Adidas released the new official match balls for the 2024/25 UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Women’s Champions League today, August 28. Both balls feature tip-to-tip stars again rather than the offset pattern that the brand has used on UCL and UWCL Official Match Balls since 2019.
The aesthetic of the UCL ball is simply executed. The stars, synonymous with the tournament, are presented in black against white hexagons with “turbo” red and “solar” yellow detailing.
The new UWCL official match ball features the exact alignment of stars and hexagons as the men’s ball but with its own graphics update.
Three bands flow along the surface in “turbo” red and “aurora” black, representing the shape of the trophy’s arms—the first time it’s been represented on the ball for the UEFA Women’s Champions League. The Adidas logo in “solar” yellow completes the new look.
In addition to the new graphic design, the ball features Adidas performance technologies engineered for improved precision and swerve. The updated Prisma surface for 2024/25 includes a new debossing pattern, which Adidas reported: “rigorously tested in wind tunnels and on the pitch.”
The outer texture coating, consistent across all Adidas UEFA Champions League official match balls, offers a secure grip and control. At the same time, Adidas engineered the thermally bonded seamless construction for performance during play.
A CTR-Core within the ball is “tuned for accuracy and consistency, supporting fast, precise play with maximum shape and air retention.” The core consists of two components: “a zero-waste bladder containing renewable, natural rubber and the carcass made from a double-patched PES fabric, giving the bladder its strength and shape.”
In addition to using recycled polyester and water-based ink on the new official match balls, Adidas used more bio-based substances in manufacturing than any previous UEFA Champions League official match ball. Adidas adjusted each layer of the ball to include corn fibers, sugar cane, wood pulp, and rubber without impacting performance.
Nick Craggs, global football general manager at Adidas said, “The greatest stage in European club football deserves the greatest performance technology to support the players on the pitch and excite the fans around the world. That’s why we’ve relentlessly pursued fresh innovations to make the most precise ball possible.
“For this upcoming season, we’ve rearranged the shell to once again feature the tip-to-tip star panels that first made them so iconic, but with a brand-new debossing configuration for enhanced aerodynamics. We can’t wait to see them in action at the feet of some of the best players in the world,” continued Craggs.
Guy-Lauren Epstein, UEFA marketing director, said, “The launch of the new Official Match Ball is always an exciting milestone for the fans and players, as we head into another exciting season. The iconic design of these new balls brings back memories of the magical moments we have witnessed over the years, while the cutting-edge technology is a symbol of the constant evolution and premium positioning that defines the competitions.”
Images courtesy Adidas
