What Makes Football the Most Popular Global Sport?

Author: Mark Stover

Football enjoys extreme popularity all over the world. There are only a handful of nations that don’t show any interest in the sport. Have you ever wondered what makes football the most popular global sport? The pointers below might help you to find an answer.

Big Games and Big Players

Most of us stay glued to television sets or keep checking different websites for live football scores because of the big games this sport presents to its audience. Examples of big games include Argentina vs. Brazil, Chelsea vs. Manchester United, Barcelona vs. Real Madrid, etc.

These are the games that generate maximum fun and excitement and give birth to endless debates. Soccer fans spend a lot of time trying to determine which is the better team or what were the mistakes that cost their favourite team the match.

Not only big games big players also play a crucial role in making football the giant that it is today. There was a time when people used to watch the sport for legends like Pele, Platini, and Maradona. Then, came the times of Zidane, Ronaldinho, and Beckham. Now, the world of soccer is ruled by names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Neymar Junior. The huge fan following of these players brought more people to the game.

Most of Us Have Grown Up Watching the Sport

As I mentioned, every generation has seen many legends emerge in the world of football. Our parents were as big fans of the game as we are. The teams they supported or the players they looked up to might be different but the emotions they have for the sport are similar to ours. They are the reason why we grew up watching the sport. They were the ones who introduced us to the legends of the game. So, for most of us loving the game is equivalent to maintaining a legacy.

The Experience of Playing the Sport

Other than being the most loved sports in the world, football is also the sport that’s played with immense vigour even by amateurs. There are very few countries where the natives don’t play the game in their neighbourhood or school. Even people living in nations that have never participated in the FIFA World Cup love playing the game. When the game is played so widely, it’s obvious that it would enjoy significant popularity globally.

The World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is often described as the greatest show on earth. Only 32 countries participate in the tournament every season. However, the mass hysteria surrounding the tournament never remains restricted to the participating countries. Every individual irrespective of their nationality, religion, and ethnicity support a team and root for them until they are out of the World Cup. Some teams that enjoy maximum popularity worldwide are Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Portugal, and Italy.

Conclusion

The discussion above must have allowed you to comprehend the status football enjoys in the world of sport. If you are not yet a part of the frenzy, start watching the top teams playing. You will not need much time to fall in love with the game.