https://www.techradar.com/news/satellites-and-microchips-the-surprising-tech-behind-the-world-cup-ball

There are some people who still think that a 1990 World Cup ball, the Etrusca Unico, is up in orbit somewhere. When England midfielder Chris Waddle missed his spot-kick in a penalty shoot-out in the semi-final defeat to West Germany, the ball he made contact with went high over the bar – and just kept on going.

Almost three decades later, the ball made by Adidas for the 2018 World Cup Finals in Russia has taken its inspiration from something that really is in orbit: the 1962 Telstar satellite. It’s still there, much like Waddle’s effort, long finished doing the job it was originally intended to do: serve as the world’s first communication satellite, instantly making the world feel connected by truly space-age technology.