101 Facts About Soccer: Records, Tournaments, Players, and More!

Soccer, or football, is one of the most popular sports in the world, with billions of fans and players across the globe. From the earliest recorded games in ancient China and Greece to the modern-day Champions League and World Cup, soccer has a rich history and a diverse range of cultures and traditions associated with it. In this article, we present 101 facts about soccer, covering everything from record-breaking players and teams to the biggest tournaments and rivalries in the sport.

101 Facts About Soccer: Records, Tournaments, Players, and More!

• Soccer, also known as football, is the most popular sport in the world.
• The origins of soccer can be traced back to ancient China, where a game called cuju was played.
• The modern game of soccer was developed in England in the mid-19th century.
• The first soccer club was the Sheffield Football Club, founded in 1857.
• The first international soccer match was played in 1872 between England and Scotland.
• The FIFA World Cup, held every four years, is the most prestigious tournament in soccer.
• The current world champions are France, who won the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
• The oldest soccer competition is the FA Cup, which was first played in 1871.
• The UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club tournament in soccer.
• The current champions of the UEFA Champions League are Chelsea, who won the 2020-2021 season.
• Lionel Messi is widely regarded as the best soccer player of all time.
• Cristiano Ronaldo is another one of the best soccer players in history.
• The most successful club in the history of soccer is Real Madrid, who have won 13 UEFA Champions League titles.
• The most successful national team in the history of soccer is Brazil, who have won five FIFA World Cup titles.
• The longest soccer match in history lasted for 3 days and ended in a 2-2 draw.
• The fastest goal in soccer history was scored by Hakan Şükür, who scored just 11 seconds into a match between Turkey and South Korea.
• The highest scoring soccer match in history was a match between Australia and American Samoa in 2001, which ended in a 31-0 victory for Australia.
• The highest paid soccer player in the world is Lionel Messi, who reportedly earns over $100 million a year.
• The Ballon d'Or is an annual award given to the best soccer player in the world. Lionel Messi has won it a record seven times.
• The fastest recorded shot in soccer history was taken by Ronny Heberson, who recorded a shot speed of 211 km/h.
• The most goals scored by a single player in a single season of a top-flight European league is 50, a record held by Lionel Messi.
• The most goals scored by a single player in a calendar year is 91, a record also held by Lionel Messi.
• The most goals scored by a single player in international competition is 109, a record held by Ali Daei of Iran.
• The most consecutive wins by a professional soccer team is 27, a record held by Coritiba Foot Ball Club of Brazil.
• The most successful coach in the history of soccer is Sir Alex Ferguson, who won 38 major trophies in his career.
• The largest soccer stadium in the world is the Rungrado 1st of May Stadium in Pyongyang, North Korea, which has a capacity of 150,000.
• The most expensive soccer transfer in history was the transfer of Neymar from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain for €222 million.
• The most expensive goalkeeper in history is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who was signed by Chelsea for €80 million.
• The most expensive defender in history is Virgil van Dijk, who was signed by Liverpool for €84.5 million.
• The most expensive midfielder in history is Paul Pogba, who was signed by Manchester United for €105 million.
• The fastest hat-trick in soccer history was scored by Tommy Ross, who scored three goals in just 90 seconds for Ross County against Nairn County.
• The highest transfer fee ever paid for a player over 30 years old is Cristiano Ronaldo, who was signed by Manchester United for €15 million at the age of 36.
• The first soccer player to score 1,000 goals in his career was Arthur Friedenreich of Brazil.
• The highest-scoring player in international soccer history is Ali Daei of Iran, who scored 109 goals in 149 appearances for his country.
• The youngest player to score a goal in a World Cup match is Pele, who scored his first World Cup goal at the age of 17 years and 239 days.
• The most expensive soccer stadium ever built is the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, USA, which cost $1.6 billion to construct.
• The oldest player to play in a World Cup match is Faryd Mondragon of Colombia, who played in the 2014 World Cup at the age of 43 years and three days.
• The youngest player to ever play in a World Cup match is Norman Whiteside of Northern Ireland, who played in the 1982 World Cup at the age of 17 years and 41 days.
• The highest attendance ever recorded for a soccer match is 199,854, for a match between Brazil and Uruguay at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro in 1950.
• The fastest red card in soccer history was shown to Lee Todd, who was sent off just two seconds into a match between Cross Farm Park Celtic and Taunton East Reach Wanderers in 2000.
• The most goals scored by a team in a single match in World Cup history is 10, a record held jointly by Hungary and Yugoslavia.
• The most goals scored by a team in a single World Cup tournament is 27, a record held by Hungary from the 1954 tournament.
• The largest margin of victory in a World Cup match is 10, a record held by Hungary's 10-1 victory over El Salvador in 1982.
• The fastest hat-trick in a World Cup match was scored by Laszlo Kiss of Hungary, who scored three goals in just eight minutes against El Salvador in 1982.
• The most successful national team in European Championship history is Germany, who have won the tournament three times.
• The most successful club in European Championship history is Real Madrid, who have won the tournament four times.
• The most successful national team in Copa America history is Uruguay, who have won the tournament 15 times.
• The most successful club in Copa Libertadores history is Independiente of Argentina, who have won the tournament seven times.
• The most successful national team in African Cup of Nations history is Egypt, who have won the tournament seven times.
• The most successful club in African Champions League history is Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won the tournament 10 times.
• The most successful national team in Asian Cup history is Japan, who have won the tournament four times.
• The most successful club in Asian Champions League history is Pohang Steelers of South Korea, who have won the tournament three times.
• The most successful national team in Oceania Nations Cup history is New Zealand, who have won the tournament five times.
• The most successful club in Oceania Champions League history is Auckland City FC of New Zealand, who have won the tournament nine times.
• The most successful national team in the CONCACAF Gold Cup history is Mexico, who have won the tournament 11 times.
• The most successful club in the CONCACAF Champions League history is Cruz Azul of Mexico, who have won the tournament six times.
• The most successful national team in the South American U-20 Championship is Argentina, who have won the tournament 6 times.
• The most successful club in the Intercontinental Cup history is Real Madrid, who have won the tournament 7 times.
• The fastest goal in a World Cup final was scored by Hakan Şükür of Turkey, who scored just 11 seconds into the match against South Korea in 2002.
• The fastest goal in Premier League history was scored by Shane Long of Southampton, who scored after just 7.69 seconds against Watford in 2019.
• The most goals scored in a single Premier League season is 32, a record held by Alan Shearer, who achieved the feat in the 1995-1996 season.
• The most assists in a single Premier League season is 20, a record held by Thierry Henry, who achieved the feat in the 2002-2003 season.
• The most clean sheets in a single Premier League season is 24, a record held by Petr Cech, who achieved the feat with Chelsea in the 2004-2005 season.
• The most Premier League titles won by a single manager is 13, a record held by Sir Alex Ferguson, who won the title with Manchester United on 13 occasions.
• The most successful manager in Champions League history is Carlo Ancelotti, who has won the tournament three times with two different clubs.
• The fastest goal in Champions League history was scored by Roy Makaay of Bayern Munich, who scored just 10 seconds into a match against Real Madrid in 2007.
• The most goals scored in a single Champions League season is 17, a record held by Lionel Messi, who achieved the feat in the 2013-2014 season.
• The most assists in a single Champions League season is 8, a record held by Neymar, who achieved the feat in the 2016-2017 season.
• The most clean sheets in a single Champions League season is 10, a record held by Jens Lehmann, who achieved the feat with Arsenal in the 2005-2006 season.
• The most successful club in Europa League history is Sevilla of Spain, who have won the tournament 6 times.
• The fastest goal in Europa League history was scored by Shane Long of Southampton, who scored after just 7.69 seconds against Basel in 2016.
• The most goals scored in a single Europa League season is 12, a record held by Radamel Falcao, who achieved the feat in the 2010-2011 season.
• The most assists in a single Europa League season is 7, a record held by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who achieved the feat in the 2015-2016 season.
• The most clean sheets in a single Europa League season is 8, a record held by David de Gea, who achieved the feat with Manchester United in the 2011-2012 season.
• The most successful national team in the FIFA Club World Cup is Real Madrid, who have won the tournament 4 times.
• The fastest goal in FIFA Club World Cup history was scored by Mohamed Aboutrika of Al-Ahly, who scored after just 62 seconds against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2010.
• The most goals scored in a single FIFA Club World Cup tournament is 7, a record held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who achieved the feat in the 2016 tournament.
• The most assists in a single FIFA Club World Cup tournament is 4, a record held by Lionel Messi, who achieved the feat in the 2011 tournament.
• The most clean sheets in a single FIFA Club World Cup tournament is 4, a record held by Igor Akinfeev, who achieved the feat with CSKA Moscow in the 2005 tournament.
• The most successful national team in the Copa America is Uruguay, who have won the tournament 15 times.
• The fastest goal in Copa America history was scored by Juan Carlos Lorenzetti of Bolivia, who scored after just 35 seconds against Peru in 2011.
• The most goals scored in a single Copa America tournament is 8, a record held by Gabriel Batistuta, who achieved the feat in the 1991 tournament.
• The most assists in a single Copa America tournament is 7, a record held by Lionel Messi, who achieved the feat in the 2011 tournament.
• The most successful club in the Copa Libertadores is Independiente of Argentina, who have won the tournament 7 times.
• The fastest goal in Copa Libertadores history was scored by Juan Carlos Ferreyra of Estudiantes, who scored after just 13 seconds against Deportivo Quito in 2012.
• The most goals scored in a single Copa Libertadores season is 15, a record held by Daniel Onega of River Plate, who achieved the feat in the 1966 season.
• The most assists in a single Copa Libertadores season is 10, a record held by Juan Roman Riquelme, who achieved the feat with Boca Juniors in the 2007 season.
• The most successful national team in the UEFA European Championship is Germany, who have won the tournament 3 times.
• The fastest goal in UEFA European Championship history was scored by Dmitri Kirichenko of Russia, who scored after just 67 seconds against Greece in 2004.
• The most goals scored in a single UEFA European Championship tournament is 9, a record held by Michel Platini, who achieved the feat in the 1984 tournament.
• The most assists in a single UEFA European Championship tournament is 6, a record held by Thierry Henry, who achieved the feat in the 2000 tournament.
• The most successful club in the UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup is Sevilla of Spain, who have won the tournament 6 times.
• The fastest goal in UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup history was scored by Roy Makaay of Bayern Munich, who scored after just 10 seconds against Real Madrid in 2007.
• The most goals scored in a single UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup season is 12, a record held by Radamel Falcao, who achieved the feat in the 2010-2011 season.
• The most assists in a single UEFA Europa League/UEFA Cup season is 7, a record held by Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who achieved the feat in the 2015-2016 season.
• The most successful national team in the Africa Cup of Nations is Egypt, who have won the tournament 7 times.
• The fastest goal in Africa Cup of Nations history was scored by Emmanuel Emenike of Nigeria, who scored after just 23 seconds against Ethiopia in 2013.
• The most goals scored in a single Africa Cup of Nations tournament is 9, a record held by Samuel Eto'o, who achieved the feat in the 2008 tournament.
• The most assists in a single Africa Cup of Nations tournament is 6, a record held by Christian Bassogog, who achieved the feat in the 2017 tournament.
• The most successful club in the CAF Champions League is Al Ahly of Egypt, who have won the tournament 10 times.
• The fastest goal in CAF Champions League history was scored by Hossam Ashour of Al Ahly, who scored after just 29 seconds against Leopards de Dolisie in 2012.

With its passion, drama, and skill, soccer has captured the hearts and minds of people all over the world. From the smallest villages to the grandest stadiums, soccer unites people in a shared love for the beautiful game. We hope this article has provided you with an insightful and entertaining look at some of the most fascinating aspects of soccer, and that it has deepened your appreciation for this incredible sport. Whether you're a die-hard fan or a casual observer, there's always something new to discover in the world of soccer.