Australians travelling overseas often get a kick out of seeing familiar AFL jumpers in exotic places of the world.

But there is no such novelty when it comes to the jerseys of the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester City. They are standard attire in all pockets of the world - and in less than a year they are set to be flooding the MCG.

Real Madrid's Pepe with Barcelona's Lionel Messi. Credit:AFP

While it is possible to quibble whether the sport should be referred to in Australia as football or soccer - the latter to differentiate it from Australian football - there can be no argument the code is a significant one here.

European soccer has long had a passionate following in Australia, but with the proliferation of overseas leagues broadcast on pay TV and the deluge of news available daily through the internet, the number of ardent fans is significant.