Meet the Brazuca -- the official World Cup match ball hoping not to score an own goal at Brazil 2014.
Brazil's new World Cup ball —
Meet the Brazuca -- the official World Cup match ball hoping not to score an own goal at Brazil 2014.
Adidas
Can the Brazuca atone for the sins of recent World Cup footballs, including the controversial Jabulani?
Horrible history —
Can the Brazuca atone for the sins of recent World Cup footballs, including the controversial Jabulani?
Adidas
German manufacturer Adidas put the Brazuca through a rigorous testing program before letting 600 players try out the ball.
Tried and tested —
German manufacturer Adidas put the Brazuca through a rigorous testing program before letting 600 players try out the ball.
Adidas
Argentina hero Lionel Messi is pretty handy with the ball at his feet, and he was one of the players enlisted to test out the Brazuca for Adidas.
Eye on the ball —
Argentina hero Lionel Messi is pretty handy with the ball at his feet, and he was one of the players enlisted to test out the Brazuca for Adidas.
Adidas
Messi's Barcelona teammate Neymar trained with the new ball at the Brazil national squad's Granja Comary complex.
Training ball —
Messi's Barcelona teammate Neymar trained with the new ball at the Brazil national squad's Granja Comary complex.
Buda Mendes/Getty Images
Portugal's world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to make the Brazuca bend to his will as he did the much-mocked Jabulani in 2010.
Bend it like Ronaldo —
Portugal's world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo will be hoping to make the Brazuca bend to his will as he did the much-mocked Jabulani in 2010.
TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images
The Brazucas are made from six identical panels which are melded by thermal bonding techniques. Most have been made in China.
Hot hot heat —
The Brazucas are made from six identical panels which are melded by thermal bonding techniques. Most have been made in China.
Adidas
Two and a half years on from the drawing board, the Brazuca was given a glamorous launch party in Rio de Janeiro in December 2013.
A grand ball —
Two and a half years on from the drawing board, the Brazuca was given a glamorous launch party in Rio de Janeiro in December 2013.
Alexandre Loureiro/Getty Images
Brazucas joined tourist merchandise on the shelves in Rio in time for the 2014 World Cup. Adidas is selling the official match ball for $160 in the U.S.
Balls for sale —
Brazucas joined tourist merchandise on the shelves in Rio in time for the 2014 World Cup. Adidas is selling the official match ball for $160 in the U.S.
Mario Tama/Getty Images
The Brazuca has already been in the limelight as the support act on the World Cup Trophy Tour. Here fans in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi take a close look at the official ball.
Brazuca on tour —
The Brazuca has already been in the limelight as the support act on the World Cup Trophy Tour. Here fans in the Vietnamese capital of Hanoi take a close look at the official ball.
HOANG DINH NAM/AFP/Getty Images