The Death of the Starball: Nike Must Completely Redesign Champions League Ball
Apr 13, 2026, by Chris
- Nike and Champions League: Nike will replace Adidas as the official Champions League ball supplier in 2027 for $45 million per year.
- End of the Starball: The iconic UEFA Champions League Starball design will be discontinued after the 2027 Champions League final because Adidas holds the exclusive rights to the star-panel design.
- New Design Needed: Nike, previously a supplier from 1997-2001, will need to create a completely new visual concept for the Champions League ball due to Adidas' trademark on the star design, which is based on UEFA's logo.
Nike is set to replace Adidas as the official Champions League ball supplier starting in 2027, but the biggest story is what this means for the ball's appearance. This supplier switch probably marks the official end of the most iconic football design in history: the UEFA Champions League Starball.
We won't see a Nike star-shaped ball likely
Adidas Holds Rights For Starball Design
Nike won't be able to release a star ball, likely.
According to a report from The Guardian, Adidas holds the exclusive rights to the famous star-panel ball design. Because of this, Nike cannot simply produce a ball with star-shaped panels. The 2027 Champions League final will be the absolute last time the classic Starball design is used on the pitch before Nike is forced to introduce a completely new visual concept.
The star design has been the Champions League logo since 1992 - way before the star ball design was introduced
Adidas' star ball design is actually just a copy of UEFA's star logo
This trademark situation is incredibly strange in our opinion. The star design used on the Adidas balls is simply a direct physical recreation of the official Champions League logo, which UEFA introduced way back in 1992. Adidas only introduced the physical star-shaped panels in 2008. It is completely bizarre that the German brand could somehow secure the exclusive rights for a ball structure that is entirely based on UEFA's own logo and intellectual property.
Nike previously supplied the Champions League balls between 1997 and 2001, utilizing much simpler, traditional panel designs featuring prominent Swooshes. The US brand will now have to work from scratch with UEFA to create a brand-new design identity for Europe's elite competition.
Adidas brought the star design to the Champions League in 2002
Adidas already registered a trademark for the Trionda ball panels that is in much doubt.
How do you feel about the death of the Champions League Starball design? What do you think the new Nike balls will look like? Let us know in the comments.
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