In a studio located near the coast of Miami Beach, Daniel Goldfarb owns an impressive collection — over 1,100 jerseys, all tied to the passion that defines him: Club Atletico River Plate.
Goldfarb holds the Guinness World Record for the largest collection of football shirts which was awarded to him in 2018, later beaten by Cássio Brandão from Brazil in 2024, because of the 410 River Plate jerseys he had at the time. Seven years later, Goldfarb holds the Guinness title for the largest collection of jerseys from one single club, and tripled his unique collection.
“At this moment, according to my spreadsheet, I have 1,122 — or something like that,” he said in a recent interview with Caplin News.
In 2019, River Plate’s then-president Rodolfo D’Onofrio personally acknowledged Goldfarb’s achievement, presenting him with an official certificate on behalf of the club for holding the Guinness World Record.
In South Florida, River Plate may not be a household name, but in Argentina and South America it is one of the most passionately followed soccer clubs. For Goldfarb, who grew up in the Buenos Aires neighborhood of Belgrano, a 30-minute walk from the River Plate stadium El Monumental, the club represents more than a sport.
“Of the things that aren’t important, it’s the most important,” Goldfarb says.
Goldfarb, 43, who owns businesses in Argentina, moved to South Florida in 2009. While he fit in quickly in Miami, his real passion seemed unfulfilled.
“I adapted easily to work, I adapted easily to friends — but the fútbol part was really hard,” he says. “There was no [River Plate fan group] when I got here. Watching games alone, after having gone to the stadium all my life, that really bothered me.”
However, things took a turn in 2014, when a group of local River fans opened the River Plate Filial of Miami, an official supporters group. The fans found themselves at home for the first time in years, sharing their love for River and having the possibility to bring the stadium experience to a small event in the heart of Miami.
“The filial makes you live it. It’s not the same as the stadium environment, but it’s very similar,” Goldfarb said. “The atmosphere is fútbol-heavy, and it’s really good.”
His passion for soccer started when he was nine years old. He remembers the first game he watched as if it were yesterday.
“The first time I sat and truly watched a football match was Argentina vs. Cameroon in the 1990 World Cup,” Goldfarb says. “They put the match on at school. I sat down and was like: ‘Wow, this is amazing!’”
Almost 20 years later, his passion for River turned into a collection. When he moved to Miami, Goldfarb unpacked a pile of jerseys he already owned. “I realized I had a bunch and I thought, I’d also like to have this one, that one, and that other one,” he said.
After wanting to buy a jersey from an old season that was no longer sold at the Adidas store at the River Plate stadium, he started digging deeper into Mercado Libre, Argentina’s version of Ebay.
“Back then,” Goldfarb says, “there were maybe 10 or 15 River collectors. I remember a guy who had a website called Mis Casacas. His collection was, wow.”
Although at first he didn’t intend to grow a huge collection, Goldfarb shortly realized that this interest of his had become more than a small hobby.
“I bought one that I thought was horrible, but I bought it just because it was from River,” he said with a laugh. “That’s when I realized there was no turning back.”
His collection has more than a century of River Plate history, with jerseys from every decade since the 1920s. Among them is the oldest known River Plate jersey on record, dating back to 1922. He also has the most honored jersey for River fans — the one Ángel Amadeo Labruna, the biggest legend in River Plate history, wore in his last game for the club in 1959.
Today, his collection lives in the living room of his private work studio, which is not open to the public. Some pieces were purchased (Goldfarb declined to specify prices), some were traded with other collectors and some were gifted by fans from around the world who follow his Instagram and TikTok accounts, @millonariocamisetas.
Goldfarb’s extensive collection inspires awe online. His followers frequently comment on his posts with messages like “What a crazy collection — every fan’s dream,” “Beautiful jerseys,” and “I wish I had a collection like this.”
With over 216,000 followers on Instagram, and 222,000 on TikTok, Goldfarb insists it is not about the fame or the money. “I’m not monetized. I don’t do ads,” he says. “Thanks to God, I can afford not to, so I can say whatever I want without anyone telling me what to do.”
Within this freedom that Dan has, he also uses his platform to incentivize good deeds.
“I’m the perfect target for betting companies,” Goldfarb said. “They offered me money to promote codes, and I said no. Why? Because I’m not going to promote something that hurts people. [Compulsive gambling] is harmful, and I won’t be part of that — even if they offer good money.”
“I use River to help people — to encourage those who have money to donate money, and those who have time to donate their time,” he says. Through “solidarity bets” with rival fans, Goldfarb wagers money on matches — but instead of pocketing the winnings, the loser donates to a charity chosen by the winner. It’s his way of turning fútbol rivalries into acts of kindness, encouraging his followers to do the same, the ones that have the time or means to help the ones in need.
His love for River even intersects with his religious beliefs. As a practicing Jew, River follows him everywhere he goes, even in his Shabbat kapote [a long coat worn by religious Jews]. “Everyone wears the same model, so I wanted to identify mine. I chose the River logo” to put on the inside of the coat, he says.
When asked about his thoughts on MLS, his answer was simple.
“I don’t watch MLS. I don’t watch European football,” he admits. “I’m not a fútbol guy. I’m a River guy.”
