The 10 best Champions League balls

Champions League is, without any doubt, the most glamorous tournament in European football, a great chance for the players to become stars and for sponsors and brands to shine. But as adidas - the main sponsor of the Champions League for many years - can only put hands of some shirts, not every shirt, it has only one way to stand out with fans and viewers.

We’re talking about match balls which, alongside with referees’ kits, are adidas’ chance to make use of its contract, renews in 2011 and valid until the end of 17/18 season. And as the Three Stripes are providing for news match ball every year, with special editions for the finals, nss sports decided to choose the 10 best Champions League’s balls, including the one which will be used during 2017 Final in Cardiff, at the Millennium Stadium.

#10) Final Lisbon 2014

In this ball realized for the Champions League final at Stadio da Luz, adidas wanted to celebrate the greatness of Portuguese explorers, with lines that recall those of compass and quadrants, used to read the nautical maps.

#9) Season 2014/15

According to adidas, this was the first ball with a clear distinction between left and right sides which - always according to the German brand - reflects the two team which will face each other on the pitch.

#8) Season 2013/14

The colors of this ball gave immediately a clear feel of energy and, in fact, adidas describes this way the design’s meaning: “The ball represents the energy released during games in stadiums, which radiate as light in all Europe”.

#7) Season 2011/12

Maybe adidas didn't give astonishing explanations for this ball made for the 2011 Champions League, but we like it. A lot.

#6) Munich Final 2012

Made for the final at the Allianz Arena, the ball, as the Champions League logo in the middle, has a grill pattern which recalls the external structure of the stadium.

#5) Wembley Final 2013 

For the second time in three years, the final is played at Wembley, this time to celebrate the 105th anniversary of the Football Association.

#4) Madrid Final 2010

A very important ball, both for Inter and adidas’ history. The final in Madrid celebrates the tenth anniversary of the final balls’ special editions, celebrated with ten “stars” with previous finals’ cities and years.

#3) Cardiff Final 2017

The top-3 opens with this year’s ball - presented just yesterday - which will be used for the final in Cardiff. Among the stars that compose the design, there’s the dragon symbol, meaning of strength and bravery in the Celtic tradition.

#2) Berlin Final 2015

For the “home” final, adidas produced a ball with a revolutionary design. The colors are gaudy and you can see the Brandenburg Gate, the symbol of the german power, and the bear, symbol of the city of Berlin.

#1) Season 2010/11

You can call us nostalgic, but the 2010/11 Champions League season’s ball is, in our opinion, the best of them all. Probably just for its simplicity.

#Bonus: Season 2002/03

And talking about nostalgia, how could we not remember the adidas ball made in 2002 - one of the first with the star design - which made thousands of kids and boy dream at the time.