Lamine Yamal and Marcus Rashford show off Barcelona's special Clasico kit with Ed Sheeran logo ahead of La Liga clash with Real Madrid

Barcelona have revealed a Clasico kit with an Ed Sheeran logo ahead of their La Liga clash with Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabeu. The Catalans have done it again, and this time, they’ve called in one of the biggest names in pop to headline El Clasico as they unveiled their latest show-stopping kit for their trip to the Spanish capital: an emblazoned jersey with none other than Sheeran’s “Play” album logo.

Barca rock the music world as Ed Sheeran takes centre stage

In what’s become an unmissable pre-Clasico tradition, Barca’s ongoing partnership with Spotify has produced another jaw-dropping shirt design, and Sheeran is the latest megastar to take centre stage. Following in the footsteps of Drake, Rosalía, The Rolling Stones, and Karol G, the British singer-songwriter has now become the first male solo pop artist ever to appear on the Barcelona jersey. The special edition shirt will make its first appearance on October 19, when Barca’s women’s side face Granada, before stealing the global spotlight on October 26, when Hansi Flick’s men take on their fiercest rivals at the Santiago Bernabeu.

AdvertisementGoal ARSheeran fascinated with the Barcelona collaboration

For Sheeran, who’s long worn his love of football on his sleeve, the collaboration marks a personal milestone. Speaking after the reveal, the Grammy-winning musician couldn’t hide his delight: "Seeing my new album, Play, on the Barça shirt is one of those moments I can hardly believe. I’ve loved football my whole life, so bringing my music to such an iconic stage and sharing it with fans everywhere means a lot to me.”

It’s not the first time Sheeran has mixed music with football. The Suffolk-born singer sponsors his local club, Ipswich Town, but even that can’t compare to the global roar that accompanies an El Clasico. This time, his logo won’t just be heard, it’ll be seen by hundreds of millions when the world tunes in for football’s fiercest rivalry. 

Inside the Barça dressing room, Sheeran’s music already has a strong following. Robert Lewandowski, the club’s star striker, revealed that the singer’s tracks often blast through the speakers before big games. 

“Ed’s songs have been part of our dressing-room playlist for a long time, so seeing his new album on our shirt for El Clásico is really special," he said. "Music and football unite fans in powerful ways, and I’m proud to represent that connection on the pitch.” 

The club confirmed that exclusive collector’s editions of the Sheeran x Barça kit will go on sale from October 15 at official Barca Stores. Given the global hysteria surrounding previous artist collaborations, these shirts are expected to sell out in record time.

A new beat in the world’s biggest rivalry

Founded in 1899 and 1902 respectively, the two clubs first clashed over a century ago during the Copa de la Coronacion. Since then, El Clasico has evolved into a cultural and political battleground, a clash of philosophies, pride, and identity. Over the decades, tensions have flared over player signings, refereeing controversies, and league dominance. Icons from Laszlo Kubala and Luis Suarez to Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas have shaped the rivalry’s history. Today, the statistics are as close as ever, with Real Madrid edging out the Blaugrana with 105 wins to 103 victories. With margins this tight, every encounter carries seismic weight, and adding Sheeran’s global brand to the mix only cranks the intensity higher.

If Real Madrid fans thought the first two decades of the millennium had been difficult due to the emergence of a certain Lionel Messi, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona have made sure to turn it into a full-blown nightmare. Under Flick in 2024-25, Barcelona have played with a ruthless, attacking edge, netting 16 goals against Madrid across those four games. No team in history has ever punished Los Blancos so brutally in a single season, smashing the previous record of 13 goals set in 2011/12. The domination reached its crescendo in Saudi Arabia, where Barca lifted the Spanish Super Cup with a 5-2 demolition despite being reduced to ten men for over half an hour.

koooraYamal’s timely return boosts Flick’s men

As Barca gear up for another titanic showdown at the Bernabeu, they’ve received a crucial boost: Lamine Yamal is back. The 18-year-old sensation, hailed by Zinedine Zidane himself as one of the most exciting talents in world football, has returned to training after recovering from a groin injury. With Barcelona currently two points behind Real Madrid after eight La Liga rounds, the Bernabeu clash could define their season, and Yamal’s dazzling creativity may be the difference-maker.