How the Champions League ball changed from 2001 to 2023: photos of all models

February 14 starts the 1/8 finals of the Champions League. The following pairs will fight to reach the quarterfinals: PSG and Bayern Munich, AC Milan and Tottenham. This evening, for the first time , the players will play with a new ball from adidas. It is made with the latest technology. But it was not always like this.

Until 2001, neither with the design nor with technology did not bother. Back then, the technical sponsor of the Champions League was Nike.

When adidas took over, they started to produce a special ball for each tournament. A unifying design element appeared – the star. Initially, UEFA did not appreciate this decision. But the functionaries trusted the sponsor. And for more than 20 years the stars have been decorating the balls, being the hallmark of the Champions League.

Every year adidas produces two balls. One – for the group stage and playoffs (an example – in the photo above). The second is for the final. We are going to study its variants.

Milan final ball (2001).

The first model of the Cup ball was presented in the spring of 2001. Thanks to the use of modern technology, it became one of the best in the world. The ball was named Finale. Design: white background with gray stars. Soccer legends took part in the design: Zinedine Zidane, Raul, Patrick Kluivert and Alessandro Del Piero.

Milan final ball

Final ball in Glasgow and Manchester (2002-2003).

The next two seasons were played with the same ball. And it was the only time in history (after 2001). They were never repeated again. The black and white model was made with a reference to the traditional colors of the Champions League logo.

Glasgow and Manchester final ball

Gelsenkirchen final ball (2004)

It was the first ball to be designed in a bright color. The color blue was chosen. It was used, of course, for the coloring of the stars. But there were no other excesses. The same can’t be said for the technology. There was a real revolution here. For the first time, the 32 fragments of the sphere were not joined by hand, but with the help of a new thermal bonding technology.

The final ball in Gelsenkirchen

Final ball in Istanbul (2005)

This season adidas changed the color again. The technology remained the same. It was a success for the period. The single block improved the performance of the ball. Especially in the rain. Moisture absorption was reduced to zero. So the German company stayed true to its previous developments.

The ball of the final in Istanbul

The ball of the final in Paris (2006)

Teamgeist technology was used for the first time. The essence – the so-called “petals” of a new shape were developed. Now instead of 32 fragments there were only 14. This made the ball round, which made it easier to control on the field. The technology was developed specifically for the World Cup – 2006. It was also in Paris that the tradition of playing with a brightly colored ball was laid down .

The ball of the final in Paris

The ball of the Athens final (2007).

Identical to the 2006 edition. Adidas surprised all the fans with the color scheme – a combination of gray and navy blue. It reminded of the Roteiro model. It was used at the European Championship in 2004. The configuration of the panels and the design of the ball frame have not changed.

Athens final ball

The ball of the final in Moscow (2008)

A German company decided to surprise everyone and made a ball with elements of the city that hosted the final. Moscow is associated with a combination of yellow, gold and red. There is a reference to the Kremlin Cathedral and Red Square.

Moreover, the model was produced with the revolutionary PSC-Texture technology. It was made of polyurethane, latex chamber and blended fabric (cotton and polyester). This improved the accuracy of the kick and improved ball control.

Ball final in Moscow

The ball of the final in Rome (2009).

The tradition of making a reference to the city continued. Here we see an appeal to the history and values of the Eternal City. Each star had its own meaning: speed, team cohesion, justice and power. Here the associations with Roman gladiators are coming through. The ball had a high quality outer shell. It resembled a “goose skin”. This created optimal contact between the cleat and the ball.

Ball of the final in Rome

Final ball in Madrid (2010).

With the tenth anniversary ball, they decided to pay tribute to the previous host cities. References to all former finals were presented. At the same time, the background has the colors of the Spanish flag. As for the technology, it has not changed in any way.

The ball of the final in Madrid

London final ball (2011)

A luxurious design was developed for the London final. To this day, it is still considered to be the best. The model had a reference to the English lions. But the main decision in the design is the St. George’s cross. Diamond texture was involved in the creation of the ball. It created additional control over the ball. Aerodynamics and water protection were improved.

London final ball

Munich final ball (2012)

The ball of the LCH final in Germany is remembered by many. Why? It’s all about the atypical coloring. It was inspired by the coloristic solution of the unique facade of the Allianz Arena. And it wasn’t just the color, it gave the impression of texture. The technology didn’t change either.

The final ball in Munich

The final ball in London (2013)

London once again hosted the Champions League deciding match. Wembley Stadium has already hosted the major European Cup seven times in 50 years. The first was in 1963. adidas celebrated this anniversary with an unusual design. Also the surface of the model was characterized by a unique texture, thanks to which it is possible to change the direction of the ball’s flight.

The ball of the final in London

Lisbon Final Ball (2014)

Adidas dedicated a white background color with a blue-orange colorway to the Portuguese capital. The blue speaks of seafarers. The orange is about the terracotta tiles of the city’s houses. The surface of the ball consisted of glossy synthetic leather and a layer of foam. This allowed it to retain its shape and recover its shape in seconds after impact.

The Lisbon final ball

Berlin final ball (2015).

The design is based on the main elements of the symbolism of the German capital (and landmarks). The main ones are the Brandenburg Gate and the bear. All this refers us to the street culture of Berlin. The model is made of panels in the shape of stars and hexagons. The camera is made of latex.

Berlin final ball

Milan Final Ball (2016)

In honor of Milan, adidas applies elements of the architecture of the La Scala opera house in the design. The ball also has a reference to graphic constructions that are linked to stars.

The special technology showed stunning results in the ball’s moisture absorption and sphericity tests. The ball now meets even the most stringent FIFA requirements.

Milan final ball

The ball of the final in Cardiff (2017)

The final in the north is reflected in the design of the model. The stars feature the symbolic Welsh dragon. The seamless surface of glossy synthetic leather provided a soft contact. There were no special innovations in terms of technology.

Final ball in Cardiff

The ball of the final in Kiev (2018)

In 2018, the decisive match was hosted by Kiev. The German company refused to refer to the city. They did away with the combination of the colors of the Ukrainian flag on simple geometric shapes.

The ball of the final in Kiev

The ball of the final in Madrid (2019)

If earlier models were with colored stars on a white background, now they did the opposite. The ball of the final in Madrid became the brightest due to the red and orange color.

A separate accent is the image of the famous statue of Neptune with a trident. This is the meeting place for Atletico Madrid fans. This is how the designers wanted to show the unity of fans from all over the world.

The final ball in Madrid

Istanbul final ball (2020)

The ball with a map of the streets of Istanbul and the great Bosphorus on purple and pink caused a sensation. It was hand-painted! Oriental style united Asia and Europe. After all, the two continents are separated by a river.

By the way, the micro-relief image helped to significantly improve the grip between the ball, cleats and gloves.

The ball of the final in Istanbul

Final ball in Porto (2021)

The venue of the final was moved several times due to the coronavirus pandemic. This year marked the 20th anniversary of the first Champions League ball by adidas. It was decided to present a mashup version. It included elements from previous finals of the tournament.

Porto final ball

The ball of the final in Paris (2022).

St. Petersburg was waiting for the final of the Champions League, but UEFA moved the decisive game to Paris. That year, bright colors were abandoned. Pyrostrom technology was used. The coating was made of 100% polyurethane. The ball was decorated with a three-dimensional star texture.

The ball of the final in Paris

Istanbul final ball (2023)

The design is inspired by traditional Turkish ornamentation. The gold symbolizes the rich history of Istanbul, the silver reminds of the Champions League trophy. All previous technologies have been retained: butyl rubber chamber, 100% polyurethane, seamless surface.

Istanbul final ball