The famed Champions League star ball is to be remodeled with Nike set to replace adidas as the official match ball provider.
German brand adidas has been the competition’s ball supplier since taking over from Nike in 2000.
Kepa Arrizabalaga of Arsenal holds multiple match balls during the warm up prior to the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Arsenal FC and Bayer 04 Leverkusen
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The starred balls have become an iconic feature on Champions League match weeksCredit: Getty
It was shortly after that adidas introduced the starred design in tandem with the Champions League logo.
In January, UEFA launched a commemorative 25th anniversary ball typifying the essence of European football’s top club competition.
UEFA tribute
UEFA said: “Since its debut, the adidas starball has transcended its role as a match ball to become a symbol of the UEFA Champions League's spirit and identity.
“Each edition has captured the essence of the competition – from the host cities to the players who ultimately lift the trophy – serving as a marker of football history in the making.”
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The ball is redesigned before each Champions League campaign with specific outlines for each final.
But 26 years after gaining the ball supplier contract, Nike have entered talks with UEFA to take over the rights.
A statement read: “UC3, the joint venture between UEFA and European Football Clubs (EFC) that controls and manages the strategic marketing, sales and delivery of commercial rights for UEFA club competitions, has agreed to enter an exclusive negotiation period with Nike to become the official match ball provider for all UEFA men’s club competitions from 2027 to 2031.
“This decision follows a highly competitive tender process launched in March 2026 by UC3 and its agency, Relevent Football Partners. No further comment will be made in the meantime.”
adidas will remain at the helm for an additional Champions League campaign.
That will see the iconic ball used for the final time in next season’s final emanating from the Estadio Metropolitano in Madrid.
Liverpool goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili
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This season's ball was in use across the midweek round of Champions League fixturesCredit: Getty
Anthony Gordon awarded MOTM in Champions League
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Newcastle's Anthony Gordon was handed the match ball after netting four goals in Newcastle's 6-1 destruction of Qarabag in FebruaryCredit: Getty
In response to their impending exit, adidas stated that it was 'proud to have created the most iconic ball range of all time'.
Fighting off competition
Whilst Nike closing in on succeeding adidas, sportswear brand Puma were also in the running.
Puma replaced Nike as suppliers of Premier League match balls ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.
However, Nike appear to have sealed a deal worth a whopping £33.5million which will also see them replace Decathlon as the match ball supplier for the Europa League and Conference League.
And Nike’s dominance appears to be a growing trend having reportedly agreed an £87m deal to replace adidas as the supplier of the German national team from 2027.
That would bring to an end a historic 70-year partnership between Germany and Adidas.