25 years later, the Kombat is still an icon Djibril Cissé is the star of Kappa's global campaign

Euro2000 marked a groundbreaking turning point in football aesthetics. During the European Championship in Belgium and the Netherlands, the Italian national team revolutionized football style with Kappa's Kombat. This iconic football jersey broke all traditional rules with its tight and hyper-elastic design, engineered for peak performance. Thanks to the innovative stop stopping technology, the fabric increased freedom of movement by 30 cm and made holding fouls more visible. This technical innovation changed the rules of football and established Kappa as a pioneer in functional sportswear design.

Twenty-five years later, the Kombat has become a global standard in football jerseys. Tight, performance-focused football kits are now the norm, yet the original Kombat remains a milestone in sportswear history. Over the years, new versions have been introduced, each more advanced than the last, while preserving the DNA of technical innovation and functional design. Today, to celebrate its 25th anniversary, Kappa revives this legend with the Kombat™ XXV, a commemorative jersey that elevates performance even further, crafted from 92% recycled polyester and 8% elastane.

The celebrations began in March with the “Keep on Kombat” retrospective at Kappa's Milan headquarters and continue with a global initiative blending football and fashion. Djibril Cissé, style icon and wearer of the original Kombat for Auxerre, is the face of the campaign, embodying its spirit and representing the 18 teams sponsored by Kappa worldwide, including Genoa, Fiorentina and Red Star. The Kombat has spanned a quarter of a century, transforming football style and culture, evolving from technical innovation to a cultural icon. The legend continues.