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I have some interesting and fun soccer facts to share with you. Questions that you will ask yourself or a friend will ask you. I’ve picked the most interesting facts that give you that extra yard over your friends.
Here is a complete list of 63 interesting and fun facts about soccer.
What are some interesting, fun facts about soccer?
Soccer was invented in China. Messi is the highest-paid sportsman, and a player was sent off after 0 seconds!
Be ahead of the game with these facts and share your knowledge. There are so many soccer facts that will amaze you. Surprise your friends with things that they don’t know.
Interesting Facts About Soccer
These general soccer facts should be known by anyone who enjoys the game – or even if you’re a parent and want to surprise your kids with things they don’t know!
These are frequently asked questions that every soccer fan should know. They’ll always be asked by your friends, and even some of the TV pundits won’t know.
Soccer was invented between 206 B.C. – 220 A.D in China.
Soccer was thought to be invented by the Chinese. A game called Tsu-Chu which means “kicking the ball”, with records dating back to the Han Dynasty.
The English Football Association was formed in 1863.
The first league was created in 1888, in England.
The oldest club was Sheffield Football Club. There are now two clubs in Sheffield England – Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United.
Real Madrid is currently the largest in 2019, then Barcelona and Manchester United. This changes every year between these three clubs and is based on their revenue and trophies won.
Manchester United sell the most soccer jerseys, with an average of 2.85 million, 73 million followers on Facebook. Real Madrid are second and Barcelona third.
Soccer is played by more than 250 million people worldwide in over 200 countries.
It happened in 1930 in Uruguay and France won the first ever soccer World Cup.
The top three are Andres Iniesta with 35 playing for Barcelona. Ryan Giggs with 34 playing for Manchester United and Lionel Messi with 34 playing for Barcelona. (Messi will surely be number one soon.)
Sir Alex Ferguson is top of the table and he won 38 trophies at Manchester United.
The length is between 100 yards and 130.
The width is between 50 and 100 yards.
Although he played for 6 clubs that have won the competition, he has never won one himself.
The inner, what we call a bladder was actually from a pig’s bladder before 1855.
Only two players have scored a penalty with the left and right foot, Bobby Zamora and Obafemi Martins – in the EPL.
The player that is in the top three for winning the most trophies, Ryan Giggs was substituted a total of 134 times.
Richard Dunne is top of the league for this with a total of 10 in the EPL.
Soccer Transfer Fees and Salary Facts
Money in the game has exploded over the years. I remember being amazed at a transfer going through for a couple of million when I was younger, but now it’s through the roof.
The American football player Russell Wilson is the highest-paid sportsman in America. He gets a whopping $89.5 million a year! How does that compare with soccer players? let’s find out.
Neymar was sold to Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona for $244 in 2017.
In 1893 Jack Southworth was sold from Blackburn Rovers to Everton for $500.
The transfer of Miguel Almiron from Atlanta to Newcastle is the highest at $27 million in 2019.
Lionel Messi earned a total of $127 in 2018! Combined salary, image rights and sponsors.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic earns the most amount of money in
Kevin De Bruyne AT Manchester City with $418,000 a week, making it $8.0 million a year – not including sposors and image rights.
Soccer Stadium Facts
Going to the Nou Camp stadium, Barcelona’s home ground was an amazing experience. It was crazy on the way there with the fans nearly rocking the tram of the track.
The view from the top of the stands felt so close, even though I was that high up, but the stadium is so steep you feel like you’re over the pitch.
The capacity then was 90,000 and now they refitting it to bring the capacity up to 105,000. But what is the largest soccer stadium in the world?
The largest soccer stadium is in North Korea and it has a capacity of 114,000.
The biggest attaendance for a soccer match was in 1950, for a match between Brazil and Paraguay – there were 199,854 spectators!
Atlanta United played Portland Timbers in the MLS Cup final at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium with a crowd of 73,019.
Toronto FC have the largest capacity, for a purpose bult soccer stadium with a capacity of 30,000 and Atlanta have a stadium capacity of 72,035.
At Wembly stadium in 1923 there were 126,047 people. It was even higher in Scotland, for a game at Hampden Park in 1937 with the attendance at 149,415.
Manchester United have a stadium capacity of 74,879.
Soccer Cup and Titles Facts
Watching the cup finals over the years, it is hard to remember the numbers. There are so many competitions that a refresh of the numbers is always good to do.
Who has the won the most over the years – see if you can get the correct answer. (no trophies on offer for this!)
Brazil has the highest number of wins, 5 with Germany second with 4 and Argentina, France and Uraguay have 2 each.
Real Madrid have won the title 13 times, AC Milan 7 and Liverpool 6.
Manchester United has won the league 20 times, Liverpool 18 and Arsenal 13.
Los Angles Galaxy has the record wins of 5 cup titles, D.C. United 4 and Houston Dynamo, Sporting Kansas City and San Jose Earthquakes have 2 each.
Pelé is the only player to have won it 3 times.
Fun Facts About Soccer
Here are some fun soccer facts that you don’t normally hear. I’ve scouted around to find you the best ones.
In 2007 Keith Gillespie playing for Sheffield United vs Reading in 0 seconds! Yes 0 seconds – he was just brought on as a substitute and before a throw-in was taken he elbowed an opponant.
Only Americans and Canadians call the game soccer.
For World Cup and qualifying, Archie Thompson socered 13 in one game playing for Australia aginst American Somoa in 2002. The game ended 31-0.
Manchester United have never lost in the EPL when the have been winning at half time at Old Trafford Stadium.
The most goals scored in soccer by a goalkeeper is Rogério Ceni playing for São Paulo Futebol Clube, in Brazil. He scored an amazing 132 goals – all but one from penalties and freekicks. This was from 1992 to 2015.
Asmir Begovic, a goalkeeper scored 100 yards away from the goal in 2014 for Stoke City.
Interesting Facts About Soccer
1. The fastest goal ever scored in a soccer match was by Hakan Şükür of Turkey, who found the net just 11 seconds into a game against South Korea in the 2002 FIFA World Cup.
2. The most goals scored by a single player in a calendar year is 91, achieved by Lionel Messi in 2012.
3. The longest recorded soccer match lasted a whopping 3 days! It took place 1964 in England between Stockport County and Doncaster Rovers and ended in a 4-4 draw.
4. The official ball used in the FIFA World Cup is called the “Telstar,” first introduced in the 1970 tournament held in Mexico.
5. The first televised soccer game was between Arsenal and Arsenal Reserves in 1937.
6. The fastest hat-trick in a professional soccer match was scored by Tommy Ross of Ross County in just 90 seconds in a Scottish Cup match in 1964.
7. The most goals scored by a team in a single season of a top-flight league is 121, achieved by Bayern Munich in the 1971-1972 Bundesliga season.
8. The most significant margin of victory in an international soccer match was 31-0, with Australia defeating American Samoa in 2001.
9. The youngest player to ever appear in a World Cup match is Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who was just 17 years and 41 days old when he played in the 1982 tournament.
10. The highest-scoring game in professional soccer history was an Australian league match between North Queensland Razorbacks and Southern Cross United, which ended 31-0 in favor of the Razorbacks.
11. The most goals scored by a single player in a World Cup tournament is 13, achieved by Just Fontaine of France in 1958.
12. Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, is the world’s oldest professional soccer club.
13. The fastest-ever red card shown in a World Cup match was to Jose Batista of Uruguay in 1986, just 56 seconds into the game against Scotland.
14. The most goals scored by a team in a single World Cup tournament is 27, achieved by Hungary in 1954.
15. The highest-scoring draw in a World Cup match was a 4-4 tie between Austria and Switzerland in 1954.
16. The largest transfer fee ever paid for a goalkeeper is €80 million, which Chelsea paid for the signing of Kepa Arrizabalaga in 2018.
17. The most expensive soccer stadium ever built is the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, which cost approximately $1.6 billion.
18. The largest winning margin in a World Cup match is 10 goals, with Hungary defeating El Salvador 10-1 in 1982.
19. The most goals scored by a team in a single FIFA World Cup tournament is 171, achieved by Hungary in 1954.
20. The most goals scored by a team in a single UEFA Champions League season is 47, achieved by Barcelona in the 1999-2000 season.
There are many interesting facts about soccer in this beautiful game. Share the fun facts about soccer with your friends.
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Joel is a seasoned soccer journalist and analyst with many years of experience in the field. Joel specializes in game analysis, player profiles, transfer news, and has a keen eye for the tactical nuances of the game. He played at various levels in the game and coached teams - he is happy to share his insight with you.
