In over 90 years of World Cup history, we've witnessed the introduction of 22 distinct soccer balls along the 21 editions of the tournament. The soccer ball is pivotal to the game, and its evolution speaks to how technology can significantly impact gameplay. We have selected the featured balls based on their aesthetics, performance, and nostalgic value. These are the best balls in the history of the World Cup.
- Teamgeist — Germany 2006 🇩🇪
- Al Rihla — Qatar 2022 🇶🇦
- Telstar — Mexico 1970 🇲🇽
- Brazuca — Brazil 2014 🇧🇷
- Tango — Argentina 1978 🇦🇷
- Azteca — Mexico 1986 🇲🇽
- Tricolore — France 1998 🇫🇷
- Tricolore 19 — France 2019 🇫🇷
- Jabulani — South Africa 2010 🇿🇦
- Tiento and T-Model — Uruguay 1930 🇺🇾
- Buy the Exclusive Leo Messi Collectible Boot
Teamgeist — Germany 2006 🇩🇪
Source: FIFA World Cup Facebook
The Adidas Teamgeist, used in the 2006 World Cup in Germany, is probably the most popular World Cup ball ever. Apart from its sleek design, Adidas innovated by reducing the number of panels from the standard 32 to just 14 for a more aerodynamic and perfectly round shape. This new design, thermally bonded rather than stitched, provided a smoother surface for striking the ball. Its lightweight feel allowed for absurd long range goals such as Steven Gerrard and Philipp Lahm’s. The ball also marked a historic first: it featured the names of the teams, stadiums, match times, and dates.
The Teamgeist was used in iconic moments, such as when Zinedine Zidane headbutt against Materazzi in the final against Italy. This ball also witnessed Leo Messi’s World Cup debut, where he became the fifth-youngest scorer at only 18 years old.
Al Rihla — Qatar 2022 🇶🇦
Source: GQ
The Adidas Al Rihla shows us how far soccer balls have come in terms of technology and design. Named “Al Rihla” (“The Journey” in Arabic), it incorporated a chip to detect offside positions. Equipped with a new suspension system at its core, the Al Rihla allowed video match officials to access live data, which allowed them to monitor the ball’s movement 500 times per second. Both innovations contributed to an unprecedented level of accuracy in refereeing. The ball’s vibrant colors and design were inspired by Qatar’s architecture and flag. Adidas claimed it to be the fastest ball in flight in World Cup history.
Al Rihla will always be remembered as the ball that witnessed Messi’s World Cup journey end on a triumphant note. Not only did he become a world champion with his beloved teammates and friends, but he also became his team's all-time leading scorer at a World Cup. Having scored 13 goals in the tournament, he even surpassed Pelé’s record of 12.
Telstar — Mexico 1970 🇲🇽
Source: Inside FIFA
The Adidas Telstar introduced at the 1970 World Cup and used again in 1974. It was the first official World Cup ball specifically designed for the event. It marked the start of Adidas’s long partnership with the tournament, still current today.
Named after the satellite that broadcast the World Cup, its 32-panel black-and-white pentagonal and hexagonal pattern was created for better visibility on black-and-white TV. It's the iconic soccer ball that set the standard for all stereotypical looking cartoon balls we all know and love today.
Brazuca — Brazil 2014 🇧🇷
Source: 10wallpaper
Featuring a colorful pattern inspired by Brazil’s culture, The Adidas Brazuca wasn’t only a looker, but a great advancement in soccer ball history, specially after the Jabulani fiasco. It was the first World Cup ball named by fans. The design, which consisted of six thermally bonded polyurethane panels to improve consistency and enhance its aerodynamic properties, was even tested and approved by NASA. It struck a balance between being lightweight without the instability issues of its predecessor.
The Brazuca was praised by players for its playability and became part of indelible World Cup moments, like Brazil’s 7–1 defeat to Germany and Luis Suárez’s infamous bite.
Tango — Argentina 1978 🇦🇷
Source: worldcupballs.info
The Adidas Tango’s design was so effective that it remained largely unchanged for six subsequent World Cups, European Championships and Olympics, until 2002. Its design featured 32 panels with large black segments that highlighted the white circular gaps. This ball’s exceptional performance, thanks to its combination of leather and polyurethane, made it waterproof and allowed it to maintain a consistent weight throughout the match, unlike the heavy leather balls that preceded it.
Azteca — Mexico 1986 🇲🇽
The “Hand of God” ball auctioned off, Source: Prensa Libre
The Adidas Azteca, the official ball of the 1986 World Cup in Mexico, is a landmark in World Cup history as the first fully synthetic ball. Unlike its predecessors, it didn’t absorb water and had a more consistent wight in wet conditions. Its design, inspired by Aztec architecture and murals, beautifully showcased its home country’s rich heritage.
During the tournament, Diego Maradona scored two legendary goals with the Azteca: the controversial “Hand of God” and the stunning solo run against England. In 2022, the ball that starred alongside Maradona was auctioned off for $2.36 million.
Source: The Guardian
Tricolore — France 1998 🇫🇷
Source: worldcupballs.info
The first multicolored ball used at a World Cup debuted in France 1998. The Tricolore featured the colors of the tricolored French flag—blue, white, and red—in a distinctive Tango-style pattern. This design not only looked beautifully French, but foreshadowed France’s victory on home soil, with players like Zinedine Zidane showcasing their skills with the Tricolore. The Tricolore incorporated advanced technology: micro-bubbles filled with gas for durability, stability mesh layers, polyethylene foam, and woven fiber reinforcements.
Tricolore 19 — France 2019 🇫🇷
Source: Soccer Bible
The Adidas Tricolore 19 was used in the knockout stage of the 2019 Women’s World Cup and saw the USWNT fourth victory in a global setting. Inspired by the original Adidas Tricolore ball from the 1998 World Cup in France, it pays tribute to the last time France hosted the tournament and their first championship win. The Tricolore 19 features a bold, flashy pattern that adds a fun twist compared to the more understated designs of the men’s World Cup balls.
Jabulani — South Africa 2010 🇿🇦
Source: New Atlas
The Adidas Jabulani is one of the most well-remembered World Cup balls, albeit for controversial reasons. Named after the Zulu word meaning “Be Happy!”, it featured a striking design with 11 different colors representing the players on the field and South Africa's official languages. However, its innovative technology aimed at improving aerodynamics, backfired.
The Jabulani received widespread criticism from players. Goalkeeper Julio César described it as “horrible” and likened it to a department store ball. Its unpredictable flight path caused chaos during matches; however, it brought us unforgettable moments, like Rob Green's mishap against Germany. Despite its flaws, the Jabulani remains a loved version of the World Cup ball as it raised a generation of players alongside it. A standout in World Cup ball history for all the wrong reasons.
Tiento and T-Model — Uruguay 1930 🇺🇾
T-model, Source: Google Arts & Culture
We had to include at least one vintage model, and the design of both balls used during the 1930 final between Uruguay and Argentina illustrates just how much soccer has evolved since its early days. These were leather balls with stitching and a cow bladder inside, which quickly lost pressure. However, these balls were very heavy, prone to soaking, and difficult to play with.
In 1930, there was no official tournament ball. Due to deep-seated rivalry, Argentina and Uruguay, the finalists, insisted on using balls made in their respective countries. This created a dilemma for the referee, but they finally found a solution. Argentina led during the first half using their ball, Tiento. However, in the second half, Uruguay's T-Model replaced Argentina's ball, and the match dynamics shifted. Uruguay went on to win the first World Cup 4–2 on home soil with their national ball. Both balls are exhibited at the Manchester National Football Museum.
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