Soccer, also known as football in most parts of the world, is the most popular sport on the planet. With billions of fans and players across continents, the game has an incredible history, fascinating rules, and legendary players. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just getting into the sport, here are 100 facts about soccer that will surprise and entertain you!

10 Interesting Facts About Soccer

  1. Soccer is the most-watched and played sport in the world, with over 4 billion fans globally.
  2. The FIFA World Cup is the biggest sporting event in the world, even surpassing the Olympics in viewership.
  3. The first soccer game ever recorded was played in 1863 in England after the formation of The Football Association (FA).
  4. A standard soccer ball has 32 panels, representing the 32 countries that originally participated in the World Cup.
  5. The fastest goal in soccer history was scored in just 2.4 seconds by Nawaf Al-Abed in 2009.
  6. Soccer is played in over 200 countries, making it the most widespread sport globally.
  7. The longest soccer match ever recorded lasted 108 hours!
  8. The richest soccer player isn’t Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi—it’s actually Faiq Bolkiah, a prince from Brunei.
  9. The world’s first soccer club was Sheffield FC, founded in 1857 in England.
  10. More than 3.5 billion people watched the 2018 FIFA World Cup final between France and Croatia.

25 Surprising Facts About Soccer

  1. The word “soccer” originated from the term “association football” and was first used in England.
  2. A soccer field is also known as a “pitch” and is required to be between 100-130 yards long.
  3. The fastest recorded shot in soccer was by Ronny Heberson at 131 mph (211 km/h).
  4. The first-ever FIFA World Cup took place in 1930 in Uruguay, with the host nation winning.
  5. Pele, the Brazilian legend, is the only player to win three World Cups (1958, 1962, 1970).
  6. The referee’s whistle was first introduced in 1878.
  7. The smallest country to ever qualify for a World Cup is Iceland in 2018.
  8. Brazil holds the record for the most World Cup titles, with five wins.
  9. Soccer balls were originally made from inflated pig bladders.
  10. The first yellow and red cards were used in the 1970 World Cup.
  11. Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo are the only players to score in four different World Cups.
  12. The highest-scoring soccer game ended with a score of 149-0 in Madagascar in 2002.
  13. The Ballon d’Or is the most prestigious individual award in soccer.
  14. Zinedine Zidane was sent off in the 2006 World Cup final for headbutting an opponent.
  15. A soccer player’s average sprint distance per game is about 7 miles.

40 Facts About Soccer

  1. Soccer cleats were invented in the 1500s by King Henry VIII.
  2. The first live soccer match broadcast on TV was in 1937.
  3. Diego Maradona’s “Hand of God” goal is one of the most controversial moments in soccer history.
  4. The most expensive soccer transfer was Neymar’s move to Paris Saint-Germain for $263 million.
  5. The first-ever women’s soccer match took place in 1895.
  6. In 1998, a soccer game was played in Antarctica.
  7. The oldest active professional soccer player is Kazuyoshi Miura, still playing in his 50s.
  8. The Premier League is the most-watched soccer league in the world.
  9. Soccer is the only sport played on all seven continents.
  10. The Champions League final is one of the most-watched sporting events globally.
  11. The United States hosted the most-attended World Cup in history in 1994.
  12. The shortest soccer player ever was Elton Jose Xavier Gomes, at 5 feet tall.
  13. Cristiano Ronaldo holds the record for the most international goals.
  14. In 1950, India withdrew from the World Cup because FIFA didn’t allow them to play barefoot.
  15. The average professional soccer player runs about 10 km per game.

Facts About Soccer Players

  1. Lionel Messi has won the most Ballon d’Or awards in history.
  2. Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player to score in five different World Cups.
  3. Neymar started playing professional soccer at age 17.
  4. Kylian Mbappé became the second teenager after Pele to score in a World Cup final.
  5. Goalkeepers can score goals, and some, like Rogerio Ceni, have scored over 100 in their careers.
  6. Zlatan Ibrahimović has played in seven different leagues.
  7. Wayne Rooney was the youngest player to score in the Premier League at 16.
  8. David Beckham was the first English player to win league titles in four different countries.
  9. Mohamed Salah holds the record for the most goals scored in a single Premier League season.
  10. Robert Lewandowski once scored five goals in nine minutes!

Facts About Soccer for Kids

  1. Soccer is played with 11 players on each team.
  2. A goal is scored when the ball completely crosses the goal line.
  3. A match lasts 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes.
  4. The biggest soccer tournament for kids is the Danone Nations Cup.
  5. The biggest soccer stadium in the world is Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in North Korea.

5 Fun Facts About Soccer

  1. The first World Cup trophy was stolen in 1966 and later found by a dog named Pickles.
  2. A professional soccer ball must weigh between 14-16 ounces.
  3. The record for most goals in a single match is 16.
  4. The longest penalty shootout consisted of 48 penalty kicks.
  5. The first-ever soccer game played on the moon was by astronauts in 1971!

50 More Facts About Soccer

61-100. (Additional stats, records, and historical milestones.)

With soccer’s long history and global influence, there’s always something new to learn about the sport. Whether you’re an aspiring player or just a fan, these fascinating facts about soccer will deepen your appreciation for the beautiful game!