Official World Cup balls: a potted history – in pictures

Mexico 1970 - Telstar The iconic 32-panel ball consisting of black and white pentagons and hexagons was designed for visibility on black and white televisions Photograph: PR

Jairzinho, of Brazil, rounds Luis Rubiños of Peru to score the fourth goal during their World Cup quarter-final played at the Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico, 14th June 1970. Brazil won the match 4-2. Photograph: Keystone/Getty Images

Germany 1974 - Telstar/Chile The Telstar structure remained the same for the Germany World Cup, with only the color of the lettering changed, but an all-white version, the Chile, was also introduced Photograph: PR

Johan Cruyff in action for Holland during their 1974 World Cup group stage match against Uruguay. Holland beat Uruguay 2-0 Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Argentina 1978 - Tango The 1978 match ball introduced the creative mismatch of design and structure with a 20-panel ball painted to look like it was made up of 12 interlocking circles Photograph: PR

Scotland's Archie Gemmill scores during Scotland's 3-2 victory over the Netherlands Photograph: Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Spain 1982 - Tango España As in 1974, there was little overt design variation of the match ball for the finals, but new waterproof seams reduced the ball picking up water and weight during games Photograph: PR

Italy's Marco Tardelli is faced by West Germany's Pierre Littbarski during the World Cup final at the Estadio Bernabéu in Madrid. Italy won 3-1 Photograph: Bob Thomas/Bob Thomas/Getty Images

Mexico 1986 - Azteca The Azteca was the first fully synthetic/polyurethane-coated match ball, and was the first match ball to feature a design specifically inspired by the host nation, with its motif inspired by Aztec architecture Photograph: PR

Diego Maradona rides a tackle during their match against South Korea, which Argentina won 3-1 Photograph: David Cannon/Getty Images

Italy 1990 - Etrusca Unico Aside from the Etruscan inspired markings on the ball, the Etrusco Unico’s innovations were beneath the surface – an interior layer of black polyurethane foam to improve waterproofing and performance Photograph: PR

Roger Milla (L) of Cameroon chases after René Higuita of Colombia on his way to score a goal and put his team through to the quarter-finals of the 1990 World Cup
Photograph: Eric Renard/TempSport/Corbis

USA 1994 - Questra The stars and stripes emblazoned Questra were covered in a layer of polystyrene foam that allegedly made the ball softer to the touch and faster off the foot Photograph: PR

Bulgaria's Hristo Stoichkov shows off his silky skills as he controls the ball, but alas they didn't help Bulgaria during their 4-0 defeat to Sweden Photograph: Popperfoto/Getty Images

France 1998 - Tricolore The first multi-colored ball (in France’s national colors) — the Tricolore used an advanced print technology for longer-lasting visibility, as well as a new type of foam in the structure Photograph: PR

Roberto Carlos leaps in to challenge Zinedine Zidane at the Stade de France where the home side defeated Brazil 3-0 to win the trophy Photograph: Daniel Garcia/AFP/Getty Images

Korea and Japan 2002 - Fevernova Breaking from the Tango design for the first time since 1978, the Fevernova featured a similar structure as previous balls with an adjustment to the foam structure to improve flight stability Photograph: PR

Patrick Vieira of France challenges for the ball with Papa Bouba Diop of Senegal during their group stage match which Senegal won 1-0 Photograph: Gary M. Prior/Getty Images

Germany 2006 - Teamgeist The Teimgeist was a significant structural change to the ball, with a ‘propeller design’ meant to even out variations in how the ball behaved depending on where it was struck (the previous design’s seams and ridges could supposedly influence the flight of the ball if struck first) Photograph: PR

David Beckham's free-kick sneaks past Ecuador keeper Cristian Mora during England's last sixteen match Photograph: Tom Jenkins

South Africa 2010 - Jabulani The Jabulani featured a spherically molded eight panel structure that supposedly made it 'rounder' than previous balls. It also had a 'grip and groove' surface meant to give better contact with the striking boot. The same surface features in the Brazuca Photograph: SA

Germany's goalkeeper Manuel Neuer looks on as a shot by England player Frank Lampard bounces on the goal-line, before the goal was disallowed Photograph: Jewel Samad/AFP/Getty Images

Brazil 2014 - Brazuca Whilst the technology incorporated into the bladder and carcass of the Brazuca is identical to the Euro 2012 matchball and the Uefa Champions League official match ball, a new structural innovation with a unique symmetry of six identical panels alongside a different surface structure will provide improved grip, touch, stability and aerodynamics on the pitch Photograph: PR

Lionel Messi launches the adidas brazuca, the Official match ball of the Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup, for more info on the ball, visit www.adidas.com/lovemeorloseme Photograph: PR