DBasia.news – How often have you heard former players and fans complain about the ball over the years? In the 1950s and 1960s, there were many complaints about the ball soaking up too much water in the rain that it became too heavy to play with and could even be dangerous to kick.
From what we know, balls were made of cowhide and sewn together. The ball was labeled for the first time in the 1960s, with the words Balon Oficial para Equipos de 1º División (the official ball for top-level division teams) sewn into the center of the ball.
LaLiga did not use official match balls until 1996. Until then, matches were played with the balls used in the World Cup. LaLiga broke this tradition in the 1988-1989 season by using balls manufactured by the company Mery Sport, which are no longer in operation.
FIFA has used Adidas balls over the years, such as the Tango, Azteca and Etrusco which are often designed with pentagon or hexagon panels in the iconic black and white colours, and these balls have become accessories in the Spanish league.
That all changed in 1996, when LaLiga signed an agreement with major American sports brand, Nike, which provided the ball until the 2018-19 season. The evolution of this ball began in the late 1990s and early 2000s with new designs incorporating new technologies that emerged each season.
The ball slowly left its classic black and white color. Match balls were slowly being produced in bright colors such as blue, yellow and green, as is the case with the circular and geometric panel designs.
In 2004, the yellow ball came into use in inclement weather conditions in LaLiga matches. Today, balls are made of synthetic materials that are strong enough to withstand the forces and pressures of professional play, and are more water-resistant.
In 2019, LaLiga announced its newest partnership with global sports brand PUMA, to replace Nike after a 20 year partnership. The partnership with PUMA aims to create a ball that is synonymous with LaLiga around the world.
The 18 panel Final 1 ball, which was launched that summer, featured an improved aerodynamic design, with a higher level of water resistance, longer durability, and was followed by two new designs for the 2020-21 season: the ball accelerate with its traditional white color combined with splashes of red, blue and yellow for the main league match ball, and Adrenalina with a more striking yellow design for use in El Clasico matches and other big games.