The best footballs can make or break your playing experience, though they're often overlooked. The materials used both inside and out can affect the flight, the bounce, the longevity and your touch, so all need to be taken into consideration when buying your next football.
There's something suitable for everyone in this guide whether you're looking for a premium ball to use on matchdays or just something decent for a kickabout with mates. Below, you'll find the best footballs from several top manufacturers and retailers across a range of price points and we've included why we rate each ball so highly.
Of course, if you want to maximise your footballing experience, you'll need more than just the best footballs. So, to make sure you're covered, we recommend checking out our guides to the best football boots, best football boots under £100 and, if you're in goal, the best goalkeeper gloves. But, to kick-off our list of the best footballs on the market, scroll down below.
The quick list
With an iconic design, the Adidas UEFA Champions League Pro football has the substance as well as the style. A well made ball with high quality materials makes this ideal for matchday at a high level.
Best Known for its use in the FA Cup, the Mitre Ultimax Pro features a hand-stitched 14-panel design to offer durability, accuracy and consistency in its touch and bounce.
The second entry from Mitre, the 24 Delta Evo also features a 14-panel design but favours durability as well as performance, making it ideal for training and matches on all surfaces.
The Nike Premier League 24/25 Academy football features a vibrant look and a durable design. It doesn't compete with the best footballs out there, but at this price, it doesn't have to. It is a great training ball however.
This ball features an eight-panel design, a 3D textured design and POE foam allowing for a responsive, reliable and consistent touch. It's a versatile ball, great for both training and competitive play.
The Ligue 1 McDonald's 2024/25 Official Match Ball features a 12-panel construction of thermally-bonded panels. If you don't mind league-branding, this is a great quality football at a great price.
Best overall
A premium match ball, the Adidas UEFA Champions League Pro football brings top-tier performance and cutting-edge design to the field. Known for its iconic star pattern, this ball is highly visible, with a textured surface that offers excellent grip. The thermally bonded, seamless construction enhances aerodynamics, ensuring consistent flight which is ideal for high-level play. I personally love playing with this football, making it one of the best football accessories you have to get your hands on.
Its durable PU outer layer resists wear, while the butyl bladder maintains air retention, helping it perform consistently throughout matches without needing frequent adjustments. Designed for professional-level standards, this ball delivers a responsive touch and true bounce, which elevates dribbling, passing, and shooting accuracy.
While the price reflects its high quality, the UEFA Champions League Pro is an outstanding choice for serious players or collectors who want a reliable, high-performance ball with the prestige of the Champions League brand.
Best Mitre
The Mitre Ultimax Pro is a top-of-the-line football, ideal for competitive play. Known for being one of the longest-standing official match balls and used in the FA Cup, the Ultimax Pro uses modern tech including a 14-panel hand-stitched construction that provides durability and accuracy.
The textured outer layer offers exceptional grip and control, making it suitable for dribbling, passing, and shooting in all conditions. A bladder made of high-quality latex ensures excellent air retention, so the ball maintains its shape and bounce through rigorous play. Players seeking a ball that delivers performance and can offer durability, reliability and all-round quality, the Ultimax Pro is a very solid football.
When paired with the best lightweight football boots, the Mitre Ultimax Pro feels fantastic at your feet.
Best for durability
Made with durability and performance in mind, the Mitre 24 Delta Evo football is a quality ball designed for competitive play. Its 14-panel construction allows for consistent flight and the textured outer material enhances grip, making ball control easier, even in wet conditions.
The Hyperseam technology uses bonded and stitched seams, giving it added resilience against wear while improving its responsiveness on the pitch. So, even when the heavier best football boots for defenders come into contact with the Mitre 24 Delta Evo football, you can be confident of it staying intact.
Inside the ball, the bladder is made to retain air effectively, maintaining shape and bounce through intense gameplay. Overall, the Mitre 24 Delta Evo is a solid choice for players seeking a reliable, performance-driven football that withstands various field conditions and demanding play.
Best for kickabouts
The Nike Premier League 24/25 Academy football is a dependable training ball, made for consistent performance and durability. It's instantly recognisable too as it features the same vibrant design of the official Premier League ball.
Nike's Academy footballs come in a range of different colours, so you don't have to have Premier League branding. A textured surface provides good grip, allowing for better control while dribbling and shooting and it's built with machine-stitched panels, so it resists wear from regular use, making it ideal for training on various surfaces. This ball also features a good-quality rubber bladder, so it maintains its shape and bounce over time too.
While it's not as high-tech as match balls, the Academy Football gives players a realistic feel, mimicking game-day conditions. It isn't match ball quality, but it's a great choice for those wanting a quality training ball or a casual kickabout. Just like with the best Nike football boots, you seriously can't go wrong here.
Best Puma
Puma's Orbita 1 football is used in competitions like La Liga, EFL and the Carabao Cup because it offers great responsiveness, durability and consistency. I love the best Puma football boots, so it's no wonder this football performs so well, too.
Whether you're passing or shooting, the Puma Orbita 1 assists with precision thanks to its 8-panel design, helping with aerodynamics, and the textured PU outer surface, offering grip and control. Inside the ball, there's a high-quality rubber bladder that holds the ball's shape and bounce over time.
This ball not only looks good, but performs well too. It's reliable, versatile and it's perfect for training sessions and competitive play. Offering value and performance, you won't go wrong with the Puma Orbita 1.
Best value
The Ligue 1 McDonald's 2024-2025 Official Match Ball is made by Kipsta and it's a standout, combining high-performance design with vibrant branding depending on the competition. The same construction is also used on the Ligue 2, Europa League and Conference League balls.
This ball features advanced panel construction as well as premium materials on the outer layer, meaning it offers players precise accuracy in flight and added grip which is ideal for professional-level gameplay. Its thermally-bonded surface also improves aerodynamics and reduces water uptake in wet conditions. As you would expect, inside the ball there's a bladder which maintains shape and bounce over extended play.
If you're looking for a professional-level ball for a lower price, this is the ball to get. It's everything you'd expect from a professional-grade football, except for the price tag.
Best modern international
The Adidas UEFA Euro 2024 Pro Final Football is a top-tier match ball designed for the intensity of elite-level play. Made with a seamless, thermally bonded surface, it offers excellent aerodynamics for precise flight and reliable trajectory, minimising unpredictable movement in mid-air.
The ball's PU surface is textured to enhance grip and control, allowing for a cleaner touch when dribbling and shooting, even in wet conditions. Inside, a high-quality rubber bladder ensures optimal air retention, helping maintain shape and consistent bounce throughout play.
In short, this is one of the very top footballs around. If you're looking for a match ball suitable for professional-level play, The Adidas UEFA Euro 2024 Pro Final football is one of the very best around.
