country he visits combines his love for football with his wanderlust, turning each trip into a treasure hunt for rare national team kits.

Adventures That Define a Collection

Matias’ collecting stories are as vibrant as his shirts. In Fiji, he drove across the country to find a rare 2000 home kit, a childhood dream. In Kyrgyzstan, he used a 20 euro bill gifted to him by a Tajik waiter in New York earlier that month to secure a 2024 away kit just hours before flying out, despite losing his bank card.

In Uzbekistan, locals at the Futsal World Cup gifted him Tajikistan 2024 kits, one via a shirt swap with his Portugal 2024 away.

In Iraq, gym conversations led to a gifted 2024 Adidas home kit. “Wearing these shirts sparks adventures,” he says, from autograph requests in Tajikistan to being mistaken for a pro player in Xinjiang.

The Hunt for Authentic Kits

Matias prefers buying shirts in person, immersing himself in local football culture. “It’s part of the fun - exploring shops, chasing leads,” he says. When in-person purchases aren’t possible, he buys online but verifies product codes and details like stitching and badge quality.

“I came across KitLegit through Football Finery - it’s a brilliant authentication tool,” he notes. If a fake slips through, like a Kazakhstan jersey once did, he sells it transparently at a lower price. “Honesty is everything,” he says, condemning sellers who pass off fakes at authentic prices.

The Challenge of Availability

The biggest hurdle in Matias’ mission is availability. “Many countries I visit aren’t touristy, so national team jerseys are hard to find,” he says. Stock shortages and limited local sales force him to plan meticulously, sometimes reserving shirts or adjusting travel for new releases. “It’s like a Jason Bourne mission, navigating back streets for a shirt before leaving the country,” he laughs. This challenge makes each successful hunt all the more rewarding.

Preserving the Journey

Matias keeps his jerseys in top condition by hang-drying them all, washing delicate prints inside out on cold to protect them. “Most of my shirts are blank national team kits without sponsors or names,” he says, which simplifies care but doesn’t diminish their value. His focus is on preserving the stories behind each shirt, ensuring they remain vibrant symbols of his travels.

Wisdom for New Collectors

Matias’ advice for aspiring collectors is rooted in purpose and balance: “Know why you’re collecting—it keeps it meaningful. Set a sustainable budget and boundaries.” He warns against impulse buys, noting that 100 shirts is modest compared to collectors with 500+.

“Value is subjective, so focus on what’s valuable to you,” he says. Above all, he emphasizes experiences: “Shirts are nothing without the stories. Learn the local football culture, meet people, and create memories.” His journey is about friendships and adventures, not just jerseys.

A Global Tapestry of Football

Matias Bueno’s @_matiasbueno collection is a global odyssey, with 100 national team jerseys telling stories of travel, culture, and football. From the rare Fiji 2000 home kit to gifted Iraq and Tajikistan shirts, his mission to collect every FIFA-affiliated country’s jersey is a celebration of identity and adventure.

As he continues his quest, Matias reminds us that football shirts are more than fabric - they’re passports to the world’s stories.

Stay tuned for more from our Collectors Series Blog, where we’ll uncover the next chapter of football shirt stories. Ready to start your own collection or verify a kit?

Visit KitLegit for authentic shirts and expert authentication. Follow Matias’ journey on @_matiasbueno and share your own shirt story in the comments below!