Altinha is no longer a niche game And we just want to help you find the perfect ball

Last year, we talked about how Altinha was about to establish itself as the game of the 2024 summer, and today we can say it really happened. More and more Italian beaches are invaded by concentric circles of people ready to volley with one goal: not to let the ball fall. Although only the bravest truly know how Brazilians play it masterfully on their beaches. It’s simple: the ball must not only be passed; sometimes it must also be smashed to test your teammates — who, in Altinha, are neither opponents nor real teammates. Altinha is an unusual game, and this uniqueness has contributed to its popularity. Altinha is a challenge against gravity, and nothing more.

Proof that Altinha has stopped being a niche activity can also be seen in some shots featuring football players and clubs this summer. Just to mention two examples: Douglas Luiz, perhaps bored or involved in not-so-ambitious projects with Juventus, showed everyone how much fun he had playing Altinha; while the Portuguese club Estoril Praia used Altinha balls during the photoshoot to present their new home jersey.

Altinha Balls

One of the most discussed aspects of Altinha concerns the game ball. The official one — and therefore recommended for proper play — is made by Mikasa and holds a FIFA license. The most common model is yellow and black, but white-black or red-black versions are often seen as well. Finding a ball that lives up to the original is difficult: the grip, the right weight, size, and aerodynamics of the Mikasa are hard to replicate with more common balls.

That said, it doesn’t mean that, without the official ball, a soccer ball is the best choice: a beach volleyball ball, for example, can be a great substitute. The only real downside of the official Mikasa? The price. Not exactly accessible to everyone — a paradox when you think Altinha should be one of those popular beach sports open to all.

And that’s exactly why we’re here: to help you with a power ranking of the best balls for playing Altinha in the last weeks of summer, on your favorite beaches.

Mikasa

His Majesty, the Altinha ball. Playing with it at least once is a trap because it will be hard to settle for alternatives.

Rating: 10/10.

Nike Academy 2025/26

The reason why the Nike Academy 2025/26 could be a valid alternative to the original Altinha ball is very simple but requires practice and experience to fully understand. We’ll explain: to find a perfect substitute for the Mikasa ball, just a couple of games are enough to realize how fundamental the ball’s surface is: basically, it must not be smooth.

Rating: 8/10.

Nike Total90

Exactly for the reasons mentioned about the Nike Academy, the Nike Total90 version could turn out to be a poor choice. It offers little grip and gives the feeling the ball slips every time you try to hit it with your instep or the side of your foot.

Rating: 3/10.

PUMA Pre-match Olympique Marseille Ball

Marseille is certainly not famous for sandy beaches, and this alone should be enough reason to avoid buying this ball. Even more so when observing the surface, smooth here as well, just like the Total90.

Rating: 2.5/10

Tango Hot Play

Not much to say: maybe it’s better to leave this ball to childhood memories. Shots on the shore, the instep turning immediately red. An impact too harsh for our skin, and at the same time a ball way too light. Not exactly an ideal choice.

Rating: 4/10

Any Beach Volleyball Ball

If the goal of this guide is (also) to find alternatives to avoid paying full price for the original ball, we certainly wouldn’t recommend buying an official beach volleyball ball, which obviously costs more than the Altinha ball. The best and most effective solution, from all points of view, is to buy any beach volleyball ball, maybe deflate it slightly and wait for it to soak up some water. This way, you’ll get a ball very similar to the real Altinha ball.

Rating: 7/10