The History of Les Bleus
The French National Football Team was officially formed on May 1, 1904, with their first match played against Belgium in Brussels, ending in a 3-3 draw, on the same day FIFA was founded in Paris. The blue color of their jersey, inspired by the French national flag, combined with red and white details, has since been the identifying symbol of Les Bleus, one of the most prestigious national teams in world football. The rooster, nickname for the French and symbol of the Republic, is embroidered on the chest of the jersey. The history of Les Bleus is marked by two great golden eras that defined French football. The first was in the 1980s under Michel Hidalgo first and then Henri Michel, with the legendary "magic square" midfield composed of Michel Platini (3 consecutive Ballons d'Or 1983-1985), Jean Tigana, Alain Giresse, and Luis Fernández, a team that won Les Bleus' first title, the 1984 European Championship at home against Spain in Paris (with Platini scoring nine goals in the tournament, an all-time record). France also reached the semifinals of the 1982 and 1986 World Cups, both times against West Germany. The second era came under Aimé Jacquet with the first World Cup won on July 12, 1998, in Saint-Denis against Brazil (3-0 with a brace from Zinédine Zidane's headers), a historic home triumph with Didier Deschamps as captain, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Bixente Lizarazu, Emmanuel Petit, Laurent Blanc, and Fabien Barthez. The same generation won EURO 2000 in Belgium-Netherlands, the first to consecutively win the World Cup and European Championship in the modern era, with the final against Italy overturned by Wiltord in the final minutes and Trezeguet's golden goal. The second World Cup arrived on July 15, 2018, in Moscow against Croatia (4-2) under Didier Deschamps, now the coach, with champions like Hugo Lloris, Kylian Mbappé, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kanté, Raphaël Varane, Olivier Giroud, and Samuel Umtiti. France nearly won a third World Cup in the 2022 Doha final against Messi's Argentina (lost on penalties after a 3-3 draw in extra time) and reached the EURO 2016 final at home (lost against Portugal). Among the great legends of Les Bleus are Michel Platini, Zinédine Zidane (3 Ballons d'Or), Thierry Henry (all-time top scorer), Karim Benzema (2022 Ballon d'Or), Didier Deschamps, Marcel Desailly, Lilian Thuram, Patrick Vieira, Hugo Lloris, Antoine Griezmann, Paul Pogba, and captain Kylian Mbappé.
France Jerseys: Autographed, Player Issued, and Match Worn Store
The France jerseys available on MTM Memorabilia represent a high-level collectible documentation of Les Bleus national team. The catalog includes three distinct types of official jerseys. Autographed store jerseys are commercial versions signed by the protagonists of French history, from the champions of Platini's 1984 European Championship to Zidane's 1998 World Cup winners, and Mbappé's 2018 triumphers. Player issued jerseys are official samples assigned by the Federation to players for training, bench, or reserves, identical to those used in games but not worn in official matches. Match worn jerseys are actually worn on the field during official competitions, the rarest and most sought-after piece by international collectors. Each jersey covers different tournaments and protagonists: from the Le Coq Sportif and Adidas years of the 1980s-1990s triumphs of Platini and Zidane, to the Adidas and Nike eras (historic technical supplier since 2011) of recent triumphs, up to the current seasons. The provenance of each jersey is documented and its authenticity verified by our experts.
Original French Autographs and Memorabilia on MTM Memorabilia
MTM Memorabilia is the reference point in Italy for high-level collecting related to the French National Football Team. In addition to jerseys, on MTM you will find autographed photographs, signed balls, framed legends, and collectible memorabilia dedicated to the protagonists of Les Bleus. Every piece of French memorabilia available on MTM is selected with rigorous criteria of provenance and authenticity by our experts. Every autographed item is always accompanied free of charge by the MTM Letter of Authenticity (LOA), a document issued by our experts that declares the provenance and veracity of the autograph based on our direct knowledge. Depending on the type and value of the item, MTM autographs can be accompanied by additional internationally recognized third-party certifications — including the COA-R issued by Associazione Autografia, or certificates from entities such as PSA and JSA — included in the price or purchasable separately.