Top 100 Football / Soccer Events, Clubs & Equipment

Association football, more commonly known as football or SOCCER, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball. It is played by 250 million players in over 200 countries, making it the world's most popular sport. The game is played on a rectangular field with a goal at each end. The object of the game is to score by getting the ball into the opposing goal.

The goalkeepers are the only players allowed to touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play and then only in their penalty area. Outfield players mostly use their feet to strike or pass the ball, but may use their head or torso to strike the ball instead. The team that scores the most goals by the end of the match wins. If the score is level at the end of the game, either a draw is declared or the game goes into extra time and/or a penalty shootout depending on the format of the competition. The Laws of the Game were originally codified in England by The Football Association in 1863. Association football is governed internationally by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA; French: Fédération Internationale de Football Association) which organises a World Cup every four years.

Soccer News & Resources

• 12 European football teams to form breakaway 'Super League' throwing elite game into turmoil - "In a joint announcement Sunday night, six English clubs - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur - alongside three teams from Italy - AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus - and three from Spain - Atlético Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid - laid out plans to form a breakaway competition, referred to in the announcement as the Super League."
• 20-year-old Norwegian destined for greatness like Messi & Ronaldo - "Erling Braut Haaland: The making of football's 'humble' superstar."
• 100 best male footballers in the world 2020 - The Guardian.
• 101 Great Goals - "Football (soccer) highlights, goals, news, videos amp; clips."
• 2022 World Cup’s Highest-Paid Players - "French superstar Kylian Mbappé reigns supreme while Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are chasing international glory one final time."
• 2023 World’s Highest-Paid Soccer Players - "Outrageous Saudi contracts and a major MLS signing realigned the soccer universe this year. But a roster of marquee names - including Ronaldo, Messi and Neymar - remain on top of the financial table."
• A beginner's guide to the World Cup 2018 - The Guardian.
• Abramovich hands ‘stewardship & care of Chelsea’ to charitable foundation - "Roman Abramovich has passed the stewardship of Chelsea to the trustees of the club’s charitable foundation. The Russian, who bought the club in 2003, remains the owner but has relinquished the running of Chelsea after a call in parliament for him to be sanctioned following the invasion of Ukraine."
• Africa’s World Cup: how a continent that usually underperforms finally got it right - "How a continent of over a billion finally got the World Cup right. Against the backdrop of a tournament that seems increasingly defined by global politics and corporations, African countries have provided passion at Qatar 2022 and delivered plenty of pride for their nations."
• Assist (football) - in association football, an assist is a contribution by a player which helps to score a goal.
• Association football - Wikipedia.
• Ballon d'Or - (1956–2009). Often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award, was an annual association football award. It was presented to the player who had been voted to have performed the best over the previous year.
• Ban on Beer Is Latest Flash Point in World Cup Culture Clash - "Qatar’s about-face on alcohol signaled that FIFA, soccer’s governing body, may no longer be in full control of its showcase championship."
• Bitter Scottish fans join Italians & Danes to accuse Raheem Sterling of DIVING to win penalty that put England into Euro final - "Some Scottish and Danish fans are accusing England of cheating their way into the Euro 2020 final and say Raheem Sterling took a dive to secure the crucial penalty that secured England's win over Denmark."
• CONMEBOL - the South American Football Confederation the continental governing body of association football in South America and it is one of FIFA's six continental confederations.
• Cristiano Ronaldo - Wikipedia.
• Cristiano Ronaldo Collaborates With Jacob & Co. On $145,000 Watch - "The new watches are offered in two versions: the Jacob & Co CR7 Epic X 'Flight of CR&' and 'Heart of CR7.' The watches are highly personalized versions of Jacob & Co.’s well-known Epic X series with bold X-shaped lugs, diamond-set angled bezel on the 44mm case and a colored inner flange. Most importantly, the watch is the perfect venue for customizing it to honor Ronaldo thanks to the two distinctive vertical bridges that are visible on what would be the dial side of the watch (if it had a dial)."
• Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy age with strict diet & state-of-the-art technology - "The five-time Ballon d'Or winner may have now turned 37, but Cristiano Ronaldo continues to defy his age with a strict lifestyle and even uses futuristic technology. Cristiano Ronaldo has now turned 37, but continues to have the body and the athleticism of someone half his age."
• Cristiano Ronaldo makes history at Euro 2020 as Portugal beats Hungary - "Cristiano Ronaldo became the greatest goalscorer in the history of the European Championship finals after netting a brace in Portugal's 3-0 win against Hungary on Tuesday."
• Cristiano Ronaldo scores landmark 100th international goal for Portugal - "Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo scored his 100th international goal on Tuesday, becoming just the second man in history to reach the milestone."
• Cristiano Ronaldo shoots to top of Instagram rich list - "Portugal footballer can command as much as $1.6m to endorse a product on social media."
• Danish defender scores 'miraculous' goal - "Defender scores 'miraculous' scissor kick after his bicycle kick rebounds off crossbar. The Puskas Award is handed out by FIFA, world football's governing body, at the end of every calendar year for the best goal in the global game. And we might have just found 2020's winner. Nicolai Geertsen, playing for Danish side Lyngby BK, first sweetly struck a bicycle kick from a corner, only for his effort to ricochet off the crossbar."
• Deloitte Football Money League - since 1998. "We profile the highest revenue generating clubs in world football." Ranking of football clubs by revenue generated from football operations. It is produced annually by the accountancy firm Deloitte and released in early February of each year, describing the season most recently finished.
• Diario AS - Spanish daily sports newspaper, concentrating particularly on football.
• Diego Maradona: Obituary - Argentina's flawed football icon - "Dazzling, infamous, extraordinary, genius, outrageous. Diego Maradona. A flawed football icon."
• Diego Maradona’s ‘Hand Of God’ Jersey Sells For Record-Breaking $9.3 Million Amid Controversy - "A soccer jersey its sellers said was worn by Diego Maradona when he scored his notorious 'Hand of God' goal during the 1986 World Cup quarter final match sold for $9.3 million Wednesday, the highest price yet fetched by a piece of sports memorabilia at auction, despite claims by Maradona’s family that the jersey isn’t authentic and a reported attempt by Argentina’s soccer association to have it returned to Maradona’s home country."
• Erling Haaland continues to shatter Premier League records - "Most of the time, records are broken by small margins, shaved down over years into a new benchmark somewhat similar to the previous one. But this is not the case for records belonging to Erling Haaland who has spent this season obliterating them beyond any recognizable shape. By scoring during Manchester City’s 4-0 win over Southampton on Saturday, Haaland shattered yet another record, becoming the fastest player to score 15 English Premier League goals."
• Erling Haaland’s outrageous goal shatters more records & draws comparisons to Messi & Ronaldo - "Each year, the English Premier League emerges like a complicated piece of music - filled with interdependent independent rhythms and melodies weaving in and out of each other. And this season, Erling Haaland has provided a counterpoint to the traditional rhythms of the league, scoring goals with metronomic consistency, but like a metronome bent out of shape, setting a new pace for everyone else to follow."
• Explainer: how will the new European Super League work? - "Questions and answers on plans unveiled by 12 leading European clubs to launch a breakaway midweek league."
• FANHOUSE - AOL Sports.
• FIFA | FÉDÉRATION INTERNATIONALE DE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION - since 1904. The international governing body of association football, futsal and beach soccer.
• FIFA Ballon d'Or - was an annual association football award presented to the world's best men's player from 2010 to 2015.
• FIFA boss launches explosive tirade against Western 'hypocrisy' on eve of World Cup - "Infantino, the boss of world soccer’s governing body, looked on glumly as he addressed hundreds of journalists in Doha, Qatar, Saturday. Europe should apologize for 'next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons,' he said on eve of the controversial World Cup in Qatar."
• FIFA rebuffs Zelensky’s request to share message of peace at World Cup final - "A request by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to share a message of world peace prior to kickoff at the World Cup final on Sunday has been rebuffed by FIFA, a source told CNN. The source said Zelensky’s office is offering to appear in a video link to fans in the stadium in Qatar, ahead of the game and was surprised by the negative response. It’s unclear if Zelensky’s message would be live, or taped."
• Football Leaks - since 2015. Website that reveals transfer fees, wages and contract information about famous footballers. The website has been described as the football version of WikiLeaks.
• FOOTBALL SCORES
• FOUR FOUR TWO - the shamelessly passionate football site. Latest football news, blogs & forums.
• GOAL.COM - "Football News, Football Scores, Football Transfers, Transfer News, Transfer Rumours, Premier League News."
• Goalkeeper scores from a goal kick - it could set the record for the longest range goal in history - "Argentine goalkeeper Leandro Requena scored one of the most outrageous goals you are ever likely to see during his Cobresal side’s 3-1 win over Colo-Colo in Chile’s top soccer league. With his team already leading 2-0 in the 77th minute, Requena took what initially looked like a fairly innocuous goal kick. However, with Colo-Colo goalkeeper Brayan Cortés well outside of his penalty area, the ball bounced over his head and towards goal."
• Handcuffs, pitch invasions & fame: life as PelÉ's bodyguard in the 70s - The Guardian.
• HervÉ Renard’s fairytale journey from Cambridge to World Cup mastermind - "Saudi Arabia’s swashbuckling upset of Argentina was overseen by a coach whose bravery brought unthinkable rewards."
• Hooliganism - disruptive or unlawful behavior such as rioting, bullying, and vandalism, usually in connection with crowds at sporting events.
• How has holding a World Cup changed the way the world sees Qatar? - "For Qataris, as well as putting on a well-organized tournament, the World Cup was an opportunity to expose the world to their culture, displaying everything from their architecture to their hospitality. But being in the spotlight also brings scrutiny and much of the coverage, particularly in the western world, has centered around the Qatari government’s human rights record, from the deaths and conditions endured by migrant workers to LGBTQ and women’s rights."
• How the world reacted to 'the best World Cup final ever' - "This World Cup final was a game that seemed to defy comprehension, conventions and any attempt to describe it. How could anything capture the sound in the stadium when Lionel Messi lifted the World Cup trophy? Or the calmness with which Kylian Mbappé slotted a penalty to equalize in extra time? It was - as the world seemed to settle on in an attempt to sum it all up - simply the greatest final ever."
• HOW TO WATCH THE 2018 FIFA WORLD CUP - Wired.
• In pictures: Soccer legend Diego Maradona - "Diego Maradona dies after suffering heart failure."
• Inside Cristiano Ronaldo’s $25m Private Jet - "The first one to arrive at training and the last one to leave, Cristiano Ronaldo always goes the extra mile to keep on top of his game. This mentality translates across the superstar’s life. As the footballer continues to break records during the Euro 2020 tournament, we thought we’d take a look at the private jet he flies."
• Let’s call out the Qatar World Cup for what it really is - "In Qatar, journalists are thrown in jail for investigating migrant worker conditions. LGBTQ+ people are treated as criminals. Women need to ask men permission to marry, travel and study abroad in many cases."
• Lina Hurtig considers VAR penalty tattoo if Sweden win World Cup - "Sweden’s Lina Hurtig might immortalise her shootout-winning penalty against the United States with a tattoo, but only if her country wins the World Cup."
• Lionel Messi - Wikipedia.
• Lionel Messi Is the Highest-Paid Soccer Player in the World - "Here's How He Makes and Spends His Millions."
• Lionel Messi scores 643rd goal for Barcelona to equal Pele's record of goals for a single club - "Lionel Messi equaled Brazil legend Pele's record of 643 goals for a single club after scoring in Barcelona's 2-2 draw against Valencia on Saturday."
• Lionel Messi's life in pictures - "Messi is widely considered to be one of the sport's greatest players, and for many he is at the top of the list. He is Argentina's all-time leading goalscorer, and at club level he is the all-time leading scorer for FC Barcelona and the Spanish soccer league La Liga. Messi has won the Ballon d'Or trophy, given annually to the sport's top player, a record seven times. He has also won four Champions League titles with Barcelona. He now plays professionally in France with Paris Saint-Germain."
• LIST OF ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL CLUBS - Wikipedia.
• MAJOR LEAGUE SOCCER - the top-flight professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by United States Soccer Federation.
• Manchester United takeover eyed by tech giants Apple in bid to make them world's richest club - "Apple are lining up a potential swoop to buy Manchester United after the club's owners put the Red Devils up for sale with the technology firm keen to agree a deal. However, Apple has no experience of owning a football club the size of United, although CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide. He will line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group."
• MbappÉ saga shows football’s power lies with players, not clubs - "Mbappé staying in Paris has angered Real Madrid and La Liga but PSG argue the eye-watering numbers add up in their favour."
• Multicultural final of Euro 2024 stands against murky history of Berlin stage - "Olympiastadion was built on Adolf Hitler’s orders but remains as part of pledge to confront Germany’s history."
• Newcastle United's takeover by Saudi Arabian-backed consortium agreed - "The three-party consortium includes the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund (PIF), venture capital and private equity company PCP Capital Partners, and RB Sports and Media. There has been much controversy about PIF's involvement in the takeover, but the consortium was apparently able to successfully demonstrate that Saudi Arabia would not have control of the club and could therefore pass the Premier League's owners' and directors' test."
• Neymar Flies from Paris to Riyadh in a Boeing 747BBJ - "Saudi Prince Prince Alwaleed bin Talal sent a Boeing 747BBJ to Paris to pick up the new signing for Al Hilal, Neymar, who has left PSG and flew to Riyadh earlier today."
• Offshore cash & huge loans: leak reveals how Roman Abramovich funded Chelsea’s success - "Network of companies used to route fortune made from the oil fields of Siberia into Stamford Bridge."
• PELÉ - (23 October 1940 - 29 December 2022). Wikipedia.
• PelÉ: a life in pictures - "Here is Pelé’s remarkable life in pictures - on and off the field - from his childhood in Brazil to World Cup glory."
• PelÉ is depressed and has become a recluse, says his son in interview - "Edinho says Brazil legend is ‘embarrassed’ by his failing health. Pelé, who turns 80 in October, requires frame to walk."
• Playoffs - Wikipedia.
• Police in Qatar instructed not to treat women as criminals if they report rape - "FIFA security officials instruct police in Qatar not to treat women as criminals if they claim to be victims of rape or sexual assault. Officers also told that pregnant women should ‘not face any accusations’."
• PREMIER LEAGUE
• Qatar World Cup criticised for ‘problematic’ carbon footprint promises - "Carbon Market Watch says emissions likely underreported. Organisers have claimed that the 32-team showpiece will be the first “carbon neutral” World Cup, meaning any emissions would be limited and offset."
• Roligan - nickname for a supporter of the Danish national football team. "Roligans" are noted for being the opposite of ultras, i.e. calm, quiet, well-mannered supporters of their team which shuns unsportsmanlike behavior or violence. This behavior is the exact opposite of that exhibited by hooligans. The term roligan is a pun based on the word rolig which means "calm" in Danish.
• Russia 2018 World Cup: the complete guide to all the stadiums - The Guardian.
• Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina greatest upset in World Cup history - "Argentina has won the World Cup twice - in 1978 and 1986 - but at Qatar 2022 La Albiceleste wrote its name into the history books in an altogether different way. According to sports data group Gracenote, Argentina’s 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in their Group C match is the biggest upset in World Cup history."
• SOCCER - Wikipedia.
• The Football Rich List - the managers.
• The World’s Most Valuable Soccer Teams 2019 - "Real Madrid Is Back On Top, At $4.24 Billion."
• TRANSFER WINDOW - Wikipedia.
• UEFA | UNION OF EUROPEAN FOOTBALL ASSOCIATIONS - The official website for European football."
• UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - since 1955. Annual continental club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA). Introduced in 1992, it replaced the European Champion Clubs' Cup, or simply European Cup, which had run since 1955.
• United States Soccer Federation - since 1913. The official governing body of the sport of soccer in the United States.
• video assistant referee (VAR) - football assistant referee who reviews decisions made by the head referee with the use of video footage and a headset for communication. In 2018 VARs were written into the Laws of the Game by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) following trials in a number of major competitions.
• WEMBLEY STADIUM - Wembley Park, in the Borough of Brent, London, England.
• What Is VAR? Soccer's Video Review Is Making a Mess of the Women's World Cup - "VAR - soccer's version of video review - has been the deciding factor in too many Women's World Cup games, upsetting players and fans alike."
• What would a green World Cup look like? - "What would it take to really make the World Cup, and other sports mega-events, a genuine part of a low-carbon world?"
• Why These New Yorkers’ Favorite Soccer Team Is in Denmark: They Own It - "A year and a half ago, a group of roughly 140 people, many of them New Yorkers, pooled some cash to buy a struggling Danish soccer team called Akademisk Boldklub, also known as A.B. The club plays in an unassuming suburb of Copenhagen called Gladsaxe and only draws a couple hundred fans to its games."
• World Cup 2018 stadiums from the air - in pictures - The Guardian.
• World Cup 2022 draw: Everything you need to know - "The draw for an unprecedented FIFA World Cup takes place Friday as teams discover their fates for the first winter edition of football's flagship event, in Qatar this December."
• World Cup final 2022: Argentina win thriller against France - in pictures - "The best images from an utterly incredible match in Qatar as Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in football."
• Xi Jinping wanted China to be a global soccer power. What went wrong? - "In 2011, around a year before becoming the country’s leader, Xi Jinping outlined a vision to turn China from a footballing minnow to a soccer superpower. He set his sights on the sport’s highest prize of all and outlined a three stage plan for the men’s national team: to qualify for another World Cup, to host a World Cup and to win a World Cup."
• Your Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2018 World Cup - TIME Magazine.

Professional Clubs

• 
• List of association football clubs - Wikipedia.
• Manchester United takeover eyed by tech giants Apple in bid to make them world's richest club - "Apple are lining up a potential swoop to buy Manchester United after the club's owners put the Red Devils up for sale with the technology firm keen to agree a deal. However, Apple has no experience of owning a football club the size of United, although CEO Tim Cook is keen to explore the opportunities owning United could provide. He will line up talks with the banks appointed to oversee the sale, which include The Raine Group."

Top 8 Professional Clubs

• A.C. Milan - founded in 1899.
• Borussia Dortmund - founded in 1909.
• Chelsea F.C. - founded in 1905.
• FC Barcelona - founded in 1899.
• FC Bayern Munich - founded in 1900.
• Manchester United F.C. - founded in 1878.
• Paris Saint-Germain F.C. - founded in 1970.
• Real Madrid C.F. - founded in 1902.

Soccer Equipment

• soccer.com - since 1994. "Soccer Cleats and Shoes, Soccer Jerseys, Soccer Balls, Goalkeeping, Shin Guards, Socks."
• WILSON - "A Force on the Field."

Soccer Events

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• 2022 World Cup’s Highest-Paid Players - "French superstar Kylian Mbappé reigns supreme while Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo are chasing international glory one final time."
• Ban on Beer Is Latest Flash Point in World Cup Culture Clash - "Qatar’s about-face on alcohol signaled that FIFA, soccer’s governing body, may no longer be in full control of its showcase championship."
• Euro 2020 postponed until next summer - "Euro 2020 has been postponed by one year until 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. European football's governing body made the decision during an emergency video conference involving major stakeholders on Tuesday."
• FIFA boss launches explosive tirade against Western 'hypocrisy' on eve of World Cup - "Infantino, the boss of world soccer’s governing body, looked on glumly as he addressed hundreds of journalists in Doha, Qatar, Saturday. Europe should apologize for 'next 3,000 years before starting to give moral lessons,' he said on eve of the controversial World Cup in Qatar."
• HervÉ Renard’s fairytale journey from Cambridge to World Cup mastermind - "Saudi Arabia’s swashbuckling upset of Argentina was overseen by a coach whose bravery brought unthinkable rewards."
• Let’s call out the Qatar World Cup for what it really is - "In Qatar, journalists are thrown in jail for investigating migrant worker conditions. LGBTQ+ people are treated as criminals. Women need to ask men permission to marry, travel and study abroad in many cases."
• List of FIFA World Cup finals - Wikipedia.
• Multicultural final of Euro 2024 stands against murky history of Berlin stage - "Olympiastadion was built on Adolf Hitler’s orders but remains as part of pledge to confront Germany’s history."
• Qatar World Cup: watch Danish TV reporter forced off air - "TV 2 Denmark's Rasmus Tantholdt was reporting on the World Cup when he was approached. The journalist said security threatened to break his camera."
• Saudi Arabia's victory over Argentina greatest upset in World Cup history - "Argentina has won the World Cup twice - in 1978 and 1986 - but at Qatar 2022 La Albiceleste wrote its name into the history books in an altogether different way. According to sports data group Gracenote, Argentina’s 2-1 defeat by Saudi Arabia in their Group C match is the biggest upset in World Cup history."
• What would a green World Cup look like? - "What would it take to really make the World Cup, and other sports mega-events, a genuine part of a low-carbon world?"
• World Cup 2018 stadiums from the air - in pictures - The Guardian.
• World Cup 2022: complete guide to all 831 players - "Everything you need to know (and more) about every squad member in Qatar. Click on the player pictures for a full profile."
• World Cup 2022: When is it taking place & why is Qatar hosting? - "The last two spots in football's 2022 World Cup finals will be decided this week when the intercontinental play-offs are held in Doha, Qatar."
• World Cup final 2022: Argentina win thriller against France - in pictures - "The best images from an utterly incredible match in Qatar as Lionel Messi finally won the biggest prize in football."
• Your Ultimate Guide to Watching the 2018 World Cup - TIME Magazine.

Top 7 Soccer Events

• AFRICA CUP OF NATIONS - since 1957.
• Copa AmÉrica - since 1916. Known as South American Championship, is an international association football competition contested by the men's national teams of the members of CONMEBOL. One of the world's most widely viewed sporting events.
• COPA DEL REY - annual cup competition for Spanish football teams.
• El ClÁsico - since 1902. The name given to any football match between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
• FIFA WORLD CUP Qatar 2022 - founded in 1930. The championship has been awarded every four years since the inaugural tournament in 1930 (except in 1942 and 1946).
• UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - "The UEFA Champions League is the world's elite club competition. Football's premier club competition was launched one month after UEFA's first Congress, held in Vienna on 2 March 1955."
• UEFA Nations League - since 2018. Biennial international football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the member associations of UEFA, the sport's European governing body.