Every Premier League match ball in history - ranked

Everyone remembers receiving their first Premier League match ball, but which one is the best?

It is a tough question but 90min is always up for the hard challenges. After several days of painstaking deliberation we finally managed to agree on a definitive ranking of all the balls that have been used in the top flight since 1992.

There was 21 to rank in total and for the sake of ease, each season's summer and winter editions have been judged together. Let's get into it...

22. Nike Ordem 3 2015/2016

This looks like the one of the air floaters you used to buy on holiday, not a Premier League match ball.

This vile creation set the tone for a crazy season, in which Leicester shocked the odds to claim the title.

21. Nike Ordem 4 2016/2017

The worst Premier League ball in history's slightly more attractive, younger brother.

Bret 'The Hitman' Hart is probably a fan of this pink and black monstrosity, but we are not.

20. Nike Flight 2023/2024

The tagline for the Premier League ball which Nike debuted in the 2023/24 season was: "Art + Science".

It looked more like the combination of a plain white ball fired into a bag of tangerines.

19. Nike Flight 2020/2021

Sorry, but this looks like a volleyball,

This isn't volleyball, it's football.

18. Nike Ordem V 2017/2018

Nike capped off the mad Ordem era by swinging things too far in the other direction.

This ball is just so meh. The designers clearly got scared after a few miscues and played it ultra safe.

17. Nike Total 90 Aerow II 2006-2008

Following up the iconic Total 90 Aerow was never going to be easy.

Even still, the sequel very much underwhelmed. It was basically the same, but a bit worse. The Basic Instinct 2 of Premier League match balls.

16. Nike Ordem 2 2014/2015

This is the highest ranked ball in the Ordem series, which, to be honest, really is not that impressive.

It gets bonus points for being glow in the dark.

15. Nike Merlin 2018/2019

From a distance, it kind of looks like the detailing on this one has been painted on.

On closer inspection, it looks nothing like that. This sums up the ball as a whole - disappointing.

14. Nike Flight (2021/22)

We're a huge fan of the name of this ball.

The design? Not so much. It's fine, but there's been better over the years.

13. Nike Merlin 2019/2020

During the 2019/2020 season, Nike treated us to three separate match balls.

The best one was the yellow and blue winter edition, which no doubt inspired by the colours of the greatest football team in the world, Gosport Borough.

12. Nike Total 90 Ascente 2009/2010

Equipped with subtle, gold detailing and a silvery tinge, the Nike Total 90 Ascente is one of the classiest balls in Premier League history.

However, class can only get you so far in life, hence it only being good enough for 11th.

11. Nike Total 90 Tracer 2010/2011

The Nike Total 90 Tracer has a clean, almost futuristic look.

The colouring on the winter ball is a bit off though, so it only just scrapes in the top ten.

10. Nike Seitiro 2011/2012

With its pixelated graphics and ominous arrows hinting at our social media induced demise, the Seitiro made a strong political statement.

Either that, or Nike were just trying to make it look cool.

9. Nike Incyte 2013/2014

We are well into the parallelograms that create arrowheads on this one.

We almost like them as much as the colour scheme, which melds together nicely.

8. Mitre Pro Mark 1992-1995

The ball that started it all back in 1992.

Getting your hands on one of these bad boys in 2021 is next to impossible. It might be worth checking your garage to see if you have an old one lying around. You might just earn yourself a tidy windfall by sticking it on eBay.

7. Nike Maxim 2012/2013

1,063 Premier League goal were scored with the Nike Maxim, most of which by Robin van Persie.

The cracked glass detailing on this one, really helps it stands out.

6. Nike Flight (2022/23)

After successive feeble-ish efforts in 2020/21 and 2021/22 we had given up hope of the Nike Flight ever breaking into the top portion of our list.

And then, BANG! Have a bit of that. Retro is always the way to go.

5. Nike Geo Merlin 2000-2002

Nike's first ever Premier League ball is a timeless classic.

It claimed to be the 'Roundest Ball Ever Made' upon release, which is...good, we guess.

4. Nike Total 90 Omni 2008/2009

Sometimes, less is more, and this was very much the case with the Nike Total 90 Omni.

Keeping things simple with a minimalist design and colour scheme, the ball oozed sophistication.

3. Nike Total 90 Aerow I 2004-2006

We don't know about you, but this ball instantly reminds us of Thierry Henry caressing a shot into the bottom corner.

For that reason alone, it is good enough for number three.

2. Mitre Ultimax 1995-2000

The Mitre Ultimax is not just a football, it a powerful symbol of a forgotten era.

A time when pitches were muddy, tackles were dirty and there was approximately 1500 crosses per game. Take us back please?

1. Nike Geo Merlin Vapor 2002-2004

The Nike Geo Merlin Vapor improved on its predecessor by simply changing the detailing from blue to silver.

This subtle change for enough to turn an eye-catching ball into a beautiful one. Keep your eye out for our petition to bring it back next season.