Beckett Authentication Football Shirts - Signature Fake or Authentic?

For football shirt collectors, authenticity isn’t just important—it’s everything. The joy of owning a piece of history is only matched by the disappointment of discovering a fake. At Walkouts.com, we’ve dedicated ourselves to helping collectors navigate this landscape, focusing on Beckett Authentication Services (BAS), a trusted name in memorabilia verification. This blog dives into the process, challenges, and methods for confirming that your football shirts are truly authentic.

Why Authentication Matters for Football Shirt Collectors

Collecting football shirts goes beyond owning a jersey; it’s about preserving a legacy. Yet the market is flooded with fakes, making it challenging for collectors to be confident in their purchases. Beckett Authentication Services (Beckett) plays a key role in addressing this issue. By providing Certificates of Authenticity (COA) and Letters of Authentication (LOA), Beckett helps collectors ensure that the signatures and items in their collection are legitimate. But even with Beckett's backing, understanding their process is essential to avoid mistakes.

Actual Lionel Messi Football Shirt that came back fake.

The Beckett Authentication Process: What Collectors Need to Know

Submitting a football shirt for Beckett authentication is a detailed process. Their extensive database includes reference autographs for many players, enabling them to verify items with precision. However, if your item features a player whose signature isn’t in their records, you’ll need to submit additional proof, such as signing photos or videos. At Walkouts, we’ve successfully authenticated rare signatures like those of Lamine Yamal, Dani Carvajal, and Pau Cubarsi using these supplementary materials.

Shipping your items to Beckett, especially from Europe, introduces its own set of complexities. The costs of insurance, customs fees, and potential export taxes can quickly add up. Walkouts simplifies this for our customers by handling exemption documents and navigating customs regulations.

While Beckett advertises a 30-day turnaround for standard services, the reality is that processing times often extend to 3-4 months. Express options are available but come at a premium. For high-demand players like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, authentication fees can exceed $100 per shirt, adding another layer of consideration for collectors.

Old Beckett Authentication Labels up to 2024 which were easy to falsify.

The Risks of Timing and Market Trends

Timing is critical in football shirt collecting. The authentication process for our Lamine Yamal jerseys, for instance, coincided with his rise to prominence, as he won a European Cup and a Golden Boy award. While these events boosted the value of his memorabilia, they also spurred a surge in fake items.

Signatures evolve over time. Players like Yamal often change their autograph styles, making it challenging to distinguish early, genuine signatures from later, less authentic ones. Forgers capitalize on high-demand moments, so collectors must remain vigilant, particularly for stars like Kylian Mbappé and Cristiano Ronaldo, whose autographs are both highly sought after and frequently forged.

New Beckett Autentication Labels as of 2024 which are harder to replicate.

Breaking Down Beckett’s Authentication Services

Beckett Sticker (20% confidence): Early Beckett stickers were simple in design, which made them vulnerable to forgery. These stickers often featured a plain white oval with a serial number, but little else to deter counterfeiters. The easiest way to spot a fake is by examining the DPI (dots per inch) of the sticker’s printing. Genuine Beckett stickers are printed with finer details and are thicker than their counterfeit counterparts. Many also include an accompanying card with the same number, which should exhibit the same high-quality print standards. While newer Beckett stickers have improved security features, fakes can still closely resemble genuine ones to the untrained eye. Always inspect both the sticker and its card for inconsistencies.

Beckett Witnessed (40% confidence): The “Beckett Witnessed” label signifies that a Beckett authenticator was present at the time of signing. This adds significant credibility, as the signature’s origin is directly verified. However, collectors should note that Beckett’s records don’t always provide detailed context beyond the date and location of the signing. For rare players, this method is highly reliable, but for stars frequently signing at public events, there’s still a small risk. Cross-referencing witnessed items with other sources of proof, such as photographs or videos, remains a best practice.

This one seems legit, right? No, the autograph and Beckett sticker are fake.

Letter of Authentication (60% confidence): A Letter of Authentication (LOA) provides further assurance for collectors. These letters are printed on official Beckett stationery, often featuring embedded holograms or watermarks to deter forgery. The LOA includes detailed information about the item, such as the player’s name and signature’s characteristics, and ties directly to the corresponding sticker number. For maximum confidence, collectors can compare the LOA’s details against other authenticated items in their possession or from verified sources. Many of Walkouts’ high-value items come with LOAs, underscoring their authenticity.

Beckett Letter of Authentication with Grading and exact photo match on stationary paper.

Grading (80% confidence): Grading elevates the confidence in authenticity by analyzing and rating the quality of a signature. Beckett’s grading process often includes a photo match of the item’s autograph within their database. This step ensures that both the signature’s style and placement align with known genuine examples. For rare autographs, like early-day signatures from Lamine Yamal, grading provides an added layer of security. Walkouts ensures that many of its premium items undergo grading to deliver superior confidence to collectors.

Beckett Graded Football Shirt with 10/10 rating.

Beckett Authentication with Photo/Video Proof (95% confidence): Combining Beckett’s verification with photographic or video evidence of the signing process offers near-certainty of authenticity. This method is invaluable for high-demand players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Kylian Mbappé. At Walkouts, we strive to include such proof whenever possible, ensuring collectors have a comprehensive assurance of authenticity. Coupled with LOAs and grading, this approach leaves minimal room for doubt.

Authentication is one, but having recorded the actual signing with it is next level authenticity.

Beckett Authentication + Photo or Video Proof + Beckett Invoice (100% confidence): The gold standard for authentication combines Beckett’s services with visual proof and official documentation, such as a Beckett invoice. This final piece of the puzzle guarantees absolute confidence. At Walkouts, we meticulously document the entire authentication process, from submission to final receipt, including invoices and order confirmations. While this level of detail can extend the process by several months, it ensures collectors receive only the most credible items. This commitment reflects our dedication to supporting football fans and protecting the integrity of their collections.

Spotting Fakes: Key Red Flags

In today’s market, forgers are more sophisticated than ever. Modern counterfeiters produce fake COAs, stickers, and LOAs that closely mimic the real thing. To protect yourself:

1. Examine the printing quality of stickers. Genuine Beckett stickers have higher DPI and thicker materials.
2. Compare LOAs. Authentic letters are printed on special Beckett stationery with embedded security features.
3. Look for photo matches. Graded items with photo evidence are harder to fake.

At Walkouts, we go the extra mile to verify authenticity. From grading to securing Beckett invoices, our process ensures that every item we sell meets the highest standards.

Walkouts: Your Partner in Authentic Football Shirts

Authenticity is at the core of what we do at Walkouts. When we encountered fakes in the past, we made the difficult decision to remove those items from our inventory, prioritizing trust over profit. Today, we’re proud to offer Premium Signed Shirts that collectors can trust.

Our commitment to quality extends to every step of the authentication process. By working closely with Beckett and leveraging additional verification methods, we ensure that each item in our collection is genuine. For collectors, this means peace of mind and the confidence to enjoy their hobby without fear of scams.

Final Thoughts

Collecting football shirts is a rewarding pursuit, but it’s not without its challenges. Understanding the authentication process and recognizing the signs of forgery are essential skills for any collector. Beckett Authentication Services offers invaluable tools for verifying items, but no system is perfect. By combining Beckett’s services with additional proof, such as photo evidence and grading, collectors can significantly reduce the risk of buying fake memorabilia.

At Walkouts, we’re here to guide you through this journey. Whether you’re a seasoned collector or just starting out, our expertise and dedication to authenticity make us a trusted partner in the world of football shirt collecting. If you have questions or need assistance, don’t hesitate to reach out. Together, we can ensure that your collection remains as authentic as the game itself.