The Complete History of adidas' Official FIFA World Cup Soccer Ball

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adidas official World Cup soccer ball
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When you think about soccer, most think about adidas. The three stripes has become synonymous with the soccer field and most importantly, the soccer ball. adidas' legacy in the game has allowed the brand to supply the market with its most essential ingredient for the past 90 years.

After glimpsing a leak at the 2014 FIFA World Cup official ball (dubbed the Brazuca) earlier this week, Sneaker Report takes a look back at adidas' official designs since the original ball in 1970.

Some say the first soccer ball in the world was a skull, some say it was a pig's bladder. Whatever body part it was, it's come a long way from the early attempts. This is The Complete History of adidas' Official FIFA World Cup Soccer Ball.

RELATED: A Sneak Peek at the adidas Brazuca 2014 World Cup Ball
RELATED: Meet Brazuca, the Official Match Ball of the 2014 Brazil World Cup

1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico adidas Telstar
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adidas Telstar

Year: 1970
FIFA World Cup: Mexico

Did you know that the iconic black and white soccer ball from the early days was the adidas Telstar? Originally constructed of 32 hand-stitched hexagon-shaped panels, adidas supplied Mexico with a ball that can be easily visible on a color or black and white television to accommodate worldwide audience.

Check out the Telstar in action (and how Brazil schooled Italy hard):

1974 FIFA World Cup Germany adidas Telstar / adidas Chile
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adidas Telstar / Chile

Year: 1974
FIFA World Cup: Germany

You've got to love the simple, successful marriage of text and construction on this ball. One of two match balls released this year, the 1974 Telstar was updated with a black branded version and an all-white version of the Telstar, dubbed the "adidas Chile."

1978 FIFA World Cup Argentina adidas Tango
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adidas Tango

Year: 1978
FIFA World Cup: Argentina

The Tango was comprised of 20 panels (the original was made up of 32 individual panels) and an optical design comprised of 12 circles that would go onto influence the following five generations of World Cup balls.

1982 FIFA World Cup Spain adidas Tango Espana
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adidas Tango Espana

Year: 1982
FIFA World Cup: Spain

Similar to the '78 ball but with waterproof sealed seams. Remember when you were a kid and all the PE teacher sent you out with was a waterlogged, crumpled sack of leather? The Tango Espana was the first step away from that. It was also the last traditional leather World Cup ball, so the game was about to get a lot faster.

1986 FIFA World Cup Mexico adidas Azteca
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adidas Azteca

Year: 1986
FIFA World Cup: Mexico

Sixteen years after the first World Cup in Mexico, the tournament returned to Central America and was played with a revolutionary new ball. The Azteca was the first fully synthetic (polyurethane-coated) match ball, increasing durability and further minimizing water absorption for a faster, lighter style of play. Aesthetically the Azteca paved the way as well, as the first ball to include a design inspired by the host nation. Inspired by Mexico's Aztec architecture and murals, adidas continued this national tribute for the next decade.

1990 FIFA World Cup Italy adidas Etrusco Unico
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adidas Etrusco Unico

Year: 1990
FIFA World Cup: Italy

Technically sophisticated by a completely water resistant internal layer, the Etruscan design is as timeless as the 20 panel design. Containing an internal layer of black polyurethane foam, the Etrusco was faster and more water-resistant than previous versions.

1994 FIFA World Cup USA adidas Questra
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adidas Questra

Year: 1994
FIFA World Cup: USA

It's 1994 and FIFA is in the States. So naturally the theme here is space travel. High velocity rockets and America's "quest for the stars" takes center stage aesthetically, while a polystyrene foam envelopes the top layer of the ball for a softer touch and faster feel.

1998 FIFA World Cup France adidas Tricolore
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adidas Tricolore

Year: 1998
FIFA World Cup: France

This is the first time a match ball featured a three part design, appropriately named the "tricolore" to represent France's national colors.

This was the year for France:

2002 FIFA World Cup Korea and Japan adidas Fevernova
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adidas Fevernova

Year: 2002
FIFA World Cup: Korea and Japan

Featuring a syntactic foam layer for improved precision, the Asian-inspired graphic on this ball is legendary as it broke away from the traditional Tango design.

2006 FIFA World Cup Germany adidas Teamgeist
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adidas Teamgeist

Year: 2006
FIFA World Cup: Germany

This game changing ball featured a completely new design to further improve accuracy and control thanks to less seams overall. The propeller design dramatically affected future innovations to come for adidas Soccer. Flaunting Germany's traditional colors, this innovative product was form driven by function. 

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa adidas Jabulani
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adidas Jabulani

Year: 2010
FIFA World Cup: South Africa

Featuring adidas' latest "grip n groove" technology provides players with perfect grip in all conditions. It's odd to think that the Jabulani's predecessors were less round, but the eight thermally bonded 3-D Panels that were spherically molded together for the first time made this ball the closest to a perfect sphere a soccer ball has ever been. 

2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil adidas Brazuca
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adidas Brazuca

Year: 2014
FIFA World Cup: Brazil

Stay tuned for an official look at the 2014 adidas Brazuca, set to launch December 3. In the meantime, peek the leaked images and let us know what you think.

RELATED: A Sneak Peek at the adidas Brazuca 2014 World Cup Ball
RELATED: Meet Brazuca, the Official Match Ball of the 2014 Brazil World Cup