Some teams have stars on their shirts to signify their achievements in major tournaments. The number of stars on a team's shirt typically represents the number of World Cup titles won by national teams or continental championships won by club teams.
History of Stars on Shirts
The tradition of wearing stars on shirts began in 1970, when Brazil added three stars above their badge after winning their third World Cup tournament. Since then, all World Champions have followed suit, with the most recent example being Germany, which added a star in 2014 to the three they already had.
Significance of Stars
Continental Championships
For club teams, stars on their shirts often represent continental championships, such as the Champions League. However, not all teams follow this tradition, and some use stars for aesthetic purposes only. For example, Manchester City has stated that their stars do not represent any specific achievement and are simply for aesthetic purposes.
Women's National Teams
Women's national teams often wear stars representing the men's team's achievements, rather than their own. For example, the Brazilian women's national team wears five stars on their shirts, representing the men's team's five World Cup titles. However, some argue that women's teams should have their own stars, representing their own achievements, rather than those of the men's team.