Marco van Basten wearing a red and black striped AC Milan football shirt with number 9 on a grassy field.

Photo Match

Photo Match for Match-Worn Football Shirts

A photo match ties a match-worn shirt to a specific match by matching unique marks on the shirt, such as a crease, a pull or a smudge, to photos or footage of that game.

What is a photo match?

A photo match compares a match-worn shirt with photographs or footage of the game it was worn in. Unique marks, such as creases, pulls in the fabric, stains or the exact position of a name and number, are matched between the shirt and the images to show this shirt was worn in that match.

What a strong photo match shows

  • Several unique points: more than one mark that matches, not a single general feature.
  • Clear images: photos sharp enough to see the marks.
  • A specific match: the date and fixture the images come from.

What to check

  • Who did the match: a recognised specialist or authenticator, with the points shown.
  • The images: that they come from the stated match.
  • The shirt itself: that the matched marks are still visible on it.

Keeping it with the shirt

Keep the photo-match report with the shirt; it is the record that links it to the game.