Green, white, and green stripes. This is the uniform of Santos Futebol Clube — simple, elegant, and as classic as the greatest player who ever wore it: Pelé.
How Santos Was Born and Why It Uses White and Black
Santos FC was founded on April 14, 1912, in the coastal city of Santos, São Paulo. Curiously, the coastal club whose mascot is a fish was founded on the same day the transatlantic liner Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean. The original colors – blue, white, and gold – were soon replaced by the white and black vertical stripes that still identify the Fish today.
Pelé and the Jersey That Enchanted the World
The Santos jersey became famous worldwide because of Pelé, who joined the club at 15 and became its top scorer: 1,091 goals in 1,116 games. He was the top scorer in the Campeonato Paulista in 11 editions, an absolute record in the country. In 1958, at just 17 years old, he had already debuted for the Brazilian National Team and become a world champion.
When Santos traveled the world with Pelé, the white and black jersey was received with an enthusiasm reserved only for the greatest global sports idols. In many African and European cities, they asked Santos to play friendlies just to see the King wearing the striped jersey.
The First Club in the World to Score 10,000 Goals
In January 1998, with a goal by Jorginho against Villa Nova-MG, Santos became the first club in the world to reach the 10,000-goal mark. This primacy is recognized by FIFA. And in the 1959 Campeonato Paulista — even before the entire glorious decade of the 60s — Santos' attack scored 155 goals: a record that remains unbeaten to this day in any competition in the country.
The Golden Years and the Historic Jersey
Between 1962 and 1963, Santos won two consecutive world titles — the only Brazilian club to do so. The white jersey with black stripes from that era, with the Santos emblem and the number 10 on the back, is today one of the most valued by collectors worldwide.
The Santos Jersey Today
Decades later, the Fish's jersey continues to be one of the most elegant uniforms in Brazilian football. Its sobriety and simplicity directly recall the greatest heritage of national football. At Garrincha Shirts, you'll find Santos jerseys to celebrate this glorious history — from the coast of São Paulo to the world.