The 2025-2026 Laws of the Game published by IFAB (International Football Association Board), the governing body for soccer rules, doesn't require players to tuck in their jerseys. However, FIFA has historically encouraged a "neat appearance" with shirts tucked into shorts and socks pulled high.
Manchester United legends like Dennis Law and George Best in the 1960s, AC Milan's Franco Baresi and Tottenham's Glenn Hoddle in the 1980s, and even French star Zinedine Zidane in the 2000s often left their jerseys untucked for comfort. This trend led manufacturers to design shorter jerseys that were difficult to tuck in. Recently, however, the tidy, tucked-in style has made a strong comeback, becoming the new fashion on the pitch.
Kylian Mbappe is at the center of this resurgence. Since Real Madrid's victory against Girona on 8/12/2024, he has been tucking his jersey into his shorts, pulling it high near his navel. According to Cadena SER, 23 of Mbappe's 31 LaLiga goals last season were scored after this change, with his goal-scoring rate jumping from 0.57 to 1.05 goals per game. This shift to a more formal playing style seems to have marked a turning point in the French star's performance.
Soccer, like fashion, is cyclical. The neat, tucked-in look from the black-and-white era has become a new trend, turning the soccer field into not just a competition arena but also a style runway.
Hoang Thong – Hoang Cuong
