The change appears to be driven by both loyalty and availability. Retailers in Goa say imported original shirts are becoming increasingly difficult to restock, particularly as matches approach the final.
Rachel Baretto, from Margao, reportedly turned to an online purchase after failing to find an original Lionel Messi shirt locally. She owns shirts from the 2018 and 2022 World Cups and described them simply: “São para guardar como memória”.
That collector’s instinct is central to the boom. A national-team shirt is no longer only matchday clothing; it is a keepsake tied to a tournament, a player and a particular football memory.
In Fatorda, Pio Agnelo Fernandes estimates that his business has seen a 20% rise in shirt sales, while imported stock is reportedly close to running out. Original shirts are said to begin at around Rs 6,000, pushing some buyers towards cheaper first-copy and master-copy versions.
The wider merchandise market is also benefiting:
Argentina’s next fixture will decide whether its colours remain Goa’s biggest football fashion statement. Whatever happens on the pitch, the tournament has already turned national-team shirts into lasting souvenirs.