Champions League Ball Celebrates 20 Years Of “Starball”

If you noticed the new look match ball being used in Champions League action this week, you might be wondering what the slick silver design is all about. The ball itself is the adidas Finale Pro, a special edition release that honors 20 years of the iconic “Starball” Medium star design and highlights every UCL final host since 2001.

Personally, I love the idea of celebrating the history of the tournament in any way, so placing the hosts on a individual panel is a really nice touch. It creates a connection with the past and provides a very simple history lesson to players that get to see the ball in person. The nice thing is that the same design and text runs across all levels of this particular model of ball, so the $40 version – without the same performance benefits – has a similar look.

Find the Finale Pro ball available at SOCCER.com.