adidas and Nike Elite Match Ball Round-Up - Football News

With the UEFA Champions League into the knock out stages, World Cup warm up friendlies coming in the next few weeks and the main event itself only a matter of months away, we're fast approaching the business end of the season. Here we take a look at three balls we'll be seeing a lot more of.
 

The adidas Finale Lisbon, Nike Ordem and adidas Brazuca will all be taking centre stage in the coming weeks, featuring in the Champions League final, Nike federation friendly games and the World Cup respectively. Each ball offers their own individual characteristics formed by differing technology.

adidas Lisbon Finale - The official match ball of all UEFA Champions League knock out games including the final in Lisbon, the adidas Finale Lisbon celebrates the return of the competition's final to the Estádio da Luz on 24th May for the first time since 1967 and pays tribute to the Lisbon's historic legacy of maritime navigation, exploration and discovery back in the 16th century.

The ball features the same star shaped panel design first introduced in 2010 but continues to evolve with adidas upgrading the foam inside the ball for improved rebound in cold conditions. Another feature carried over includes a thermal-bonded seamless surface for a more predictable trajectory, better touch and lower water uptake and is constructed by using high-end materials in the cover, backing and bladder.

Nike Ordem - Although not being used in any official competitions this season the Nike Ordem ball will feature heavily in the lead up to the World Cup. The ball will be used in all Nike federation friendlies, including Brazil, France, England, Portugal, USA, Holland, South Korea, Australia and Croatia.

Packed full of futuristic technologies, the Ordem consists of 12 fuse-welded panels in a 3-layer casing system and a poly-blend wrapped, free-floating carbon latex bladder. The ball uses Nike's new AEROW TRAC grooves that are debossed into the ball's surface to produce the truest trajectory. Nike’s RaDaR technology - a graphic pattern that creates a flickering effect as the ball rotates - is used to make the ball easier to see in a player’s peripheral vision.

adidas Brazuca - By now the whole world knows the adidas Brazuca is the official ball of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, the ball even has its own twitter account. The name 'Brazuca' is an informal local term which means "Brazilian" and describes the Brazilian way of life.





With an attractive design and a host of technological advances adidas have sought to put the criticism of the Jabulani behind them. The technology incorporated into the bladder and carcass of the Brazuca is identical to that of previous Tango 12, Cafusa and current UEFA Champions League official match balls. However, a unique symmetrical six panels structure alongside a different surface provides improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch.



The Nike Ordem, adidas Lisbon Finale and adidas Brazuca are all available at selected online stockists including Pro-Direct Select. Which ball gets your vote? Let us know. Join the conversation online, on Twitter and on Facebook.