It is an irrefutable law of nature that for every achingly gorgeous football kit released around the world, an equal and opposite reaction is triggered in the form of a uniquely wild jersey design being produced to maintain the universal balance.

With that in mind, having already rounded up a collection of the sharpest, most stylish shirts on offer this season, it’s only right that we now turn the spotlight on some of the weirdest, quirkiest and honestly most downright hideous shirts to have dropped over the summer and into the early weeks of the 2025-26 campaign.

While some clubs are content rigidly sticking to templates or refreshing tried and true classic designs from yesteryear, some have gone all out in a bid to spark reaction, gain traction and/or seemingly horrify their own fans with a wide array of unorthodox and in some cases, unprecedented design choices.

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Some may become cult classics in years to come; some may become staples of “worst kits” lists forevermore, and some may simply be buried in landfill and forgotten about for the sake of humankind.

Here is a selection of kits whose designers were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn’t stop to think if they should. But nevertheless you have to stand back and applaud the effort, however misguided.

Bahia special edition (Puma)

Coinciding with the summer release of a certain blockbuster superhero movie, Brazilian club Bahia went all out to create this truly remarkable Superman-themed kit that comes with a blue base, a yellow shield logo and even a red “cape” draped down the back. A shirt of steel, if you will.

No strangers to an eccentric kit, Dortmund have outdone themselves this season with a truly grotesque fluorescent yellow-and-gray away jersey. It marks the first time in 18 years the German club’s away kit isn’t black with yellow trim and honestly, the sudden departure is a little too drastic for our taste.

While there’s nothing remotely wild about Exeter’s regulation 2025-26 kits, the League One club has offered fans the unusual optional extra of having masses of Grecian-themed graffiti added to the front and back of their shirts for an additional fee. We’ll let you decide whether or not that makes any improvement to the overall aesthetic.

Forest Green Rovers take pride in their eco credentials and as such, have managed to create the world’s first fully Vegan-certified kit, made from recycled materials and plant-based dyes. Why they also had to make it look like the world’s most poisonous tree frog is another matter entirely.

Oh, and if you think Rovers’ home shirt is luminous, you should see the neon pink away variant.

If you’ve ever wondered what it might look like if a flamboyance of flamingos — yes, that is the correct collective noun! — formed a football team, then Forward Madison are here to help via a pink, feathered football shirt designed in collaboration with the USL League One club’s supporters group — known as “The Flock.”

Madison’s rosy plumage isn’t the only zany kit in their arsenal this season either, with their away kit featuring tartan shorts. Yes, actual tartan shorts.

Latina home (Ezeta)

Italian brand Ezeta seems to specialize in extravagant kit designs, as witnessed by the new batch of jerseys for Latina, based in a city of the same name near the capital Rome. All three of the ensembles are fairly garish, but the blue home shirt is especially notable for having an enormous lion’s head slapped directly in the center.

Lifofane FC away (Umbro)

We’ve spent a good while poring over it and quite honestly, we can’t think of a single other football shirt in the entire history of association football that has helicopters on it. Fantastic work from the Lesotho Premier League stalwarts.

Lugo special edition (CDLU)

Produced by the Spanish third-tier club’s in-house manufacturer and released back in May, these special edition shirts were designed to mark the historical Arde Lucus festival, in which the whole city of Lugo recreates its Roman origins over the course of three days. Available in two distinct flavors, the “Castro” and “Roman” shirts are each modeled on historical armor variants of the period — both leather and iron.

Not a throwback but a “faux-back” jersey, imagining what Republic’s kit would look like had the club existed in the 1990s (they were actually founded in 2012). The result is a crazy “bear attack” design that features giant jagged claw marks on the shirt and shorts, rendered in the golden colors of the Sacramento tower bridge. The retro feel is completed by an oversized folding collar and a suitably baggy silhouette.

There are two sources of inspiration when it comes to Samsunspor’s new third kit and, quite honestly, they may just be the most exquisitely esoteric jumping-off points we’ve ever stumbled across. The first — and most obvious — is the rolling waves of the Black Sea, and the second is the bright blue eye color of Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder and first president of modern-day Turkey, as seen in portraits of the country’s former leader.

Look closely, and you can actually make out his eyes looking at you from the background of the design.

There haven’t been many football kits produced over the years that have been directly inspired by the infinite expanse of the cosmos, but that is precisely the creative stimulus that Slavia used for their new purple half-and-half away strip.

“When we die, you will continue to live here, you are eternal,” reads the highbrow launch blurb. “Just like Slavia, time, space, and the universe are eternal.”

Who are we to disagree?

While Sorrento’s wood art-inspired home kit managed to find its way onto our rundown of 2025-26’s most stylish kits, there is nowhere other than a list of wild strips to place the Italian club’s corresponding away kit. Inspired by the lush Mediterranean coast, the white jersey is adorned with citrus fruit, floral motifs and undoubtedly looks best when dappled in Neapolitan sunlight.

Telstar have gone truly above and beyond with their 2025-26 third kit, with an eccentric white design inspired by traditional sailor tattoos including lighthouses, galleons and mermaids. Continuing the nautical theme, the club’s away kit has been designed to look like a chunky cable-knit sweater. Shiver me timbers!

Austrian side Hartberg have made a name for themselves in recent seasons by repeatedly going viral due to the sheer number of sponsorship logos they have affixed to their kits. Having managed to squeeze 15 sponsors onto their 2024-25 kits, the club have upped the stakes this season by cramming a whopping 23 brands onto their shirt, shorts and socks — which is said to be a world record at professional level. It’s an utter mess, but a fairly lucrative one.

The Seasiders have enjoyed record sales of their new away kit, and it’s not hard to see why. The brilliant novelty design is inspired by Bram Stoker’s classic gothic-horror novel “Dracula” which is partially set in the English coastal town of Whitby. That being the case, it’s probably not wise to expose the jersey to full sunlight.

Levante‘s Karl Etta Eyong has been identified as Robert Lewandowski‘s successor at Barcelona, while Manchester United have joined the clubs wanting to sign Mexico‘s rising star Gilberto Mora. Join us for the latest transfer news and rumors from around the globe.

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TRENDING RUMORS

– Robert Lewandowski is increasingly likely to leave Barcelona at the end of this season rather than renewing his contract, Diario Sport reports. This is said to be down to the 37-year-old striker’s age, a decline in form and an inability to press at the same pace as his teammates. The Blaugrana are already looking for replacements with Levante’s Karl Etta Eyong being identified as somebody who can compete with Ferran Torres for a starting berth up front — the 21-year-old Cameroon international has already scored four goals and registered one assist in five LaLiga matches since signing from Villarreal in the summer. Lewandowski could look to move elsewhere or retire, but he doesn’t want to go to Saudi Arabia.

– Real Madrid and Manchester United are among the clubs who want to sign Tijuana midfielder Gilberto Mora, according to Calciomercato. The report adds that Inter Milan and Juventus have included the 16-year-old on their list of possible options after scouting him at the Under-20 World Cup. This attention comes despite the fact that the Mexican won’t be allowed to move to Europe until he turns 18. He has already represented Mexico at senior level, winning the Gold Cup.

– Liverpool‘s Joe Gomez is the priority for AC Milan as they aim to sign an experienced centre-back in January, according to Corriere dello Sport. The 28-year-old wants to get more minutes and Igli Tare and Giorgio Furlani will try to make a move happen, but they will move on if a solution can’t be found. The Rossoneri are also looking to renew forward Christian Pulisic‘s contract as “the eyes of half of Europe could soon turn on him”, while Premier League clubs are enquiring about goalkeeper Mike Maignan and Milan will look to renew the contracts of Fikayo Tomori and Alexis Saelemaekers.

– Real Madrid and Valencia are showing the greatest interest in signing Elche midfielder Rodrigo Mendoza, reports Diario Sport, but Barcelona, Atlético Madrid, Villarreal, Paris FC and Premier League clubs are also keeping track of the 20-year-old. This comes with Mendoza having impressed for Spain in the Under-20 World Cup after making the step up to La Liga having helped his side earn promotion last season.

– Juventus could reignite their interest in Girona right-back Arnau Martínez in January with full-back being seen as an important position to strengthen in, reports Tuttosport, who add that the Bianconeri have also been closely monitoring Genoa‘s Brooke Norton-Cuffy and Monaco’s Jordan Teze. Juventus have also made enquiries about Bayern Munich left-back Raphaël Guerreiro and are considering a move, as the 31-year-old is unlikely to renew his contract with his current deal expiring in the summer.

EXPERT TAKE

OTHER RUMORS

– Inter Milan see Atalanta goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi as a possible long-term successor to Yann Sommer. (Rudy Galetti)

– Juventus are looking at Matias Siltanen, but Djurgården want €20m for the 18-year-old midfielder with Bayer Leverkusen and Premier League clubs also interested. (Tuttosport)

– Piotr Zielinski could leave Inter Milan in January, although his salary of €4.5m-per-season could be a stumbling block. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Atlético Madrid are happy with loanee Nico González and plan to make his move from Juventus permanent. They have an option worth €32m plus €1m that becomes an obligation if the winger plays at least 45 minutes in 21 La Liga matches. (Nicolò Schira)

– Negotiations are underway between Juventus and Kenan Yildiz for a contract that could run until 2030. (Calciomercato)

– Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is set to sign a new contract. The Toffees are also looking to extend the deals of James Garner and Vitaliy Mykolenko. (The Times)

– Inter Milan don’t want to let Francesco Esposito leave and are prepared to double the 20-year-old striker’s salary. (LGazzetta dello Sport)

– Bologna are planning to extend 28-year-old winger Riccardo Orsolini‘s contract to 2030. (Corriere dello Sport)

– Crystal Palace chief Steve Parish has admitted that Adam Wharton will want to play Champions League football at some point, whether that is at Selhurst Park or elsewhere. (talkSPORT)

– Inter Milan are closely monitoring Santos teenage forward Robinho Jr., who is the son of former Brazil and AC Milan star Robinho. The Italian club is expected to make an offer in the next transfer window to sign the 17-year-old, whose contract with Santos runs until 2027. (TNT Brasil)

Pakistani runners from around the globe delivered strong performances at the 2025 Chicago Marathon, one of the seven World Marathon Majors, which saw participation from over 53,000 athletes this year.

The marathon featured a diverse group of Pakistani participants from Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad to dual nationals and expatriates from the United States, United Kingdom, Norway, and the Gulf proudly representing Pakistan across the 42.195-kilometre course through Chicago’s streets.

Leading the contingent was Syed Ali Hamza, a Pakistani-American from Villanova, Pennsylvania, who finished in 2 hours, 55 minutes, and 14 seconds, making him the fastest Pakistani finisher.

He was followed closely by fellow USA-based Pakistani runners Salman Ilyas (2:56:39) and Nizar Nayani (2:57:43).

“Running a marathon is a personal challenge, and crossing the finish line while representing Pakistan made it all the more meaningful,” Nayani said.

Among Pakistan-based runners, Faisal Shafi from Karachi emerged as the fastest with a time of 3:18:52.

The experienced seven-star finisher shared that his pacing strategy, holding steady for the first 20–25 kilometres before pushing harder in the latter half, made this race his most memorable.

Dania Ali, also from Karachi, made her World Marathon Major debut, achieving a personal best of 4:45:07. Her accomplishment was widely praised by the local running community.

In the women’s category, U.S.-based Aisha Qamar from Brooklyn was the fastest female Pakistani runner with a time of 3:00:51, followed by London-based Maheen Suleman Sheikh at 3:55:29.

Karachi’s Sana Malik completed the marathon in 4:26:27, calling the atmosphere in Chicago “unforgettable.”

“I’ve never experienced a crowd like Chicago’s,” Sana said. “This was an experience I’ll remember for decades, and I’m motivated to come back even stronger.”

Several other Pakistan-based runners also delivered commendable performances, including Bilal Umar (3:39:29), Shah Faisal Khan (3:57:36), Safdar Ali (4:06:45), Yasir Suleman Memon (4:18:40), and Muhammad Tajdar Iqbal (4:21:08) from Karachi, along with Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui (3:45:26) from Islamabad and Saood Hamid (5:20:05) from Lahore.

Pakistani runners from abroad also made their presence felt. Notable finishers included Osman Sarood (Pakistani-American, San Jose) in 3:44:59, Atiq Ul Hassan (Franklin) in 3:47:43, Abbas Naqvi (US-based) in 4:12:34, and Imran Zaffar (British-Pakistani) in 4:37:31.

A special moment came when Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the spiritual leader of the Ismaili community, completed the marathon on his 54th birthday in 4:59:25. He was greeted by followers along the route with chants of “Happy Birthday!”.

Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo won the men’s elite title in 2:02:23, followed by Kenya’s Amos Kipruto (2:03:54) and Alex Masai (2:04:37). In the women’s race, Ethiopia’s Hawi Feysa Gejia claimed victory in 2:14:56, ahead of Megertu Alemu (2:17:18) and Tanzania’s Magdalena Shauri (2:18:03).

From Villanova to Karachi and London to Riyadh, this year’s Chicago Marathon showcased the strength, unity, and spirit of Pakistani runners around the world.

Their performances not only reflected individual excellence but also highlighted Pakistan’s growing footprint in the global marathon scene.

Chicago Marathon 2025: Pakistani Finishers Under 6 Hours

Syed Ali Hamza PAK (USA) Villanova 2:55:14
Salman Ilyas USA Sammamish 2:56:39
Nizar Nayani USA Tomball 2:57:43
Irtaza Haider PAK Evanston 3:00:50
Aisha Qamar USA Brooklyn 3:00:51
Faisal Shafi PAK Karachi 3:18:52
Muhammad Shah PAK Cincinnati 3:23:12
Bilal Umar PAK Karachi 3:39:29
Khoula Ahmed NOR — 3:40:21
Osman Sarood PAK (USA) San Jose 3:44:59
Muhammad Yawar Siddiqui PAK Islamabad 3:45:26
Atiq Ul Hassan PAK (USA) Franklin 3:47:43
Maheen Suleman Sheikh PAK (GBR) London 3:55:29
Shah Faisal Khan PAK Karachi 3:57:36
Basil Khan PAK Chicago 4:02:17
Safdar Ali PAK Karachi 4:06:45
Babar Ghias USA Chicago 4:11:41
Abbas Naqvi PAK (USA) Islamabad 4:12:34
Adnan Afzal USA Spring 4:14:42
Saba Lodhi PAK Wenatchee 4:17:00
Yasir Suleman Memon PAK Karachi 4:18:40
Muhammad Umer Shafiq PAK (USA) Islamabad 4:20:24
Muhammad Tajdar Iqbal PAK Karachi 4:21:08
Sana Malik PAK Karachi 4:26:27
Khalid Sarfaraz PAK Abu Dhabi 4:36:46
Imran Zaffar GBR Harrow 4:37:31
Ghassan Tayyab PAK Naperville 4:42:45
Dania Ali PAK Karachi 4:45:07
Syed Ahsan Ejaz PAK Karachi 4:45:50
Raja Arif Ullah Khan PAK Riyadh 4:49:56
Muhammad Rizwan Khawaja USA Scottsdale 5:12:19
Faraz Siddiqui PAK Weehawken 5:19:56
Shazia Nawaz PAK (UAE) Lahore 5:20:05
Saood Hamid PAK Lahore 5:20:05
Usman Rao PAK (USA) Karachi 5:16:16
Fawaz Qamar PAK Gujranwala 5:31:48
Ahmed Khan PAK Bristol 5:47:47
Muhammad Yousuf PAK Karachi 5:58:19
Syeda Maimoona Hamdani PAK Karachi 5:58:31