Soccer and Its History

Modern day soccer can generally trace it's beginning to England in the 1800's although many countries and cultures can lay claim to forms of soccer dating back centuries. Who knows ancient man likely kicked around rocks in prehistoric forms of soccer.

Among popular stories about the origin of soccer is from the 8th century when a Prince from Denmark was beheaded. The story is told that his head was kicked around on the ground and used like ball. King Edward III had to pass laws attempting to stop people from playing the game as it's origins are claimed to have resulted in injury and death.

But generally modern soccer can be traced to England in the 1800's played by the upper classes, the Aristocracy. It wasn't long before soccer was played by the common classes and that's where it's popularity ultimately took hold. Soccer is a simple and inexpensive sport and was easily adopted throughout the world. Many countries live and die by their beloved soccer clubs and teams.

Founded in 1863 the London Football Association formalized the games rules throughout Europe. Soon professional teams were formed and soccer heros were born.

Soccer spread quickly and was first played in the Olympics in 1900 at the turn of the Century. In 1904 the Federation Internationale de Football Association known as FIFA was created and the first World Cup competitions were held in 1930. Every four years the 24 best teams from around the world compete for the World Cup.

In the United States the United States Soccer Federation was formed in 1913, but soccer has never gained the widespread popularity that soccer enjoys in the rest of the world.

In America to call soccer "football" is unacceptable. Football in America is a completely different sport. Soccer has found widespread popularity in schools and soccer clubs throughout the U.S. since the mid seventies and American soccer teams have done well in international play.

Major League Soccer (MLS), founded in 1993, consisted of 10 teams when it began it's first season of competition in 1996. An estimated 3 million fans watched the playoffs that year. Today in 2010 MLS consists of 16 teams and will expand to 18 teams on 2011.

As the sport of soccer evolved so did the soccer ball. Possibly the very first ball was a human head, or human skulls. Heads and skulls not being acceptable today, the evolution of the soccer ball through the years has consisted of sewn-up wads of cloth, even animal bladders, to finally the introduction of a leather ball.

Later the invention of rubber led to Charles Goodyear creating a rubberized soccer ball in 1855. After FIFA was formed standardization of the soccer ball was included in the formal rules that were adopted. Today inflatable soccer balls are used that are not only suitable for kicking but can be "headed" without knocking out the player due to the heavy leather initially used.

Soccer shows no signs of slowing down throughout the world, it's growth in terms of both professional teams and recreational plays promise to continue and prosper.

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10 Interesting Facts About FIFA Player of Year Award

It is time of the year where the FIFA world player of the year award is decided by the votes of coaches and captains of national team worldwide.

An introduction of the mechanism of the system used to select the player of the year would be discussed first. The award was started in 1991 for the male player and in 2001 for the female player categories respectively. Basically, the coaches and national team captains would vote for players drawn by the technical committees of FIFA. The system used is called the Borda count where each coach and captain would get three votes (one of five points, one of three points and one of one point) to cast for the players of his choice. And the winner would be determined by the total of points received. The winner last year is Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro of Real Madrid.

And here are ten interesting things about the FIFA World Player of the Year Award

1. The winner of 2006 award, Fabio Cannavaro, is the first defender or a player other than a midfielder or striker to have ever won the award since its inception win by Lothar Matthaus in 1991. The closet any other defender or goalkeeper has came to the award before Cannavaro's victory are Oliver Kahn (Goalkeeper, second in 2002), Roberto Carlos (Defender, second in 1997) and Paolo Maldini (Defender, second in 1995).

2. In the past sixteen editions of the awards, it had been won by strikers and midfielders for seven times each. Thus making outfield players with the exception of defenders, a more popular choice for the award. It is summarized that as strikers and midfielders hoard most of the glory in competitions, therefore their chances are equally higher than defenders and goalkeepers.

3. There are two triple winners of the awards since its inception in 1991. They are French Midfielder Zinedine Zidane (1998, 2000 and 2003) and Brazilian Striker Ronaldo (1996, 1997 and 2002). The other player who has won more than once is Brazilian Ronaldinho (2004 and 2005).

4. No player has ever won the award for three consecutive years in the roll. The closet any one have came to it are Ronaldo (1996 and 1997) and Ronaldinho (2004 and 2005). It would take something really special every season for any one player to do so.

5. Although the award is meant for the world's best player, only players from Europe, Africa and South American do make it to the final short list. Hence there have been quite some critics from some corner in the world about the selection process.

6. Another interesting fact is other than Juan Roman Riquleme's nomination in 2007 when he is playing on loan for Boca Juniors, all the players on the short list came from clubs in Europe.

7. No English Player or Player from United Kingdom has ever won the award before. The closet any have came are Gary Lineker (1991, third), Alan Shearer (1996, third), David Beckham (1999 and 2001, both second) and Frank Lampard (2005, second). Maybe it would take England winning the World Cup or European Championship for a English to take the award.

8. Brazil has the most wins by nationality. Brazilian players have won the award a staggering seven times; four times more than the closet nationality of French with three wins. It could be the flair and attacking nature of the Brazilian players that clinched them the wins as players such as Ronaldo, Ronaldino, Rivaldo and Romario are all attacking players full of flairs. Or it could down to the names as all the Brazilian winners have a letter "R" to head off their names.

9. The last six winners of the award have come from teams in the Spanish La Liga. Hence it can be seen it is not English Premiership with the most star power, but the La Liga.

10. FC Barcelona had six winners from players within its ranks while great rivals Real Madrid had four. Thus making a majority of winners (a staggering sixty three percentage) from both of them for the past sixteen awards since the inception of the award. Their closet rivals for this honor is the Italian Giants Juventus with four winners.

Hopefully, the above can give one a better understanding of the FIFA Player of the year Award. And let's await the result in 17th December 2007.

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Meet FIFA's Soccer Ambassadors

Abedi Pele, former Ghanaian international soccer player and captain, is regarded as the greatest player in Ghana's history and amongst the best in the African continent. As a pioneer of African soccer in European clubs, Pele played for Italian, Swiss, German, and French teams. He also played 67 times for his country in the 80's and 90's. Named African Footballer of the Year in 1991, 1992 and 1993, his name was also included as one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers in March 2004. Though he never got to play a World Cup, he dominated African soccer for nearly a decade. Today, Pele owns a club that nurtures young talent to join the fledgling league of Ghana. This legend is deeply involved with charity work and is one of the continent's most respected Ambassadors. As a member of FIFA's Football Committee, Pele has the honor of taking part in the maximum number of charity matches than any other African player.

Jomo Sono lost his soccer star father in a car crash at the age of 8. His mother abandoned him and Sono was looked after by his ailing grandparents. At the age of 10, he sold apples and peanuts during soccer matches. During a soccer match one of the players was absent and Sono was asked to quickly put on a soccer shirt and stand in for the player! That was the beginning of Sono's illustrious career. He soon became known for his incredible dribbling and accurate passing skills. A fan gave Sono the nickname Jomo, or burning spear, since he saw in him the same leadership qualities as the President of Kenya, Jomo Kenyatta. And Sono sure did live up to his name! Having played for Orlando Pirates, he went to play for New York Cosmos alongside Brazil's Pele. On his return, he bought the Highlands Park Club and renamed it Jomo Cosmos in honor of his old team. The club achieved great success and Sono developed new talent for Bafana Bafana, South Africa's national team. Today, the Black Prince is the longest serving coach in South Africa's Premier League and is also on the board of the Premier League. Former Cameroonian forward, Roger Milla, is one of the first African players to become a major international soccer star. Having represented his country in three World Cups, Milla attained international stardom at the age of 38 when most footballers retire! Wearing the famous number 9 soccer shirt, he went on to score 4 goals in the 1990 World Cup, which got Cameroon into the quarterfinals. He also made it to Pele's list of the 125 greatest living footballers. Besides winning numerous distinctions on the soccer field, Milla serves as an Ambassador for Cameroon and UNAIDS.

Liberian George Weah played for clubs in France, Italy and England for 14 years. The year 1995 saw him become the FIFA World Player of the Year, European Footballer of the Year, and African Footballer of the Year. Considered as one of the best African footballers ever, Weah has since taken up humanitarian and political causes in Liberia. Through soccer he spreads joy and promotes education among children. As President of the Junior Professionals, Weah discovered many a talent who have gone on to play for the Liberian national team.

Lucas Radebe, former South African player and national team captain, began his career as a goalkeeper. He later moved to the Kaizer Chiefs where he played as a midfielder. Radebe then joined the South African National Team in 1992. The year 1994 saw him move to wear the Leeds United soccer uniforms, where he became a huge soccer star and captain. Radebe was also captain of the South African national team during the 1998 and 2002 World Cups. Radebe is FIFA's Ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages.

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FIFA World Cup Soccer Awards

Of course the biggest prize at any FIFA World Cup competition is to get the honor of holding the golden champions' trophy aloft. There are however individual awards for notable players at each tournament, and these do not always go to members of the team who are eventually triumphant.

The Golden Ball Award

The Golden Ball award, or the Adidas Golden Ball award as it is now officially known, has been awarded at each of the FIFA World Cup competitions since 1982. The award goes to the player deemed the best in the entire tournament as chosen by a committee of FIFA officials and members of the media.

The Golden Shoe Award

The Golden Shoe has been awarded to at least one player in each of the Cup competitions ever played going back to the first tournament in 1930. The first winner was Argentina's Guilermo Stabile at the 1930 Cup, despite the fact that the eventual winners of the tournament were host country Uruguay. The Golden Shoe award is also now sponsored by Adidas. The winner is usually the man who scores the most goals during the course of the tournament.

The Yashin Award

Named after legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin, this award goes to the man considered the best goalkeeper of the entire competition. It was first awarded at the 1994 Cup held in the United States

FIFA Fair Play Trophy

The FIFA Fair play trophy was first awarded in 1970 and usually goes to the team with the fewest yellow or red cards during their time in the competition. Only teams who make it to the second round and beyond are considered.

Most Entertaining Team

A fairly new award, it goes to the team voted by the judging committee to have provided the best all around entertainment value during the competition.

Gillette Young Player Award

A brand new award first introduced at the 2006 World Cup in Germany. So far the sole recipient was then 21-year-old German Lukas Poldoski.

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The Origin Of Soccer - Where Did It Come From

Soccer is one of the most widely watched and played games across the globe. If you review soccer statistics over the past few years, you will observe that soccer features among the highest-paying games. It is played at a professional level and for fun. Additionally, it is enjoyed by men and women of all ages. In countries other than the United States of America, soccer is better known as football.

The game is played between two teams consisting 11 players each on a rectangular field with a black and white ball. The objective is to send the ball into the opposing team's goal. Throughout the game, the ball can only be kicked; players, except the goalkeeper, cannot touch the ball with their hands. Other players are allowed to use their hands only for throw-ins. Play time is divided into 2 halves each lasting 45 minutes. There is a 15 minutes break in between. The team with the maximum number of goals is declared winner. All said and done, one often wonders about the origin of soccer. Some contend it came China while others debate it belongs to England. You can find out where soccer came from right here.

The Chinese Roots

It is stated that a game similar to football was first played in China. It was around the 2nd and 3rd century B.C. during the rule of Han Dynasty. Players dribbled leather balls and drove them into small nets. The Greeks and the Romans too played different versions of this game.

The English Ties

After the earliest evidence in China, the next activity was traced in England. Soccer became popular in England around the 12th and 13th centuries. Spectators used to throng the fields to watch the sport. Traditional soccer has a very crude form. There were no rules to regulate this sporting activity. Also, kicking, gouging, punching and biting were acceptable. The sport was banned in early-1300s because of the growing instances of violence and increasing military interference.

The sporting activity was partially revived in 1848 with the creation of "Cambridge Rules". The set of rules were created by the Cambridge University to control and standardize the game. The first Football Association was formed in 1863 in England. Countries such as Countries New Zealand, Chile, Holland, Denmark, Argentina, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Italy and Uruguay formed their respective football associations. It soon spread to the different parts of the world within the next 50 years. World Cup competitions, regional competitions, formation of local clubs and increasing media exposure contributed to the game's growing popularity.

In 1886, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) was established to decide the official rules of the sport. Federation International Football Association (FIFA) was set up in 1904. It adopted the IFAB laws as its manifesto. Till date, FIFA operates as the international governing body of soccer. The Union of European Football Associations (UEFA), Asian Football Confederation (AFC), Confederation of African Football (CAF), Confederation of North Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF), South American Football Confederation (CONMEBOL) and Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) are the six regional confederations included in FIFA. The FIFA World Cup is one of the most prestigious competitions in soccer. It is played every 4 years.

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Best Mexican Soccer Players of All Times

Mexican soccer players also made a mark in the soccer world. They have also made appearances in the World Cup and made it to finals. They are also considered as one of the richest and most organized team in America. Mexican fans are so die-hard to them and the most popular club of Mexico is the Chivas de Guadalajara which composes of all-Mexican team. Many good players are part of this team and the best players include:

Cuauhtemoc Blanco

Blanco is one of the best players in Mexico, as a football midfielder. He has gained an award in an International FIFA Cup. He was awarded five times as MVP player of the Mexican First League Division.

Carlos Salcido

Carlos Salcido is a Mexican international football defender. He played in the Guadalajara and is currently playing in PSV Eindhoven. He had his first goal in 2003 and was one of the best goals in soccer history. It was an amazing long distance goal, playing against Excelsior Rotterdam.

Hugo Sanchez

This legendary player in Mexico has made a big name in soccer history. He played three times in World Cup, played twelve seasons in the Spanish Primera Division and gained the second highest goal keeper.

Guillermo Ochoa

Memo is currently playing for Club America as a goalkeeper. In 2006 he was chosen as the third choice goalkeeper by the former Mexican head coach Ricardo LaVolpe for the FIFA World Cup. He is currently the best goalkeeper in Mexico.

Mexican soccer has really progressed and has improved well. They look even better nowadays and international Mexican soccer players are getting ready for the upcoming World Cup 2010.

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Why Goalkeepers and Not the Controversial FIFA Approved Football Could Ruin the World Cup 2010!

There is one thing you can be certain of at every World Cup; the players will complain about the effect of the new technology used in producing the latest type of footballs being used.

In an era now consigned to history, the ball was made of leather which got heavier when it was wet and was even held together by thick laces, something that is almost impossible to believe when inspecting the modern, light synthetic ball.

The loudest complaints are often heard from goalkeepers, that rather odd breed who suffer from the most erratic of behaviour. They are prone to throwing their toys around at anything they don't like and their understanding, sympathetic coaches are often seen wrapping a consoling arm around the poor dears' shoulders while whispering the words "there, there" in an attempt to calm down their last line of defence.

However, we mustn't disregard totally the thoughts and opinions of our goalkeepers. After all, they could win you the tournament with a stunning penalty save when the rest of the team has failed to break open the opposing defence. So why have such highly regarded keepers including Germany's Lehman, and Italy's Buffon labelled the official FIFA World Cup 2010 ball a "plastic beach ball"? FIFA proudly launched the Adidas Jabulani amongst great fanfare.

Apparently one of its major selling points was that it was easier to control. Well if a player can't control a football, what is he doing at the World Cup anyway? The South African word Jabulani comes from the Zulu word for 'celebrate', well that's nice but not many people have celebrated its arrival yet. Manufacturers Adidas claim it is rounder than any ball has ever been before (ah that explains why the square ball never really proved popular) and it is also lighter - and here is the problem which has been pounced on by all those poor, much maligned goalkeepers. You see, it is so light that its flight is unpredictable, maybe it should have been sponsored by British Airways this year then?

Talking of Britain, the England team have been using the ball in training for the first time, and the poor lads don't like the way it goes off target which of course has nothing to do with their inability to hit a barn door from two paces. Meanwhile those crafty Germans have been using a similar ball in their own league all season - oh no, why didn't other countries think of that? Well it's all to do with who your sponsorship deals are tied up with, the Germans are in bed with Adidas, and the English FA can only use Nike balls, so there.

Let's not be too hard on our keepers. No, the outfield players have also claimed a foul with the new ball as well. Brazil are, as usual, highly fancied to do well in this year's tournament, but their striker Luis Fabiano said that he thought the ball was "weird and suddenly changes trajectory". His Italian counterpart Giampaolo Pazzini advised that the ball was a "disaster". Really? He continues: "It moves so much and is difficult to control. You jump to head a cross and suddenly the ball moves and you miss it". Yes well sorry to say Giampaolo but that is football for you, keep your eyes on the ball next time!

French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris maybe lets us in on something though, and this may make this a very exciting world cup simply because of this new ball. He stated that "This ball is a catastrophe. With this kind of ball you can score from anywhere." Excellent news! This is what all football fans round the world want - players scoring from anywhere. We don't want goalkeepers getting in the way, in fact why not get rid of them then there will be more goals and less complaining!

Oh by the way, I used to be an amateur goalkeeper, the gloves we had were useless....

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Soccer - A History

Soccer is a worldwide phenomenon. Soccer teams are national celebrities in Europe and millions of people tuned in for the most recent Soccer World Cup. Just where did this sport come from, and why has it taken the world by storm?

The earliest recorded soccer game took place in the 2nd and 3rd years BC in China. A military manual details a training game which involved kicking a leather ball into a net. Players had to withstand their opponents and were forbidden from using their hands.

The Romans played Harpastum, where players strived to kick a ball past the opposing team. It was quite different from modern soccer, but spectators loved it and relished cheering on their team and keeping score.

Soccer-or football-has been popular in Great Britain since the 8th century AD. Regional contests were intense and played between different villages and towns. Players kicked their opponents as often as they kicked the ball in these competitions! The games had unlimited numbers of players and were played in the streets and town squares. The ball was made of anything available, from a pig's bladder to a leather ball stuffed with straw. Games could be so violent that they were at one time banned by the King of England!

England was the birthplace of modern soccer when more civilized versions of soccer became popular in English schools in the 1820s. Each school came up with its own rules and met with other schools for competitions.

The Football Association was created in 1863 and provided rules and regulations for the popular game. The laws of the game were drawn up by Cobb Morley and have been the standard ever since, modified only slightly to meet modern needs. The laws are preserved and modified by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).

Since then, the popularity of soccer has spread around the globe and it is now loved and watched by several billion people. National soccer leagues appeared at the turn of the 20th century and became members of the Federation of International Football Associations (FIFA).

The World Cup premiered in the 1930s, a competition between the best soccer teams in the world that's held by FIFA every four years.

Soccer is a great form of exercise, competition, and national pride. Nearly every country has a soccer team and enjoys a healthy rivalry with other parts of the world. So far, 17 world cup trophies have been awarded in men's competitions, and 4 in women's competitions.

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The Rolling History of the Soccer Ball

The phrase 'play ball' has most probably emerged from our natural instinct to kick at anything we find lying on the ground, be it paper, plastic or a rubber ball. In the olden days, people even kicked heads for fun. The Chinese in the Ts'in and the Dan dynasties invented animal skin balls between 255BC -220 AD, which they dribbled between two poles through gaps in nets. The ancient Egyptians conducted rituals which resembled a football and the Greeks and Romans also played similar games.

Even the South Americans Indians knew the use of a light elasticized ball. During the pre - medieval times, people of an entire village took to kicking a skull into the square of another village, as a favorite past time. The bladder of pigs was inflated and used for playing. Hence the shape and size of the ball depended on the pig's bladder, so the trajectory of the ball when kicked could not be predicted. This habit of kicking slowly saw the evolution of the first ever rubber ball in 1855, when Charles Goodyear, after patenting vulcanized rubber, made the first ever rubber ball, which now stands displayed at the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta, NY, USA.

In 1862, H. J. Lindon, invented the first inflatable rubber bladders for balls. The next year, the newly created football association chalked out the rules of the game. By 1872, it was agreed that the ball would be 'spherical with a circumference of 27 or 28 inches' and would weigh 13 to 15 oz, which exists even today in the FIFA rule book. In 1937, the weight was increased to 14 to 16 oz. According to the Encyclopedia of Association Football which was first published in 1956, the ball has to be spherical with and outer casing of leather or other approved materials, while the size and weight has remained constant till date.

The founding of the English Football League in 1888 gave a fillip to the mass production of soccer balls, with Mitre and Thomlinson of Glasgow being the first two companies to begin manufacturing. Retaining the shape of the ball was imperative, so good quality leather covers were made from the rump of the cow. The 20th Century brought changes in the design as interlocking panels replaced the large leather sections that met at the north and south of the ball.

The color of the soccer ball in the 1950s used to be orange so as to make it visible while playing on snow. In 1951, the first white ball was played with using floodlights. By 1980s, leather was totally replaced by synthetic material. The present 32 panel soccer ball in white and black is the invention of Richard Buckminster Fuller, consisting of 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal surfaces. This soccer ball was first marketed by Select in Denmark in the 1950s and the first official FIFA world cup soccer ball - the Adidas Telstar was used in the World Cup at Mexico in 1970.

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FIFA Soccer Rules - The Laws of the Game

FIFA soccer rules is the existing law officially recognized and used in professional soccer tournaments around the world. In every sport there are certain rules which are being used as basis for decisions and other technicalities of the game. It serves as a guideline in order to have an orderly implementation of the game and prevent any causes of violence.

In the sport of soccer, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is the governing body of the sport and also responsible for the creation of rules and policies for the game. These set of rules are commonly called "Laws of the Game". The rules are usually revised every year particularly on the month of July. The official rule is sometimes modified by soccer clubs especially for the youth so as to adapt with the condition of the players.

Usually the revisions consist of adjustments on game lengths, field sizes, number of players in a team, numbers of substitution and any other that needs some modifications.

The official FIFA rule book is consist of 17 sections in 70 pages long. It comes with a 44 page Question and Answer portion that will surely be useful for players and even enthusiasts.

The latest revision of the Laws of the Game was on July 1 of 2008 during the 122nd Annual Meeting of the International Football Association Board or IFAB.

These set of rules are strictly being implemented and all coaches, teams and leagues are encouraged to abide with the rules. These rules also aim to promote sportsmanship and discipline among players.

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FIFA World Cup Player Portrait - Hat-Trick Honcho Higuain

After the match against South Korea, Maradona was cock-a-hoop. And with good reason. Not only had his team won 4-1, but barring a short spell in the second third, had stomped all over the Koreans.

And one man stood out. Gonzalo Gerardo "El Pipita" Higuaín etched his name in football history with the first hat-trick of FIFA World Cup 2010.

Coming from a family of footballers, Higuain's potential as first spotted by the manager of local club, River Plate, back home in Argentina. Real Madrid lost no time in signing him up for a multimillion dollar six and a half year contract, in 2006.

His career with Real Madrid has only justified the club's faith in Higuain's prodigious talent. His 64 goals and 21 assists in 139 appearances tell their story.

France-born Higuain was undecided about which country he wanted to represent. Both teams vied for his participation, but the player delayed his decision till he decided to go with Argentina in February 2008 for a pre-Olympic friendly against Guatemala, in which Higuain got 2 of the 5 goals his team scored. Maradona was widely criticized for not selecting Higuain earlier.

But it was not until October 2009, that Higuain got his first recognized international goal, against Peru in a World Cup qualifier. This was a crucial match for Argentina's qualification prospects, and without Higuain's contribution, the team may have missed the World Cup bus. He has since scored 4 more. And we saw 3 of those on Thursday.

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The History of Soccer

Soccer, or football as it is known every country but the United States, has a long and rich history that began somewhere in England back in the 1900s. While the sport is popular all over the world, the sport traces its' roots back to England, which is often called the "home of football" because the first soccer leagues were started there, as well as the first official governing organization.

Many experts believe that football was played in some form or other before the 19th century, but the fact remains that there were no official rules until then. In 1863 the Football Association was established in England and they proceeded to hold meetings to come up with what would become the official rules that still hold true today. Games soon commenced using the new guidelines in 1864.

Every sport eventually needs a tournament, and football was no different. Just seven years after games started under the rules established by the Football Association, they started the FA Cup. This was at first a tournament that only featured amateur teams, but within a couple years it was expanded as soccer became more and more popular.

While the football season and tournament was still fairly disorganized, this all changed in 1888 when a football league was finally established. The original Football League had 12 clubs that played one game against each team at home and one at the visitor's home. Teams got 1 point for a tie and two for a win. This was the first official league in the world, and soon it expanded into more divisions and teams all over England.

As soccer quickly gained momentum in England it started to expand into other countries all over the world. It was especially popular not only in Europe but also South America. Eventually the best team from each country started playing the best from other countries; notably, Scotland and England, who were two of the first national teams, began to venture outside the UK to play other nations' teams. This created the need for an international governing body and soon FIFA was established in Paris in 1904 to fill this need. FIFA organized the first tournament at the London Olympics in 1908, which was incredibly successful. As more countries became involved, a World Cup was developed by FIFA, or the International Federation of Association Football, in the 1930s.

Soccer continues to become more and more popular internationally. The World Cup is by far the most watched sporting event in the whole world, and it continues to enthrall fans far beyond England. FIFA now has over 200 national football associations within its membership, which is more countries than are involved with the United Nations. While some would argue that the sport is still more popular in England than anywhere else, there are probably millions of fans all over the world who would argue that their country loves the sport more. While America has been slow to catch on, there is evidence that the sport is getting even more popular there as well because of a professional league that is attracting some of the biggest football names in the world.

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The History Of Soccer - A World Game

Knowing the history of soccer is really an interesting thing. It is a well known fact that soccer has lots of fans all over the world; it is the liveliest and most watched game. Die hard fans would fought and support their favorite team with all efforts. So many people are crazy about this game and almost every culture are interested about it.

Soccer started a long time ago since ancient times, it was known that it started in Europe but soccer is really widespread in all countries. The most common game children and adults play is kicking a ball on the ground or even some play on the street. This was then also named as "football".

In the middle ages soccer is also played anywhere, it became popular in Europe and it started as part of English public school's physical fitness wherein it became a game for boys. The game becomes more widespread and it was then made up of teams, coaches and referees. The game was played internationally in countries like Europe, Australia and America. Getting interested on the history of soccer was then become eager to be known by all.

In the 20th century a number of soccer teams was then formed from anywhere in the world. An international soccer was then governed by FIFA (Federation of International Football Associations) and it was first joined by European and American nations. A tournament organized by FIFA which is the World Cup is the most awaited event in soccer; this happens every four years and is also accompanied with the Olympics.

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Looking Back: The 2014 FIFA World Cup In Brazil

A Quick Review of the 2014 World Cup

The 2014 FIFA World Cup took place from June 12 to July 13 in twelve cities across Brazil. This was in fact the second time that Brazil has hosted such an event (the last time being in 1950). 31 countries had advanced resulting in 64 matches. While high hopes were placed on Brazil for winning the tournament, instead they placed in fourth, with Germany grabbing the top prize.

Brazil had a wonderful arena with a tremendous capacity to accommodate thousands of supporters. While half of the stadiums were brand new, other places were also built or refurbished for the great occasion to the tune of over 500 million dollars per stadium. These massive investments along with other investments in Brazil's infrastructure, allowed Brazil to accommodate an unprecedented number of visitors in the history of the nation's tourism industry. Many roads, railways and airports were successfully modernized and renovated as Brazil received millions of visitors in a short span of time.

Brazil's Star Player: Neymar da Silva Santos Junior

First, a bit of history for anyone interested. Neymar da Silva Santos Junior is thought to be among the most exciting young talents ever to play football. His prowess and skill coupled with a fun-loving character has made him one of the most popular players of the tournament. Neymar once said that his father had the greatest influence over his style of playing and way of living. It was his father who taught him the game's nuances and provided him with ample guidance to become the athlete he is known as today.

Neymar's performance certainly shined forth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. However, his participation was cut short just before the finals...

On the fourth of July, Neymar had a bone broken in his back and was carried away in a stretcher just a few minutes before Brazil's match was won against Colombia. The cause? A challenge from a defender on the Colombia team - Juan Zuniga.

Reports have suggested that his injury will still take many weeks or even months of healing, which caused him to sit out for the rest of the tournament. This was the greatest loss that Brazil experiences, and certainly had an impact in their loss against Germany, which resulted in a meager 7-1.

How The Online World Reacted to 2014 FIFA World Cup Games in Brazil

The Internet has added to the enjoyment of the tournament, which has allowed millions of people to watch the 2014 FIFA World Cup games from the comforts of their home. One no longer had to be present in Brazil to feel like they're a part of it. This was most prominent on social media websites such as Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. They allowed users to connect with virtually every facet of the tournament - from communicating with the players, expressing their opinion about individual games and even managing their own teams.

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Brazil Soccer Players - Who Are the 7 Best of All Time?

Brazil soccer players are without question many of the very best all over the world, and over the years, they've had a lot of excellent players. Brazil has the most productive soccer team in the world, this is believed to be true because of the amazing players that have been a part of their teams over the years. In their home country, Brazilian football players are treated like gods, and on the pitch given the respect, which they rightfully deserve.

Pele is typically regarded as the master of the game, and in Brazil looked at as a national hero. This amazing soccer player is believed to be one of the greatest soccer players of all time. In 2000, he was awarded Player of the Century, to stand alongside his numerous other great achievements. While Pele was playing he won 3 World Cups with Brazil, scored 1243 goals in his career and 12 out of the 14 World cup goals. Pretty impressive career!

Roberto Carlos is another player who was one of the very best Brazil soccer players and joined the team in 1992, playing in three Globe Cups with them. Roberto is known for his powerful, free kicks that he brought to the game, as well as one of the amazing all around great players. For the duration of his career with Brazil, he was put on the pitch for almost each and every single game they played, and scores 5 times in the 68 games.

Kaka as he is typically known is regarded as one of the best midfielders in the world. Although Kaka is still considered very young, he began his soccer career at the young age of just eight. Kaka had his major debut in 2001 and scored 12 goals in 27 appearances. In 2007, he was awarded the FIFA World player of the year.

Garrincha as he is best known on the field, is another one of the best Brazil soccer players of all times. FIFA considers Garrincha to be the most effective Brazilian football player behind Pele, and is believed to be the very best dribbler in the history of soccer. Garrincha helped the Brazilian soccer team to win the World Cup in 1958 and 1962.

Ronaldo has retired but in the course of his Brazilian football career he was essentially the most prolific goal scorer of all time. He won the European footballer of the year twice, and the FIFA player of the year three times. Ronaldo played for Brazil in 97 matches and scored an extraordinary 62 goals. He was an important part of the team that won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002.

Zico is another former Brazilian soccer player who is now a world class coach and is often referred to as the "White Pele". Zico is believed to be one of the world's most skilled finishers and passers throughout the history of soccer. He was also considered to be one of the greatest free kick specialists because he could bend the ball with incredible speed and precision. Zico received recognition when he was named one of the best greatest living footballers in 2004.

Romario was a former striker who helped the Brazilian soccer team to win the 1994 World Cup. He is thought to be one of the world's most prolific strikers in the world. Romario is also among one of the very best Brazil soccer players and one of the finest natural strikers in the world. In 2007, he scored his 1000th goal, and the game was stopped for the crowds and supporters to celebrate with him.

I hope you have enjoyed these Brazil facts about Brazil soccer players. I know this is a controversial subject. Everyone has their favorite Brazilian football players. Who do you think should be on the list?

Joel Higginbotham currently lives in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and created his website www.BrazilCultureAndTravel.com to give everyone a taste of this amazing country. For more interesting Brazil facts click the following link to discover more about Brazil holidays.

French Soccer Players

The French soccer team is the most competitive soccer team in international football. France is a multi cultural country and the national team includes French soccer players of all origins and playing styles. The French soccer team is famous for their tradition playing style that includes strong defense and lot of common sense. The French soccer team won the FIFA world cup in 1998 and prestigious European Championship in 2000. Also, they reached the semi finals in 1958, 1982, and 1986.
The top six French soccer players of all times are Michel Platini, Zinedine Zidane, Thierry Henry, Eric Cantona, Fabien Barthez, and Didier Deschamps. The French soccer era can be divided into Platini age and Zidane age.
Michel Platini was born on June 21, 1955 in Joeuf. As a soccer player, he started his career at the age of 17. His remarkable performance in the club matches opened the gates for him in the national team in 1976. By 1977, Platini was known as the rising star in French soccer. Soon he was appointed as the captain of French soccer team and he managed to improve the French record in FIFA world cup. France finished fourth in 1982 and third in 1986. It was under his captaincy France managed to win Euro cup in 1984 and Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles. He was the top goal scorer and was declared as the best player of the tournament in 1984 Euro cup. Michel Platini is on the top of the list in French soccer players.
Zinedine Zidane was born on 23 June in 1972 in Marseille. He is best known as an attacking mid fielder and is regarded as one of the greatest players in the world. He is a true magician and is perhaps the best talented player after Pele. Zidane is regarded as a genius in French soccer players. It was the result of his perfect technique the French team won the world cup finals in 1998. The world champion Brazilian team were amazed by his game and stood effortless in the hands of Zidane. Also, they won the runner up trophy in 2006 world cup. Zidane was also a crucial member of world famous Spanish club, Real Madrid. The famous acrobatic goal in 2001 allowed his team to win the Champions League final.
Didier Deschamps was another excellent defensive midfielder in French line up. Thanks to Zidane, it was under his captaincy that the French team was declared as the world champions in 1998. Soon the same year French team managed to win the Euro cup, and hence this great player became the first captain in French soccer playersý history to win two major trophies in single year.
Eric Cantona was popular, compelling, and brilliant player in French line up. He played most of his career for Manchester United and nearly scored 64 goals in 140 matches. Thierry Henry is another rising star in French soccer players list. His technique, incredible speed, nasty shots has made him the best striker in French squad.
The list of French soccer players is long and never ending. As a soccer-playing nation, the team has good prospects in the future. The young players are hard working and committed to follow the footsteps of Zidane and Platini.
Candis Reade is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about French Soccer Players [http://greatsoccerplayers.info/french-soccer-players], please visit Great Soccer Players [http://greatsoccerplayers.info] for current articles and discussions.

History of Changes in Soccer Football Rules - A Thorough Look

History of Changes in Soccer Football Rules - Introduction
It should be noted that the primary motive for all the official changes in football rules is to improve the spirit of the game and make the game better in every possible way. Essentially, we will look at the major changes in the 19th century and the 20th century. As one can understand after going through this article, the game has undergone considerable changes in its rules over a period of time and this will be an ongoing process. As times change and new exploits are pointed out, the official game rules will continue to change either to fix or to improve the game.
Early Rules Changes
We should not forget that soccer existed hundreds of years before and people used to play football with varying rules during the initial days of football.
There were no proper common rules before 1863 to govern the game and changes in football rules were frequent during those initial periods. One of such two early rules that gained popularity are the Cambridge rules, first drawn up at Cambridge University in 1848 and the Sheffield Football Club rules, formed by former public school pupils in 1857.
During the early 1860s, there were increasing attempts in England to unify and reconcile the various football games that were played in the public schools as well in the industrial north under the Sheffield Rules.
19th Century Changes
The first uniform football rules and regulations were formed in the year 1863.The Cambridge Rules are taken as a base and are rewritten to arrive at the first official laws of the game. In the year 1866, the offside law is changed to allow players to be onside provided there are three players between the ball and the goal.
The year 1891 is a very important year for soccer rules in particular and the game in general. A game changing rule called "the penalty-kick" was first introduced into the game. A penalty kick is awarded against a team which commits offence within the 18 yard box, also called the penalty box. This changed the game drastically and offered an immense advantage to the team that is awarded a penalty kick.
20th Century Changes
The year 1925 witnessed another major change in soccer "offside" rule. The offside law which is conceived in the year 1866 initially allowed players to be onside provided there are three players between the ball and the goal. The amendment in 1925 changed the number from three to two players.
Substitutes are permitted for the first time in the year 1958. But this confined only for an injured goalkeeper and one other injured player.
Card system is introduced in the year 1970. The system of red and yellow cards is introduced for the 1970 FIFA World Cup finals as a means of warning or penalising a player. Referees indicate that a player has committed an offense and red card represents more serious offense than the yellow card.
In 1990 the offside law is once again changed and this time in favour of the attacker. As per this change in law, the attacker is now said to be onside if he/she is in level with the penultimate defender.
Other changes include the Goalkeepers forbidden from handing back-passes in 1992. The technical area is introduced into the Laws of the Game in 1994, with the Fourth Official following the next year. Initially who were referred to as "Linesmen" are renamed as "Assistant Referees", in the year 1996. In the year 1997 the Laws are revised once again for the betterment of the game.
Soccer Football Rules Simplified [http://www.soccerfootballrules.com/]
Complete History of Changes in Football Rules Explained. All Soccer / Football Rules Simplified for You. Soccer Rules, Soccer History, Soccer Facts, List of past world cup winners and More!

Soccer Trivia and Facts

There's nothing like a little bit of trivia to test your knowledge of the sport of soccer. You may say that soccer is your favorite sport, but how much do you really know? Following are some facts and tidbits that you may or may not know about soccer.
· Soccer originated generally in its present form in Britain.
· The world's oldest club formed in 1857 is Sheffield FC
· Soccer is the most played and most watched sport on Earth
· Soccer is called football in practically every country except America, who call 'Grid Iron' football and football soccer.
· Famous soccer rivalries include the Old Firm (Scotland), Manchester derby, London derbies, Milan derby, Real vs Barcelona, and many more.
· Some famous soccer players: Pele, Maradonna, Charlton, Eusebio, Cruyff, Dalglish, Ronaldo, Beckham, Mattheus.
Those are some basic bits of soccer trivia and facts. How much did you know? Well, here are so more soccer facts to test your knowledge:
· The sport of Association Football (often referred to as soccer or simply football) is the most popular team sport in the world, in both number of spectators and number of active participants.
· The largest attendance for a soccer match ever was 199,854 people - Brazil v. Uruguay in the World Cup at the Maracana Municipal Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, July 1950.
· In the largest soccer tournament ever, no less than 5,098 teams competed in 1999 for the second Bangkok League Seven-a-Side Competition. Over 35,000 players involved!
· The most goals scored by one player in a single soccer match was 16
- Stephan Stanis (France) playing for Racing Club de Lens in December 1942.
· Based on video evidence, one of the fastest ever scored was in 2.8 seconds by Ricardo Olivera (Uruguay) in December 1998.
· The international governing body of soccer is the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), based in Zurich, Switzerland.
· Diego Maradona was only 16 when he made his soccer debut for Argentina.
· Soccer goalies didn't have to wear different coloured shirts from their teammates until 1913.
· Eusebio scored 46 goals in the European Cup for Benfica.
· Chris Woods once went 1196 minutes without conceding a goal while at Rangers, from between November 26 1986 and January 31 1987.
· Ryan Giggs' dad was a professional Rugby League player.
· In 1973, the entire Galilee team spent the night in jail for kicking their opponents during an Israeli League game.
Have you had enough soccer trivia and facts? These are only a few of the interesting soccer facts that are floating around out there.
Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, fashion, sports, and home decor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles on soccer, please visit Soccer Products and Info.

Uruguay in Soccer FIFA World Cup, South Africa 2010

Uruguay went back to the place claimed by their history, that of protagonists. They won the respect of the whole world with commitment and heart of their footballers. Nevertheless, it was will and courage, as well as good football and goals. It was their best performance since World Cup, Mexico '70, when they had also ended fourth in the ranking table.
The coach Oscar Tabarez went to the World Cup with a very clear plan: 4 - 3 -1 - 2, and the 11 players very well selected.
Nevertheless in their tie with France, they did not have a satisfactory reply of the creative midfielder Ignacio Gonzalez and his entrance in the second game gave origin to several changes. Uruguay had an excellent performance in defense and recovery, but they lacked offensive drive that night.
In the game against South Africa, Cavani replaced the aforementioned Gonzalez. By advancing his opponents, he forced Forlan to law a few meters behind, so that he was unable to act as a play-maker.
From the aggressive and dazzling 3-0 against the local national team, the format remained unchanged. The defenders were a bastion, with the two players in the middle - Diego Perez and Arevalo Rios - evincing a marvelous defensive technique and the lethal Suarez and Forlan offensive pair, scoring 8 goals between both of them.
The Uruguayans were not only the South American team that went further, but also the most convincing and regular one and scoring more goals: 11. Diego Forlan's performance was remarkable, to the point of being awarded the Golden Ball. Luis Saruez ratified the virtues that made him known in the Preliminaries for his seven memorable matches. The other players were equally efficient.
Oscar Washington Tabarez was the coach who bet upon an offensive game and rescued the best Uruguayan tradition to return to the highest peak. Uruguay was the nice surprise and Diego Forlan, winner of the Golden Ball and worldwide admiration.
Alvaro Silva

To Be a Footballer, You Must Know the History of Football Formations

Football is a team sport, played on rectangular ground, with a goal post at the centre of each of the smaller ends. The objective of the game is to score goals by driving the ball into the opposing teams' goal post. In playing, the goal-keepers are only allowed to use their hands and arms to drive the ball, while the rest is usually allowed to use their legs to kick and their head to the chest to intercept the ball in air. The team with the highest number of goals wins the match; if the scores are tie in the end, either the match is declared draw, or else the game's time extends.
There are 17 rules in the official game; laws are made depending on flexibility in the nature of the game. The laws for the football formation are maintained by IFAB (International Football Association Board). Each team consists of eleven players including the goal-keeper. The players are instructed to use a shirt, shorts, footwear, and shin guards. The length of pitch for matches ranges from 100-110 m and in width 64-75 m.
Footballs formations: manufactured with traditionally brown leather, these days, footballs are produced in different colors and patterns. A football is 28-30 cm long, 58-62 cm in circumference, 25 cm in diameter, and weights 400-470 grams. Many companies are in the football formation such as Reebok, Adidas, and Rugby.
IFAB plays a vital role in the football formation and development, as almost all the tournament held through FIFA is supported by IFAB. On internet, many details are out about the game. One more thing: do not miss the FIFA challenge this year.
For more information go to: http://www.football-craze.com
Are you all crazy about football and looking for some interesting posts on football? http://www.football-craze.com is the perfect place for you!

A Short Biography of Famous Soccer Player - Frank Lampard

His complete name is Frank James Lampard. He was born in Romford, London, England on 20 June 1978. He is an English soccer player who now plays for Chelsea. His playing in the field is as Midfielder. For his club and national side, Lampard holds the role as vice-captain.
He is regarded as one of the best soccer players in the world. He has got the Chelsea Player of the Year award three times. In Premier League history, he is also is the highest goal scoring midfielder with 129 league goals. With seniors clubs, Lampard experienced playing soccer for West Ham United (1995-2001), Swansea City (1995-1996 as a loan), Chelsea (2001-).
Frank Lampard spent the majority of his early years playing soccer in his local park with the rest of his family. He has constantly been observed as a very determined individual, and that quality was linked with him from an early age.
He was first marked by England U-21 manager Peter Taylor, and his under-21 first appearance came on 13 November 1997 in a competition against Greece. In international career, since making his first appearance in October 1999Lampard has been played 82 times by England, and has made 20 goals. For two successive years in 2004 and 2005, he was selected as England player of the year.
As a professional soccer player, Lampard has won many honors with his clubs. With West Ham United, he won UEFA Intertoto Cup in 1999. and with Chelsea, he got UEFA Champions League (Runner-up: 2008), Premier League (Champion: 2004-05, 2005-06, 2009-10, and Runner-up: 2003-04, 2006-07, 2007-08), FA Cup (Winner: 2007, 2009, 2010, and Runner-up: 2002), Football League Cup (Winner: 2005, 2007, and Runner-up: 2008), FA Community Shield (Winner: 2005, 2009, and Runner-up: 2006, 2007).
In addition, Lampard also won many individual honors. Some of them are 2005 FIFA World Player of the Year (Silver Award), 2005 Ballon d'Or (Silver Award), FWA Footballer of the Year (2005), UEFA Club Midfielder of the Year (2008), World XI (2005), PFA Fans' Player of the Year (2005), England Player of the Year (2004, 2005), Euro 2004 (Team of the Tournament), Premier League Player of the Month (2003, 2005, 2008), Barclays Player Of The Season (2005, 2006), Chelsea Player of the Year (2004, 2005, 2009), PFA Premier League Team of the Year (2004, 2005, 2006), Premier League's Player of the Decade, (2000-2009), ESM Team of the Year (2005, 2006), and FWA Tribute Award (2010).
If you want to know about famous soccer players of the French, you can visit http://french-soccer-players.blogspot.com/

Soccer Rules

Despite being a sport with roots reaching out to medieval and even ancient times, soccer was never really played under a set of strict rules until 1863.
On 26 October, 1863 several amateur and semi-professional clubs from England gathered up in London and formed up the Football Association and devised a "constitution" for the game, including a set of standardized soccer.Obviously the "Laws of football" as they were called back then were just a set of basic soccer rules and they didn't cover all aspects of the game.
The main points covered by the Football Association were regarding violence on the pitch, as oftentimes the tense clashes in no-rules matches lead to bloody fistfights between the teams. Since then, soccer rules constantly evolved and began covering more and more of the game's principles and also adapting soccer to the age it was played in.
A simple example of this would be the offside rules which was introduced later on in the game, when matches became more and more tactical.
Without the offside rule, attackers would often have a hibernating role in the team, simply staying up front and waiting for the ball to come, hence with the new rule, they were forced to work as much as the other players on the pitch.
Let's take a look at some of the official soccer rules of today and give them a small explanation for why they are there and how they affect the game:
Soccer field dimensions - since not all soccer pitches could share the exact same size, FIFA decided a small length and width size threshold in order for a pitch to be playable. So the minimum length of a soccer field must be of 100 yards (90 meters), whereas the maximum length must be 130 yards (120 meters).
A bigger size difference was allowed for the width, which can be as small as 50 yards (45 meters) and as big as 100 yards (90 meters). You might have noticed that the minimum length coincides with the maximum width! Although strange indeed, soccer could actually be played on a square field, however for entertainment's sake no one built that kind of pitch yet (thankfully).
Number of players - The official soccer rules book states that each team can enter the field with 11 players (one of which is the goalkeeper).
The number of substitutes depends on the competition the match is played in, but in official FIFA matches the number of substitutes can range from none to 7, with 3 substitutions eligible for each of the two teams.
However, in friendly matches, it's often the case that both teams agree upon a set number of substitutions or simply go all-out and allow every bench player to get in the game at some point, replacing one of the first team members.
Ball in/out play soccer rules - The ball is in play whenever the referee doesn't intervene whistling a game stop and whenever it stays inside the play area.
If the ball crosses the goal line or touch line by more than half its circumference, then it goes out of play and a goal kick/corner or throw in is given to one of the teams (the opposition of the team that last touched the ball). If a ball hits the referee ,the corner flag, the goal post or any other object on the pitch, the game remains in play.
Fouls - Fouls are one of the most problematic soccer rules nowadays, since they can be easily misjudge or interpreted by the referee, which often causes arguments on and off the pitch. Theoretically, a foul is whistled and a direct or indirect kick is given when a player trips, kicks, pushes, punches, charges or holds an opponent.
However, in the fast pace of the game, it's often hard for the referee to see if a tackle touches the feet of the attacker or the ball. It's considered a foul even if the defending player doesn't touch the attacker at all, but has a dangerous intervention such as a high kick.
Goals - Last but not least, the essence of soccer rules and the object of the game itself, the goal.
In order to score a goal, the attacking team must pass the ball beyond the other team's goal line. The attacker can kick the ball, head the ball or push it in with any other body part other than the hand (in which case it is considered handball).
Not all shots that end up in the net are goals though, as a goal can be cancelled if it was scored after the attacker broke one of the other soccer rules, such as fouling a defender or the goalkeeper, using his hand to control the ball, being offside or scoring directly from an indirect free kick.
These are the basic soccer rules and although there are a few smaller twists to learn, if you manage to understand these, you'll be able to watch, and understand a soccer match without problems. Outside the offside rule the other official soccer rules are quite easy to grasp.
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players, soccer fundamentals and soccer conditioning.

Famous Mexican Soccer Players

Mexican soccer was always known for producing quality players and it's actually quite surprising that their best national team record is reaching the quarter-finals of a World Cup (on two occasions, 1970 and 1986, both of these World Cups being organized by Mexico). However, the Mexican national side has always been a constant presence in final tournaments and it's regarded as a tough nut to crack, despite their lack of silverware.
Let's take a short look at some of the players that made Mexico the strong soccer power that it is today.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players - Antonio Carbajal
Nicknamed "El Cinco Copas", or "Five Cups", Antonio Carbajal was the first player to ever participate in 5 World Cups with his national team and has only been equaled in 1998, by German legend Lothar Matthaus. Carbajal played for Mexico in all the 5 World Cups that took place between 1950 and 1966.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players - Hugo Sanchez
Hugo Sanchez was one of the first Mexico soccer players to play in Europe at the highest level. He was an iconic player for Real Madrid between 1985 and 1992; 7 years in which he scored no less than 253 goals in 283 matches, a goal/match ratio that can hardly be rivaled.
He also played for the Mexico national team on 60 occasions, scoring 29 goals and being an important player in the 1986 World Cup held by Mexico, in which his team managed to equal the quarter-final performance obtained initially in 1970. Hugo Sanchez is currently the manager and coach of the Mexican national squad.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players - Jared Borgetti
Borgetti was of Italian and Mexican descent and as a striker, he combined the flair and power of Italian soccer with the passion and inventively of Mexican soccer. Although he is still an active soccer player at age 34, he spent most of his time playing in the Mexican league, with 7 years for Santos Laguna, a period of time in which he managed to score close to 200 goals in 300 matches.
But Borgetti's goalscoring run doesn't stop here, as he has also managed to come on top of the Mexican national side's all time score sheet, with 43 goals in 87 matches. Currently, Borgetti is playing for Cruz Azul and although he decided to retire from the Mexican national side for the upcoming World Cup, he stated that he would love to play for his country one last time, during the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players - Claudio Suarez
Unlike many other Mexican soccer players that get to celebrate New Years with a completely new club on their payroll, Claudio Suarez has only gone through 4 teams throughout his entire career: UNAM Pumas (1989-1996), Chivas de Guadalajara (1996-1999), UANL Tigres (1999-2005) and Chivas USA (2006). He made a strong impression for all of these clubs and many consider him one of the best Mexican defenders to have played for his country.
Although an extraordinary defender is currently contesting this title away from Claudio Suarez, namely Rafael Marquez of Barcelona, there's one title that will hardly be touched by anyone for a long time: Claudio Suarez currently holds the record for international caps with the Mexican national team, with an amazing 178 appearances.
Famous Mexican Soccer Players - Rafael Marquez
Rafael Marquez is probably the best-known Mexican soccer player of today, being one of the most important members of Spanish side FC Barcelona. Marquez' ability to play as a central or right defender as well as a defensive midfielder earned him the aura of a "handyman", being able to play wherever his coach would need him the most.
However, Marquez has recently steadied down as a central defender, playing on this position for the Mexican national side as well as for FC Barcelona in the last years. Age 28, Rafael Marquez is the captain of the Mexican national squad and is already being considered one of the best players in the country's history, next to legendary names such as Hugo Sanchez or Claudio Suarez.
Niv Orlian is the author and the owner of a Soccer Fans website that provides information on various topics related to soccer such as the history of soccer, soccer rules, famous soccer players (including Mexican soccer players), soccer fundamentals, soccer nutrition and soccer conditioning.

Lionel Messi: The Greatest Player in History

Early Life

Lionel Andres Messi, was born on 25 June, 1987, in Rosaria, Santa Fe Province, to parents Jorge Horacio Messi, a factory steel worker, and Celia Maria Cuccittini, a part-time cleaner. His parental family originates from the Italian city of Ancona, from where his ancestry, Angelo Messi, emigrated to Argentina in 1883. He has two older brothers, Rodrigo and Matias, and a sister, Maria Sol.

Messi started playing football for Grandoli, a local club coached by his father. In 1995, Messi switched to Newell's Old Boys who were based in his home city Rosario. He became part of a local youth powerhouse that lost only one match in the next four years and became locally known as "The Machine of '87", from the year of their birth.

At the age of 11, Messi was diagnosed with a growth hormone deficiency. Local team River Plate showed interest in his progress, but were not willing to pay for treatment for his condition, which cost $900 a month. Carles Rexach, the sporting director of FC Barcelona, was made aware of his talent as Messi had relatives in Lleida in western Catalonia, and Messi and his father were able to arrange a trial with the team. Rexach, with no paper at hand, offered Messi a contract written on a paper napkin. Barcelona offered to pay his medical bills on the condition that he moved to Spain. Messi and his father duly moved to Barcelona, where Messi enrolled in the club's youth academy.

Achievements

By the age of 21, Messi had received Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player of the Year nominations. The following year, in 2009, was his first time winning both awards. He followed this up by winning the inaugural FIFA Ballon d'Or in 2010, and again in 2011 and 2012. He also won the 2010-11 UEFA Best Player in Europe award.

At the age of 24, Messi became Barcelona's all-time top scorer in all official club competitions. At 25, he became the youngest player to score 200 goals in La Liga. In September 2014, Messi scored his 400th senior career goal for the club and country at just age 27.

Commonly ranked as the best player in the world and rated by some as the greatest of all time, Messi is the first football player in history to win four FIFA/Ballon d'Or, all of which he won consecutively, and the first to win three European Golden Shoe awards. With his professional club, FC Barcelona, he has won six La Ligas, two Copas del Rey, six Supercopas de Espana, three UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.

FIFA (Federation of Association Football) - A Little History

FIFA (or Federation de Football Association - that is, Federation of Association Football) is the governing body of international soccer. It was created in Paris, France, on May 21, 1904, for the improvement of the sport. The foundation act was signed by delegates from France, Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, and Spain. Two days after its foundation, the organization met in its first Congress, where Robert Guerin of France was elected as president..

In 1906, FIFA hosted the first international soccer competition ever. It wasn't very successful, though. This, coupled with failing economics, led to Guerin's replacement by Daniel Burley Woolfall, an Englishman. Under Woolfall's direction, FIFA's participation in the 1908 Olympics fared much better than the organization's first attempt. At first, only European nations were in the federation. In 1909, however, South Africa joined, followed three years later by Argentina and Chile, then one year later by the USA and Canada. Then World War I hit hard.

During World War I, FIFA faltered, with many players being sent off to war, and the price of international travel rising so far. By the end of the first World War, in 1921, there were only 20 nations in the organization. The United Kingdom countries (England, Scotland, and Ireland) pulled out of the federation, saying that they didn't want to compete against or participate with their former World War enemies. At the end of Jules Rimet's (the third FIFA president) 33 year presidency, however, FIFA boasted a participation of 85 members. The United Kingdom countries returned, thanks to Rimet's wonderful diplomatic skills. He retired at the age of 80.

A Belgian, Rodolphe William Seeldrayers, became the organization's fourth president. Under his rule, FIFA celebrated its 50 year anniversary. When he died in 1955, Arthur Drewry became the federation's fifth president. During his presidency, the 6th World Cup in Stockholm went well. He ruled until he died in 1961, at 70 years old. Ernst B. Thommen, a Swiss, was not the 6th president. Instead, he ruled from the position as Chairman of FIFA's Organizing Committee, and things went well. Sir Stanley Rous was the sixth president. Things went well for FIFA again, especially financially. In 1974, Dr. Joao Havelange, a Brazilian, became president. He ushered in a new era for soccer and FIFA, and the organization became more of an enterprise, striving to better the sport, rather than just an organization trying to meet and maintain the status quo.

In 1998, when Joseph S. Blatter of Switzerland became president, FIFA had reached almost full globalization. Today, FIFA organizes and maintains the prestigious soccer World Cup, which is coveted by countless of soccer players around the world. FIFA also organizes and maintains several other prestigious cups, including the Women's World Cup, and the Jules Rimet Cup. FIFA also helps with the Olympics. There are yearly FIFA World Cup video games sold everywhere in the developed world, and, as the organization's motto says, FIFA strives to make the entire sport the best it can be.

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