Adidas and Leo Messi just officially unveiled the ball of the 2018 World Cup at an event in Moscow. Called 'Telstar 18', it's set to be used in some of the upcoming internationals and is already available to buy.
After the last few Adidas tournament balls introduced names that derived from local themes and languages, Adidas looks to its back catalog for the 2018 World Cup ball, which is named after the original Adidas Telstar used in the late 1960s and 1970s.
Adidas Telstar 18 - World Cup 2018 Ball
This image shows the Adidas Telstar 18, official ball of the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The 2018 FIFA World Cup ball, Telstar, has a white base with a set of black-to-grey gradients placed all over its upper, a modern interpretation of the iconic look of the original Telstar, used in 1970 and 74, with its 32 black and white panels, a design that has become synonymous with the sport itself.
All logos, including Adidas', the FIFA World Cup 2018 logo and the Telstar name on the 2018 World Cup ball are golden.
For the first time in years, the Adidas Telstar 2018 World Cup soccer ball introduces a brand-new panel shape, which was extensively tested at various FIFA youth tournaments, with the U-20 World Cup in South Korea being the most recent example.
Like its predecessor, the Adidas Telstar 18 football has just six panels. They are glued together in a seamless construction and feature a distinct 3-D textured upper for control and grip.
Already available to buy, the Adidas Telstar 18 OMB retails at EUR 150 (USD 165).
Do you like the FIFA World Cup 2018 ball? Share your thoughts on the Adidas Telstar 18 in the comments below, and check out the World Cup Kit Overview for all leaked and official jerseys of the tournament.