Best Football Balls Of 2021: For Training, Matches and Futsal

If you think for a second-most of the football gear can be replaced with something else. For example, if you don’t have kits, you can replace them with shirts or football vests. If you don’t have goals, you can replace them with a pile of stones or jumpers, and if you don’t have pads, well you can use a piece of cardboard. But there is one thing that you can not replace with anything, and that’s the football ball.

Depend on how and where you want to use a football ball. They come in different sizes and materials. Let’s say that you want a ball which is durable and will last for years of kicking the ball against the wall. Then you will go for a training ball which will pull this challenge off.

But if you want a technology-advanced prodigy that is good enough to be used in the World Cup or Champions League, then you will go for a premium top-level football ball. In this article, you will find everything you need to know to pick the best football ball for you, along with our best football balls of 2020 on the market.

How To Choose The Best Football Ball For You

The first and most important thing you need to figure out before you buy football ball is on what surface you are going to play on. That is essential for both the balls durability and its playability, so make sure that you find out where you will use it most.

For example, if you are playing or training on grass, then Standart ball will do the job, but if you take it indoors or on the street, it won’t hold up for long. That’s why there are special balls made exactly for indoors, rough surfaces and the beach. Made your mind up where you will use the ball and then go and get the right football ball.

Does The Football Ball Size Matter?

Considering the size of the ball, you have to take into account where you will use it. The standard size of a football ball its size five but if you want to experience futsal football the ball size it’s 4 which oddly enough have the same weight as a size five ball.

If we leave that aside, you will need to decide how close to the football balls used by pros you want to go. If you want to go for the FIFA – approved match ball made from the best materials and utter joy to play with that will cost you more. But this doesn’t make it more durable than a training ball which will last for longer, but on the other hand, the playability won’t be the same as a top ball.

Apart from the standard size five ball for grass surface, there are more specific football balls for different types of football. For instance, the indoor ball its less bouncy with a felt surface, while the beach ball has a softer cover that makes it possible to kick it with barefoot.

Another type of surface is the astroturf pitches which differ significantly from grass and indoor surfaces. For that surface there arent specific types of balls so you can use a regular ball that can be used on grass as well.

Materials Used To Make a Football Ball

The fines football balls that give you the best feeling and control are made from synthetic leather. The polyurethane leather (PU) is a durable material that is used for the made of high-quality balls as well as most of the training balls. Although if you don’t want to pay a lot, there are also balls which are made of PVC, that are much cheaper.

Another thing you have to consider its what the bladder inside its made of. For the best quality balls its used latex bladder which gives you that softer feel but very often latex bladders require frequent inflation.

The other option its the butyl bladders which are used for the cheaper balls. It won’t give the same feeling that the quality balls gives you, but it will last inflated longer, and it will save you the hassle to find a pump.

Do I Need To Spend Fortune For Good Football Ball?

On this question, the answer is that it depends entirely on you how much you can spend and of course what kind of quality football ball you are after. If you want to experience the same feeling on the ball as professional football players, then you will consider buying premium footballs which price vary from £70 to £130 on one ball.

Then if you are not so keen on having premium footballs and spending that much money, you can go for the cheaper option of match balls which will cost you around £25 to £50. To buy a training ball, it will cost you much less expensive. They come in at £20 or less, and you can use them for a long time before they burst.  If you want to buy futsal, indoor or beach ball this will cost you around £20 to £30 or even more if you’re going to purchase an official match ball.

The Best Football Balls On The Market

1. Premier League Flight: For Premier League Fans

• Price at Amazon.com – £94.54

• Price at Nike.com – £124.95

The Premier League Flight its the official ball this year of the English top tier and as we all know it differs from the Seria A ball in terms of look. For the past few years Nike was the primary ball distributor of the best top 3 Leagues in the World, but last year La Liga switched to Puma and only Premier League and Seria A remain with Nike.

That ball has four panels which give the ball a bigger sweet spot so you can play passes with greater accuracy and better control. Another feature of that ball is the 3D-printed texture which provides optimal touch and control in adverse weather conditions plus The Nike Aero Trac grooves which will allow consistent spin of the ball.

• Key specs – Surface: Grass & Astroturf; Outer Material: Synthetic Leather/Polyester; Bladder Material: Latex; Panels: 4; Size: 5                                                                           

2. Adidas Finale Official Match Ball: The Best Match Football Ball 

• Price at Prodirectsoccer.com – £95.00

• Price at Amazon.com – £74.46

For the past twenty years, Adidas Finale has been the official football ball of The Champions League and became a symbol for millions of football fans around the World. Also, it became an inevitable part of the World Cup competitions for years, and it’s been the standout option for people looking to buy top football ball witch will deliver quality and joy when you are on the pitch.

As we all know every year, Adidas tries to refine the look and improve the quality of their ball, with the main change to this year balls being a slight overlap of the stars-shaped panels for a smoother and durable surface. The other thing is the multi-colours between the stars that show the passion of the fans around the World.

Also, you can rely on that this ball will not retain any water or lose its shape over time because of the seamless and thermally bonded processing. Another prove of the top quality of the Adidas Finale is that it has to pass an array of tests to earn FIFA Pro rating.

• Key specs – Surface: Grass & Astroturf; Outer Material: 100% PU; Bladder Material: Butyl; Size: 5                                                                                                                         

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3. Mitre Delta Professional Football: The Best Match Football Ball Under £50

• Price at Prodirectsoccer.com – £29.00

• Price at Amazon.com – £29.90

Many of the football fans probably underestimate Mitres football balls, and most of us associate it with Championship official ball. Still, to prove that we are all wrong about the quality of this ball, Mitre Delta is one of the best balls out on the market for under £50. It is approved by FIFA Pro Quality accreditation mark of a top-level ball, but at the same time, the price tags it’s more affordable than the official Delta ball used in the English Football League. 

With the Mitres revolutionary Hyperseam technology, it guaranty you zero water uptake so you can play in any weather conditions. Also, the laminated bladder inside the ball is designed to keep your shots straight and true as they fly towards to top corner of the net. The distinct 14-panel configuration and the Hyperfoam material gives you more power, speed and agility when you are shooting.

• Key spec – Surface: Grass & Astroturf; Outer Material: PU; Bladder Material: Laminated Butyl; Panels: 14; Size: 5

4. Nike Strike: The Best Training Football Ball

• Price at Nike.com £22.95

If you want a ball that you can use every day, Nike Strike will deliver the desired result. The textured, machined-stiched outer surface will give a great feeling on foot and at the same time durability. At the same time, the butyl bladder will retain its shape and stay inflated for long periods whenever you are using the ball every day or just once a month. 

The big advantage of Nike Strike is the vast range of designs will give you the option to choose whether you want to have Seria A ball or personalised Cristiano Ronaldo ball.

Another unique feature of this ball is the bold graphic design that helps you to track the ball as it pings around the pitch. That ball plays almost as same as a match ball and also it will last for longer, so if you want a cheaper option that will give you quality and durability, that’s the right ball.

• Key specs – Surface: Grass & Astroturf; Outer Material: TPU; Bladder Material: Butyl; Panels: 12; Size: 5 & 4

5. Puma La Liga 1 Official Ball: For La Liga Fans

• Price at Amazon.com £104.99

For season 2020/21 La Liga official ball its represented by Puma which replaced the long partnership with Nike. With the 18-panels surface, Puma Official ball will give you a superior touch on the ball while the POE foam underlayer ensures the consistent rebound of the ball.

Another feature of the ball is the Pumas stress-free dimple technology that enhances the “Sang Fang” 1.2mm PU surface which will give you improved aerodynamics and accurate flight when airborne. Also, the moulded panels are water, resistant, and that will allow you to play in any weather conditions and enjoy the quality of the ball.

• Key specs – Surface: Grass & Astroturf; Outer Material: PU; Bladder Material: Rubber; Panels: 18; Size: 5

6. Senda Rio: The Best Futsal Football Ball

• Price at Amazon.com £58.03

The difference between futsal and standard football ball it’s vast, so Futsal balls are smaller, less bouncy and tricky to control and kick. That’s why when you are watching futsal on TV you see very technical and skilfull players rather than the old fashion physical players.

The ball its made with a durable cover for extended durability due to the hard surfaces the ball its played. Also, the reinforced bladder will give you extended air retention while the Hi-Tech machine construction will guaranty stronger seams. The small size and the low bounce of the ball make it perfect for games in a small space.

• Key specs – Surface: indoor ( Futsal ); Outer Material: PU; Bladder Materials: Butyl; Panels: 32; Size: 2, 3 & 4

Yes, We Do Need Football Balls

As we mentioned earlier almost, every football gear could be replaced by something else whether it’s going to be piles of jumpers for goal or cardboard pads to protect your feet. But the only thing that we cannot replace is that unique sphere called ball which makes this game one of a kind and one of the greatest sports in the World.

So pick up your ball, put your shoes on, go outside and just play FOOTBALL.

Petar Leykov