Wimbledon begins in just over two weeks’ time, but this summer’s first call for new balls came on the third day of the World Cup in Russia. Ousmane Dembele discarded one Adidas Telstar 18 before taking a corner for France, with the ball having seemingly been burst after a 50-50 challenge.
Another was deemed insufficient for use soon after, and Lionel Messi was also unhappy with the one which Argentina and Iceland began their game with, demanding a replacement before taking a throw-in. It wouldn’t be the World Cup without a ball-related controversy.