Balones de Monguí

In the 1930s, the town of Monguí was forever changed by the vision of two brothers, Froilán and Manuel Ladino. In the main square, a stone monument with a plaque serves as a testament to their enduring legacy of the soccer ball industry. The first hand-sewn ball was officially registered in Monguí in 1938, several years after the Ladinos crafted the molds and acquired all the necessary equipment to produce soccer balls. Froilán Ladino shared his knowledge with a group of people he called 'the twelve apostles', who would later pass it on to their descendants and promote the culture of the soccer ball industry that exists today.

In the 1970s, the production of soccer balls in Monguí was recognized as the best small industry in Boyacá. However, the industry has been significantly impacted by the modernization of the 21st century, and the importation of balls from countries like China and Pakistan has challenged the manual sewing process.

Today, roughly 32 family-owned factories continue this tradition of manufacturing soccer balls, which contributes to half of Monguí's economy while the other half relies on tourism and agriculture. I had the pleasure of visiting a few factories over the past decade, each of which gave me a unique perspective on the manufacturing process. Recently, Cristian and his family graciously allowed me in their small fábrica and showed me the step-by-step process of handcrafting the iconic 1930 FIFA World Cup ball, the same one that inspired Froilán Ladino so many years ago.