So you have probably heard that in soccer, there are professional soccer balls.
While you have your standard balls, you also have balls specifically designed for top-level soccer.
However, these soccer balls that your Neymars and De-Bruyne’s will be playing with are of top quality.
They will set you back quite a bit, as they aren’t cheap.
But how much exactly are professional soccer balls?
Plus, are they even worth it for you?
In this post, I will answer these questions, plus I will give you some reasons why buying a professional ball could be a good idea.
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How Much Does A Professional Soccer Ball Cost?
A professional soccer ball will cost you $160.
This is the same ball that will be used within the top leagues you watch on TV.
You can sometimes get one of these balls cheaper, of closer to the $100 mark.
However, that will be for older soccer balls that were made for the previous seasons.
So if you want the currently popular and used top ball being used in professional soccer, you will need to spend around $160.
If you are like me, reading that price tag may have you quite shocked.
Trust me, I reacted the same when I first discovered how much they cost a few years back.
You may wonder why it is so expensive and who exactly would buy one for this price.
Since it is an amount that is close to some consoles and gadgets, however, its a round ball we’re talking about.
The short answer is that its simply better quality.
They are put together using the best materials, give you improved spin and flight and are better at your feet.
I will though take you through more of their pros and cons in the comparison section later on.
How Much Are The Match Balls Used In Big Leagues?
Each league in professional soccer partners up with a brand to launch a soccer ball for each season.
Now, these balls are not only branded with the league on them but are the top ones you can get.
In this section, I will go over the balls that are currently being used for the 2021/22 season.
Premier League – $160
The ball used in the premier league is the Nike Premier League Flight.
Coming in at $160, too, this ball consists of white, hyper crimson and black.
There is a lot to talk about the high tier ball, with a number of features included.
Of which includes:
- ACC is something that is added to their cleats gives the ball a consistent feel in all conditions.
- 4 fused panels
- 37 per cent synthetic leather, 33 per cent rubber, 20 per cent polyester and 10 per cent cotton
Now there are different versions of the premier league soccer ball.
Which is something Nike with a lot of their soccer products to cater for other budgets.
You have the most expensive ball that we have talked about called ‘Flight’, but you also have ‘Strike’ and ‘Field’.
The Strike version comes in at $35, whereas the Field one costs a bit lower at $25.
MLS – $160
For Major League Soccer, you have the MLS Pro Ball.
Its the official ball for that league and has a design which includes colours and details from the countries.
It costs $160 and is a quality ball made of 70 per cent Polyurethane, 20 per cent recycled Polyester and 10 per cent viscose.
La Liga
For the Spanish first division La Liga, they have done things differently compared to other leagues in Europe.
Unlike the Italian and the English league, there will be two balls called the Accelerate and Adrenalina ball.
The first one, the Accelerate ball, is used in most Spanish league games.
However, with the exception of big ties, such as El-Classico, where the Adrenalina its yellow colour will feature in its place.
Serie A – $160
Serie A is also partnered up with Nike having the Nike Serie A Flight ball.
This is the one you will see in league games featuring top sides such as Juventus, AC Milan and Inter.
Now I must say, while the EPL ball is really nice, the Serie A one appeals more.
The blue design looks quite fresh, which along with a fed swoosh in the centre, makes for a pretty cool match ball.
Just like with the ball used for the premier league, Nike has the same materials for the Serie A version.
Bundesliga – $159.99
Derbystar announced the renewal of their partnership with the Bundesliga by presenting the Bundesliga Brilliant APS soccer ball.
There are two balls in total. You have one for the first division and the other for a second tier.
Following the trend of other soccer balls in this list, these cost $159.99.
Are Expensive Soccer Balls Worth It? – 7 Pros And Cons
If there is something, I have learnt from years of playing soccer.
It is that you do get what you pay for.
Because of that, its almost always best to invest in as higher quality equipment as you can afford.
As my experiences, I have taught me that they just do a better job in all aspects.
If you buy a cheap ball, it will for sure do the job, but that is it.
The same goes for low priced boots.
They will certainly suffice but quite obviously won’t feel the same as $300.
From the materials, the feel on your feet, and even connecting with the ball.
So its the expensive gear that will give you that optimum experience.
And honestly, when you spend big, it is hard to go back to cheaper stuff.
As you notice that quality difference, which makes you, as a passionate footballer, want to keep using the best stuff.
Now while professional soccer balls have their pros, like everything, they carry some cons.
So in this section, I will go over why they are and aren’t worth it.
Pro 1 – Best Materials
The first thing you are paying for with a more expensive soccer ball is the materials.
When you compare the materials between a brands top ball and a cheaper ball, they won’t be the same.
This is because more work and money goes into producing the higher quality ball, and the price point has to be set high for it.
So as a result, you won’t get the same experience playing with both of them, because they will feel completely different.
This is a good thing as if you go with me you will notice how the ball.
Pro 2 – Will Last Longer
Now while with the proper care, any soccer balls can last for a long time.
Something the expensive soccer balls have the upper hand on is they are more durable.
This is due to the materials used being of higher quality and therefore means it will last longer.
I have had situations plenty of times over the years where I have brought cheap balls.
Which has either popped, gone egg-shaped or even worse, deflated due to a puncture.
So like with a lot of items, if you want a ball that you will get a lot of use in.
Then going for an expensive soccer ball is a really good idea.
Pro 3 – More Dictation Of It
On TV, you might have noticed that when the pros hit the ball, they have his swerving all over the place.
While, of course, professionals have great techniques, the expensive balls are designed to have a better flight than cheaper models.
For example, the Nike Flight soccer ball is proved to have a 30% improvement in flight, as the brand has put hours into their top model to make it as good as possible for footballers.
So when it comes to doing a Ronaldo knuckleball, a Messi finesse shot or even a Zlatan overhead kick, its the expensive soccer balls which you really feel the effect.
Con 1 – You Don’t Want To Lose It!
Having an expensive soccer ball is a nice item to have and will give you one of the best experiences when playing soccer.
However, the last thing you want to do is lose it.
I can recall when I was younger playing soccer on concrete at school, of which I lost count of the soccer balls I lost over the years.
Whether that was kicking them over fences, forgetting where I put it because they are small or just having them nicked.
When you play with others especially, these things can happen and when you consider that the ball is closer to $200 than $100.
You, therefore, need to be really careful with it if you are thinking of getting one.
The last thing you want is to buy a professional soccer ball, only to lose it after a week of getting it.
Con 2 – Investing In Other Soccer Gear First
You may be on this post now because you have an interest in getting a professional soccer ball.
However, while they are worth it, I wouldn’t say its a priority over other equipment.
Now, of course, a soccer ball is important, as that is what you use to play the game.
But I would recommend investing in the best footwear, some good shin pads,
Conclusion
I hope this post not only gives you a better idea of how much professional soccer balls cost.
But also help you if you were looking into them on whether they are for you or not.
As you can see by the prices, you will need more than a bit of loose change to get the best of the best.
However, they do offer the best quality you could ever look for in a soccer ball.
If you do have any questions on this topic, do let me know below 🙂
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