As
soccer fans, we all know the basic facts about the sport: the rules, the players, the legendary teams, and the iconic stadiums. But have you ever heard of the bizarre and fascinating trivia that lurks beneath the surface of the soccer world? Here are some cool and unusual facts that will surprise and entertain you.
1. The shortest soccer player on record was Chiquinho, a Brazilian player who was only
1.34 meters (4 feet 4 inches) tall. He played professional soccer in the 1940s and 50s and was known for his speed and agility, despite his tiny size.
2. The longest soccer match in history took place in Paraguay in 1993 and lasted for 11 days. The game was played between two local teams, Olimpia and Cerro Porteno, and was only stopped due to exhaustion and dehydration of the players.
3. The first soccer ball used in the modern game was made of leather and had an inflated pig's bladder inside. The ball would often burst during games, which led to the development of better and more durable materials.
4. The highest-scoring soccer game on record was a match played in Madagascar in 2002, in which the national teams of Madagascar and Zambia scored a total of 149 goals. Madagascar won the game 149-0, with one player scoring 43 goals alone.
5. The heaviest soccer player on record was a Scottish goalkeeper named William "Fatty" Foulke, who weighed in at a whopping 140 kg (310 lbs). Despite his size, he was known for his agility and quick reflexes.
6. The fastest goal in soccer history was scored by a Turkish player named Hakan Şükür, who found the net just 11 seconds into a World Cup match against South Korea in 200
2. This quick strike helped Turkey go on to win the match 3-
2.
7. The longest throw-in on record was achieved by a Norwegian player named Thomas Gronnemark, who threw the ball a distance of 5
1.33 meters (168 feet 4 inches) during a match in 201
9. Gronnemark is a throw-in coach who trains players to perfect this skill.
8. The first international soccer match took place in 1872 between Scotland and England. The game ended in a 0-0 draw and was played in front of a crowd of 4,000 spectators.
9. The oldest soccer club in the world is Sheffield FC, founded in 1857 in England. The club continues to play to this day and has a long and storied history in the sport.
10 The only player to score a goal with his head, right foot, left foot, and both hands in a single soccer match is a Frenchman named Ivica Osim. He achieved this impressive feat while playing for Red Star Belgrade in a Yugoslav League match in 197
4. These cold soccer facts are just the top of the iceberg regarding the spectacular history of soccer. The sport has evolved over the years, and so have the stories behind it. Understanding the origins of soccer and its evolution brings more passion to the beautiful game.