Editing Soccer Ball

{{about|the object appearing in several Super Mario games|the ghost from [[Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon]]|[[Creeper Launcher#Soccer Ball|Creeper Launcher § Soccer Ball]]}}
{{item infobox
|image=[[File:PN Trophy Creator trophy MSBL item1.png|250px]]<br>Artwork of a Soccer Ball from ''[[Mario Strikers: Battle League]]''
|first_appearance=''[[Mario is Missing! (PC)|Mario is Missing!]]'' ([[List of games by date#1993|1993]])
|latest_appearance=''[[LEGO Super Mario Goal]]'' ([[List of games by date#2024|2024]])
|effect=
}}
'''Soccer Balls''' (or '''soccer balls'''), also called '''Footballs''', appear in several games of the [[Super Mario (franchise)|''Super Mario'' franchise]] as interactive objects. They are used in the [[Mario Strikers (series)|''Mario Strikers'' series]] in much the same way as in {{wp|association football}}, or soccer, as players are tasked with dribbling a ball across a playing field and bringing it into the opposing team's goal. In other ''Super Mario'' games, Soccer Balls appear as items or even obstacles.

==History==
===''Mario is Missing!''===
[[File:Soccer Ball MIMDOS.png|frame]]
A Soccer Ball appears in the [[Mario is Missing! (PC)|PC versions of ''Mario is Missing!'']] It was stolen from the [[Maracanã|Maracana Stadium]] in [[Rio de Janeiro]] by [[Koopa Troopa|Koopa]]s, forcing the stadium to close. [[Luigi]] can recover the Soccer Ball by defeating a Koopa found in the city. Afterwards, Luigi can ask passersby for information about the Soccer Ball. Luigi is awarded $1200 for returning the Soccer Ball to the Maracana Stadium.

===''Mario Strikers'' series===
[[File:Strikers First Goal Mario.png|thumb|left|Mario kicking a Soccer Ball into the goal in ''Super Mario Strikers'']]
The Soccer Ball is an object in the games ''[[Super Mario Strikers]]'', ''[[Mario Strikers Charged]]'', and ''[[Mario Strikers: Battle League]]''. In these games, players have to gain control of the Soccer Ball and kick it into the goal, something done with either normal kicks, charge shots, [[Super Strike]]s (''Super Mario Strikers''), [[Mega Strike]]s and [[Skillshot]]s (''Mario Strikers Charged''), or [[Hyper Strike]]s (''Mario Strikers: Battle League''). A normal kick, a charged shot, and a Skillshot result in one point; a Super Strike and a Hyper Strike will score a player two, while a Mega Strike can offer up to six for a team.

In ''Mario Strikers Charged'', the Soccer Ball is made out of metal, which emits a light that indicates the power of the ball. The ball tends to emit a purple light when unused. In this case, shooting the ball is often blocked by the goalie. However, charging the ball by passing or charging the shot, players can turn the light into red, yellow and white, the last indicating the ball is charged enough to make an accurate goal. Apparently, if pressed hard enough, the ball may explode, as seen in one of [[Wario]]'s losing cutscenes.
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===''Super Smash Bros.'' series===
{{main-external|SmashWiki|Soccer Ball}}
[[File:SoccerBallUltimate.png|thumb|Soccer Ball artwork from ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'']]
Since ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'', the Soccer Ball has been a recurring item in the [[Super Smash Bros. (series)|''Super Smash Bros.'' series]], also returning in ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS]]'', ''[[Super Smash Bros. for Wii U]]'', and ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]''. Though it appears as a regular soccer ball, its association to the ''Super Mario'' franchise is corroborated by the fact that both ''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''{{'}}s and ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''{{'}}s [[Trophy (Super Smash Bros. series)|trophy]] lists ''Super Mario Strikers'' and ''Mario Strikers Charged'' as one of the games alongside the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] game ''{{wp|Soccer (1985 video game)|Soccer}}'', respectively.

To use a Soccer Ball, a player must attack it, sending it flying across the stage while caught on fire. The Soccer Ball does not follow an arc when it is attacked. Rather, it shoots in a straight line before suddenly losing all momentum and dropping to the ground, or off the stage. If it hits opponents mid-air, they are flung away. In ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'', ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'', and ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate'', a Soccer Ball always returns to the stage after being knocked off of it until finally disappearing.

===''Mario & Luigi: Dream Team''===
In ''[[Mario & Luigi: Dream Team]]'', [[Popple]] uses soccer balls in one of his attacks. He sets out four objects in front of him and kicks them one after the other at [[Mario]] or [[Luigi]]. Soccer balls are a possibility, and can be knocked back into Popple with a [[hammer]] swing. [[Brick Block]]s also appear. When Popple kicks one, it breaks to reveal another object he staggers back in pain. He will then kick that object, mixing up the timing. It is possible for that object to be a soccer ball.

===''Super Mario 3D World''===
While normal Soccer Balls do not appear in ''[[Super Mario 3D World]]'', [[Kick Bomb|bombs]] designed after them are introduced.

===''Mario Kart'' series===
====''Mario Kart Tour''====
In the [[Mario Kart (series)|''Mario Kart'' series]], Soccer Balls first appear in ''[[Mario Kart Tour]]'', where they are found inside the {{wp|Santiago Bernabéu Stadium}} on the [[Tour Madrid Drive|Madrid Drive]] course and its variants. They are passed around by [[Goomba]]s in [[Goomba's Shoe|shoes]]. The Goombas always kick Soccer Balls straight ahead of them. After a kick, a Soccer Ball bounces several times, then rolls on the ground slowly; if the ball does not encounter another shoe Goomba a while afterwards, it shrinks down and disappears, respawning in front of the Goomba that originally kicked it into motion. Drivers can take out Soccer Balls by running into them or hitting them with an item, getting bonus points in the process.

====''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe''====
[[File:MK8D Tour Madrid Drive Scene 2.png|thumb|left|Soccer Balls in ''Mario Kart 8 Deluxe'']]
Soccer Balls return in {{classic|Tour|Madrid Drive}} in the ''[[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe]] – [[Mario Kart 8 Deluxe – Booster Course Pass|Booster Course Pass]]'' DLC, once again being passed between [[shoe Goomba]]s. Unlike in ''Mario Kart Tour'', they now cause drivers to crash on contact, unless said drivers are under the effects of an object that grants them invincibility or a large speed boost, such as a [[Dash Mushroom|Mushroom]], [[Bullet Bill]], or [[Dash Panel]]. Soccer Balls can be taken out by driving into them or by hitting them with almost any offensive item (except for a [[Banana]] and [[Potted Piranha Plant|Piranha Plant]]).
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===''LEGO Super Mario Goal''===
In ''[[LEGO Super Mario Goal]]'', the soccer ball returns as the key item. Two players pass the ball back and forth and whoever scores ten goals wins.

===Unused appearances===
====''Super Mario Sunshine''====
Soccer Balls, although unused in the final product, exist in ''[[Super Mario Sunshine]]'' within the game's [[List of Super Mario Sunshine pre-release and unused content|data]], with an instance appearing in the test level. They behave identically to [[Durian]]s.<ref>{{cite|url=youtu.be/ko_5vKj-0uc?feature=shared&t=202|title=Super Mario Sunshine Test Level|date=August 2, 2013|author=MrRean36000Vr|language=en|timestamp=3:22|publisher=YouTube|accessdate=November 11, 2024}}</ref>

====''Mario Kart 7''====
An unused Soccer Ball model exists in ''[[Mario Kart 7]]''{{'}}s data.<ref>{{cite|url=tcrf.net/Mario_Kart_7/Unused_Graphics#Soccer_Ball|title=Mario Kart 7/Unused Graphics § Soccer Ball|publisher=The Cutting Room Floor|language=en|accessdate=August 28, 2023}}</ref>

==Profiles==
===''Mario is Missing!''===
{{MIM info header}}
{{MIMPC info
|boy=That's from a colossus among colliseums. Seats 200,000 soccer fans whose goal is to kick that ball.
|tourist=Brazilians call it futebol, but in English it's soccer. They'll bawl without that ball.
|reporter=The Maracana Stadium is Rio's temple of soccer. They'll kick you out if you don't toss them that.
|scientist=The stadium was built in 1950 just for the World Cup soccer competition. That's been round since then.
|officer=The soccer ball belongs at the opening, Flu-Fla.
}}
|}

===''Super Smash Bros. Brawl''===
{{SSBB trophy
|name=Soccer Ball
|image=[[File:BrawlTrophy527.png|125px]]
|appears_in='''NES''' ''Soccer''<br>'''GCN''' ''Super Mario Strikers''
|unlock=Random
|desc=An attack item that flies when struck and explodes as it bounces, causing damage to whomever it hits. As it's a soccer ball, you'd think hitting it with your hands would be against the rules, but that's not the case. Unleash your fiercest attacks on it. Really, it's OK. The ball's design seems old fashioned, but it sure does bring back lots of soccer memories, doesn't it? 
}}

===''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' / ''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U''===
{{SSB4 trophy
|name=Soccer Ball
|altname=Football
|image='''3DS:'''<br>[[File:SSB4 Trophy Soccer Ball.png|100px]]<br>'''Wii U:'''<br>[[File:SSB4TrophySoccerBall.png|100px]]
|category=Item
|appears_in='''NES''' ''Soccer'' (03/1987)<br>'''Wii''' ''Mario Strikers Charged'' (07/2007)
|trophy_box=1: Brawler
|unlock=Random
|desc=A strong attack on a soccer ball will set it on fire, and any enemies hit will go flying from the impact. Depending on how you hit it, the ball will fly in different directions. Luckily, no one has to retrieve it if you sent it off the stage&ndash;this ball will return to the battlefield for some time.
|desc2=Attack a football to ignite it and send it blazing through the air into any hapless foe in its path. The direction it goes in depends on how you attack the ball, so put some thought into it to cause some devastating effects. The ball comes back if you miss, so try as many times as you need to!
}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Ball MarioStrikersCharged.png|''Mario Strikers Charged'' model
Soccer Ball Brawl artwork.png|''Super Smash Bros. Brawl'' artwork
Soccer Ball Wii U.jpg|''Super Smash Bros. for Wii U'' screenshot of a Soccer Ball
</gallery>

==Names in other languages==
{{foreign names
|Jpn=サッカーボール
|JpnR=Sakkā bōru
|JpnM=Soccer Ball
|Chi=足球
|ChiR=Zúqiú
|ChiM=Football
|Dut=Voetbal
|DutM=Soccer Ball
|FreA=Ballon de soccer
|FreAM=Soccer Ball
|FreE=Ballon de foot
|FreEM=Football
|Ger=Fußball
|GerM=Football
|Ita=Pallone da calcio
|Ita2=Pallone<ref name="MKT">''Mario Kart Tour'' in-game name</ref>
|ItaM=Soccer Ball
|Ita2M=Ball
|Kor=축구공<ref name="MKT" />
|KorR=Chukgu Gong
|KorM=Soccer Ball
|PorA=Bola de futebol<ref name="MKT" />
|PorAM=Soccer Ball
|PorE=Bola de Futebol
|PorEM=Soccer Ball
|Rus=Футбольный мяч
|RusR=Futbol'nyi myach
|RusM=Soccer Ball
|SpaA=Balón
|SpaA2=Pelota de fútbol<ref name="MKT" />
|SpaAM=Ball
|SpaA2M=Soccer Ball
|SpaE=Balón
|SpaE2=Balón de fútbol<ref name="MKT" />
|SpaEM=Ball
|SpaE2M=Soccer Ball
}}

==References==
{{NIWA|SmashWiki=1}}
<references/>

{{MIM}}
{{Super Mario Strikers}}
{{MSC}}
{{MSBL}}
{{SSBB}}
{{SM3DW}}
{{SSB4}}
{{SSBU}}
{{MKT}}
{{MK8}}
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