Uruguay 1998 Home (XL)

Uruguay’s relationship with Ennerre began in 1992 and produced some of the national team’s most experimental shirts. The Italian brand (famous for supplying Diego Maradona’s Napoli) changed colours, trims and patterns throughout the decade and the 1998 design seen here was the final regular home shirt of that partnership. 

There is an important detail sitting above the crest: four stars. Uruguay first introduced them during the Ennerre era in 1992. Two represent the World Cups of 1930 and 1950, while the other two recognise the Olympic football titles of 1924 and 1928, competitions Uruguay regards as world championships from the pre-World Cup era.

This exact 1998 home design had a very short senior international life. Uruguay played their only recognised A-international of the year against Chile in Santiago on 24 May. Iván Zamorano and Marcelo Salas put Chile 2-0 ahead and Uruguay then lost Federico Magallanes to a red card. Despite playing with ten men, Nicolás Olivera converted a penalty before Marcelo Zalayeta equalised in the 81st minute for a 2-2 draw. 

Ennerre’s time with the senior national team ended later that year, with Uruguay wearing a different one-off design against the Basque Country in December. That makes this 1998 shirt the last regular Celeste home design of the Ennerre era, a period that left Uruguay with both some very distinctive kits and the four-star crest that remains part of their identity today.