Some places go beyond a mere store. They are meeting points, improvised museums, territories where the memory of football breathes. Garrincha Shirts, in partnership with Cancha Store, opened one such place in the heart of Belo Horizonte — and if you haven't been yet, this article will convince you to go.
Third floor of Mercado Novo: where BH stores its culture
Mercado Novo, in the central region of Belo Horizonte, is one of the city's liveliest addresses. Its three floors house gastronomy, handicrafts, vinyl records, comic books, and now, real football. On the third floor, in store 3091, Garrincha Shirts shares space with Cancha Store to create something Belo Horizonte didn't have: an environment dedicated to the deep culture of football — original jerseys, books, collectibles, and memories.
Outside, a Brazilian flag and green and yellow pennants announce that you've arrived at the right place. Inside, football is on every shelf, on every hanger, in every detail.
What you will find
The Garrincha Shirts + Cancha Store display is a declaration of love for South American football in its most authentic form. Some of the pieces that stand out:
- Deportivo Palestino jerseys (Chile) — the club founded by the Palestinian community in Chile in 1920, with Bank of Palestine sponsorship emblazoned on the chest. One of the most politically charged and culturally unique pieces in world football.
- América Mineiro Brazilian Champion jersey — a rarity in Mineiro football, representing one of the most improbable titles in Brasileirão history.
- National teams and clubs from all over South America — from traditional names to teams most Brazilian fans have never heard of.
- Book "10 Anos Sada Cruzeiro" — the work that celebrates one of the most impressive dynasties in Brazilian volleyball, produced with rare editorial quality in national sports.
- Books by Vitor Ribeiro-Santos — including "Apologia ao Futebol Menor" and "Imagens da Alegre Melancolia", works that place grassroots football at the center of Brazilian cultural discussion.
- Funko Pops and collectibles of players and teams, badge pins, commemorative pennants, and other items for collectors from all over Latin America.
- Palestino jerseys — with the map of Palestine on jersey no. 1, one of the most talked-about pieces in Chilean and South American football.
The iconic Garrincha Shirts table
One of the first things you see when approaching the space is Garrincha Shirts' personalized table: a black tablecloth with an illustration of Garrincha — the greatest dribbler in history — in white, and the inscription "SHIRTS — EST. 2002". A piece that tells the story of more than two decades dedicated to collecting and preserving the best football jerseys.
Garrincha Shirts: est. 2002 — over 20 years of collecting
Garrincha Shirts has existed since 2002 — before social media, before the jersey market exploded in Brazil, before "kit culture" became a global trend. What started as a personal passion evolved into one of the most respected curators of original jerseys in the country. Every piece in the physical and online collection has undergone a rigorous authentication process. Here there are no Thai replicas, no reproductions without history. Only originals.
The physical store in Mercado Novo is the physical home of this history — the place where fans, collectors, researchers, and curious people can see, touch, and understand why a football jersey can be worth much more than the fabric it's made of.
Why visiting the physical store changes everything
Buying online is convenient. But visiting Garrincha Shirts + Cancha Store in Mercado Novo is a different experience. It's talking to someone who knows the story behind each piece. It's discovering a Deportivo Palestino jersey and asking, "where did this come from?" It's leafing through Apologia ao Futebol Menor and understanding that football not shown on TV Globo also has its beauty and dignity.
It's a store that educates while it sells — and that sells because it educates.
How to get there
Garrincha Shirts + Cancha Store is located on the 3rd floor of Mercado Novo, store 3091, in the center of Belo Horizonte. Mercado Novo is located on Avenida Curitiba at Rua Carijós, easily accessible on foot from the main subway stations and bus stops in the city center.
If you're from Belo Horizonte, you have no excuse. If you're just passing through, Mercado Novo is a mandatory stop. See reviews from those who have already visited and bought at Trustindex — and come check it out in person.