Football balls

It all starts with the right ball

It goes without saying that a football ball is at the centre of any football game, any training regime and indeed all aspects of the ‘beautiful game’. But more than that, having a good quality ball that’s suited to the type of football you play is essential to get the most out of your game. adidas has been making football balls for more than sixty years, and in that time, we’ve perfected the art of making balls fit for any situation – the rest is up to you. From the official ‘Al Rihla’ World Cup 2022 ball to Predator training balls and Real Madrid home mini balls, adidas has the football balls you need to rise to the challenge.

What makes a good football ball?

Every adidas football ball is engineered to offer the best performance for your game, and when coupled with a good pair of football boots, it can make you unstoppable. A good football ball has four important attributes: touch, how the ball feels when it connects with your foot; movement, how well the ball moves across the pitch; flight, how well it moves through the air when kicked aloft or thrown; and construction, how well the ball is held together, what it’s made of and how heavy it is. You should also consider how many ‘panels’ the ball has on its exterior, with a higher number generally making the football ball easier to control and a lower number providing greater speed.

What difference does a ball make?

Make sure you match the ball you’ll be using to the type of football you play when choosing between match, training and recreational practice balls. If you’re just kicking a ball about with mates for fun, a recreational ball is fine, but choose a football ball that’s most comfortable for you to use and suited to your age and abilities.

However, if you’re training to be a professional or even an amateur footballer, it’s important to use one like the one that will be used on match day, such as a training ball or an official match ball. In most cases, for adults, this will be a size 5 football ball as used in the top flights of the game. adidas offers practice balls that are durable and suitable for play on most surfaces (including artificial turf), training balls like the ones used by the pros, and official World Cup football balls featuring the ultimate in ball technology.

Featuring high quality materials such as durable polyurethane exteriors and rubber bladders, thermally bonded constructions for extra stability, and eye-catching iconic designs, adidas football balls have everything that you need to step up your game.

When did football stop using leather balls?

Leather balls were used widely until the late 1980s, when they were predominantly replaced by balls made of synthetic materials with similar qualities.

Who invented the first football ball?

It is not clear who invented the very first football ball. The game has roots dating as far back as 4 millennia, with football-like ball games being played in ancient China, Greece and Rome. A football ball itself was mentioned for the first time in an English medieval book dating back to 1486.

What is the size of a football ball?

The regulation size for a football ball is 22 cm in diameter, with a circumference of 68-70 cm. This is known as a size 5 ball, but smaller balls are available for children and for recreational purposes.

adidas and football are intertwined, and have been ever since we began making football balls and kits in 1961. Since then, adidas’ football balls have been seen around the world, from the World Cup final and club matches to friendly kick-abouts in gardens, parks and playing fields far and wide. Take your game to the next level with an adidas football ball.