Honestly, if you close your eyes and think about Luis Enrique’s final year at the Camp Nou, you probably see a blur of Blaugrana stripes and a shirtless Lionel Messi holding his jersey up to the Bernabéu crowd. That image is iconic. It’s football history. But look closer at that shirt. The barca 16 17 kit wasn't just another piece of polyester; it was a massive "thank you" to the club's heritage and, weirdly, a bit of a marketing gamble that paid off because of how it looked on the pitch.
It was a return to form.
After the 2015-16 season, where Nike and the board inexplicably decided that horizontal hoops were a good idea—spoiler: they weren't, and fans hated them—the 2016-17 home shirt brought back the verticality we all craved. It felt like Barca again. The thin tonal pinstripes inside the broader red and blue bands gave it this textured, retro feel that paid homage to the 1992 European Cup-winning jersey. You’ve got to remember that the mid-2010s were a weird time for kit design, but this one just landed perfectly. It looked expensive.
The Sponsorless Mystery of the Early Season
Here is the thing most people forget about the barca 16 17 kit: for the first few months of the season, you could actually buy it without a sponsor. It was beautiful. Pure.
Because negotiations with Qatar Airways had hit a massive roadblock, Nike started mass-producing the shirts without any branding on the chest. For purists, this was the Holy Grail. It looked like something from the 1970s. Eventually, they slapped the "Qatar Airways" logo back on there, but those early-run "clean" shirts are now some of the most sought-after pieces for collectors. If you find one in a thrift shop or on eBay today, you’re looking at a serious markup.
The fabric was different too. Nike introduced the "Aeroswift" technology that year. It had these engineered knit zones and textured ribbing on the sleeves that changed color slightly when the players moved. If you were watching the game in 4K, you could see the mesh detail. It wasn't just a flat graphic print. It had depth.
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That Night in Madrid and the Jersey’s Place in Lore
You can’t talk about the barca 16 17 kit without talking about the 500th goal. April 23, 2017. El Clásico.
Messi scores the winner in the 92nd minute, takes his shirt off, and holds it up to the Real Madrid fans. It’s arguably the most famous celebration in the history of the sport. The way the shirt hung there—stiff, proud, with "MESSI 10" facing the crowd—cemented that specific design in the minds of every football fan on the planet. Even if they didn't win the Champions League or La Liga that year (Real Madrid took the double), that single moment made the kit immortal.
It was the peak of the MSN. Messi, Suárez, and Neymar were at their most telepathic. Neymar was about to leave for PSG a few months later, making this the last home shirt the trio truly conquered together. When you see those three hugging in the red and blue stripes, that's the kit they're wearing.
Technical Specs and Why It Felt "Pro"
Nike didn't just play with the colors. They changed the silhouette. The 2016-17 version featured these raglan sleeves that were a slightly lighter shade of blue than the body. It gave the players a more athletic, "broad-shouldered" look.
The side stripes were functional too. They were navy blue but would expand when the player was running, revealing a flash of red underneath. It was supposed to help with ventilation, but let’s be real, it just looked cool as hell in slow-motion replays. The "Senyera" (the Catalan flag) was tucked neatly onto the back of the neck, a subtle nod to the club's identity that didn't feel overbearing.
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- The V-Neck: It wasn't a deep V, but a modern, ribbed collar that stayed flat.
- The Shorts: They went back to classic blue after a few seasons of red experimentation.
- The Socks: Bright blue with a red linear graphic on the calf.
Some critics at the time thought the pinstripes inside the main stripes made the shirt look too "busy" from a distance. I disagree. Up close, it looked like a suit. It had a tailored quality that modern "template" kits often lack. Nowadays, Nike and Adidas use the same basic pattern for twenty different teams. In 16/17, Barca felt like they had something custom-built.
How to Spot a Fake in 2026
If you're out there looking for an authentic barca 16 17 kit today, you have to be careful. The "Vapor" match versions—the ones the players actually wore—are incredibly rare. They have the heat-pressed crests rather than the embroidered ones.
The biggest giveaway on a fake is the pinstriping. On the real deal, the thin lines are woven into the fabric. On the cheap knockoffs, they’re just printed on top, and they usually start peeling after three washes. Also, check the inner neck. The "Mes Que Un Club" branding should be crisp, not blurry.
Also, look at the "Nike Authentic" gold or silver patch at the bottom hem. The 2016 kits had a very specific holographic shimmer that’s hard to replicate. If it looks like flat plastic, walk away.
Why the Away Kit Was Just as Bold
While the home kit was a love letter to the 90s, the away kit for that season was a total curveball. They went with purple. Dark, moody, "Purple Dynasty" with bright "Hyper Pink" accents.
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It was polarizing. Some fans thought it looked like a training top. Others loved that it broke the mold. But even that away shirt carried the same tech and the same design philosophy as the home one. It was a season of aesthetic risks. The third kit was a bright "Glow" teal, which... honestly, the less said about that one, the better. It looked like a highlighter.
Actionable Steps for Collectors and Fans
If you're trying to add this specific piece of history to your wardrobe or collection, don't just jump on the first listing you see.
- Verify the Product Code: Every authentic Nike shirt has a small tag inside with a 6-3 digit code (e.g., 776850-410). Google that code. If it brings up a tracksuit or a different team’s shirt, it’s a fake.
- Decide on the Sponsor: Do you want the "clean" sponsorless look or the "Qatar Airways" look? The sponsorless version is technically more "rare," but the sponsored version is what Messi was wearing during that Clásico moment.
- Size Up for Vapor: If you manage to find the "Vapor" player-issue version, remember they are cut extremely slim. A Large fits like a Medium. If you're actually planning to wear it to five-a-side, go one size up from your usual.
- Check the Sleeve Patches: The 16/17 season was the last one before La Liga updated their sleeve patch design to the more modern, rubberized version. The 16/17 patch should be the classic embroidered LFP logo.
The barca 16 17 kit remains a high-water mark for football fashion. It balanced the weight of history with the needs of modern sport science. It saw the end of an era for the MSN and the height of Messi's powers. Whether you're a Barca fanatic or just a kit nerd, this is one of those shirts that will never truly go out of style. It’s a snapshot of a time when the football was beautiful, and the jerseys matched.
Next Steps for Your Search:
To ensure you are getting a genuine piece, cross-reference the inner wash labels with high-resolution photos from reputable auction sites like Classic Football Shirts or Cult Kits. These databases often archive the exact stitching patterns used in the 2016-2017 production run, which is the most reliable way to verify a vintage purchase.