Argentina Home Jersey 2004 – Mauro Rosales – N.12 – Player Issued – Adidas – International Friendly – Vintage

Mauro Rosales' Player Issued Jersey: A Relic of Argentina's Olympic Champions

The first official Argentina jersey for 2004, in its Player Issued version, is a rare and authentic relic of the Albiceleste during one of its most glorious years of the decade. Produced by Adidas in Thailand as an authentic player's version – identifiable by the internal code TRI001 reserved for team supply – it features the finishes and technical details characteristic of kits prepared for players, which are absent in replica versions intended for fans. Its famous design with vertical white and sky blue stripes, three black Adidas stripes on the shoulders, the AFA emblem embroidered in gold on the chest, and the number 12 professionally applied on the front and back make it an iconic example of the Bielsa era. The jersey is without official patches, consistent with its intended use for a friendly match. It shows some localized chromatic alterations on the front, a natural consequence of its storage conditions over the twenty years since its production.

The Player: Mauro Rosales

Mauro Damián Rosales (Villa María, February 24, 1981) is a former Argentinian forward who built his career in Argentina, the Netherlands, the United States, and Canada. Developed in the Newell's Old Boys youth academy – the same football school that produced talents like Messi and Bielsa – he debuted in the Argentine league's first team and established himself as one of the most promising young players of his generation. The pinnacle of his career came in the summer of 2004 when he was part of the Argentine Olympic Under-23 national team led by Marcelo Bielsa, which won the gold medal at the Athens Olympic Games, one of the most significant sporting achievements for Argentinian football in the modern era. In the same season, he transferred to Ajax, where he won two Dutch championships and two Dutch Supercups. His number 12 jersey with the Argentine National Team represents an authentic document of a unique period for the Albiceleste.

What is a Player Issued jersey?

A Player Issued jersey is a kit prepared specifically for a certain player but not necessarily worn in an official match. It differs from the commercial version due to a series of precise technical characteristics: professional finishes, internal codes reserved for team supply (in this case, Adidas TRI001), match-grade cut and materials, and exclusive technical details absent in replica versions. It is hierarchically superior to the store version and inferior only to Match Worn. For collectors, it represents an authentic piece of very high historical and commercial value, often impossible to find on the market years after its production.

Authenticity and MTM Guarantee

MTM Memorabilia is the Italian benchmark for demanding collectors of authentic sports memorabilia. Every jersey is selected with rigorous criteria of authenticity, provenance, and quality by our experts. The originality of this item is guaranteed directly by MTM. Every shipment is made with rigid, shockproof, and moisture-proof packaging to ensure maximum protection during transit. Express courier delivery within 24/72 hours from payment confirmation, both for Italy and abroad.