Did you know that October 26, 1863, marks the birth of modern football? On this day, a group of football enthusiasts in London formed the world's first football association and wrote the first official rules of the game.

Since then, football has grown into the most popular sport worldwide, filling stadiums with roaring fans and creating legends on the field.

But beyond the matches, superstars, and cheering crowds, football has a fascinating history with plenty of surprising facts. Today, let's explore 10 mind-blowing football facts together!

A Football Match on the Moon? NASA Said No!

Imagine playing football on the moon! That was actually a dream of Neil Armstrong, the first person to set foot on the lunar surface. Armstrong, a football lover, once expressed his wish to kick a football on the moon. However, NASA dismissed the idea, believing it didn't align with their image. So, his football dream remained just that—a dream.

The Youngest Football Player Ever: Just 12 Months Old!

Can you believe a one-year-old baby could sign a professional football contract? That's exactly what happened to a Dutch toddler named Baerke. A scout from the Dutch club VVV-Venlo saw him kicking a ball in his toy box and decided to sign him to a ten-year deal! At just 12 months old, he became the youngest "professional" football player in history.

Did Football Start in Ancient China? Meet “Horseback Football”

While many people think football started in England, history suggests China had its own version thousands of years ago! Back in 307 BC, King Wuling of Zhao encouraged his soldiers to practice hunting rabbits on horseback. Since catching rabbits was difficult, an advisor suggested using a ball instead. This led to the early concept of “horseback football.” Could this be an ancestor of modern football?

The First English Football Was… a Cow's Bladder?

In 11th-century England, people played a primitive form of football using cow bladders! After battles, they would kick around inflated animal bladders as a way to celebrate victory. While it sounds odd today, this was likely one of the earliest forms of football before the sport evolved into what we know now.

Win or Die? The Most Intense World Cup Pressure

Imagine playing a match where losing wasn't an option—literally! In the 1934 World Cup, the Italian team was given a terrifying order: win the championship or face severe consequences. With this immense pressure, the team fought hard and eventually won the title. Talk about high-stakes football!

The Worst Football Team Ever?

No, we're not talking about a certain struggling national team—this record goes to American Samoa! In a 2002 World Cup qualifier, they suffered an unbelievable 0-57 loss. If that wasn't bad enough, they later lost another match 0-31 against Fiji. It was one of the most disastrous football journeys in history!

The Biggest Scoreline Ever: 149-0!

Yes, you read that right—149 goals in a single match! This shocking event happened in a local league in Madagascar. The losing team was protesting a referee's decision, so they decided to intentionally score own goals. The final score? A ridiculous 0-149! That's more than a goal per minute!

Football Legend Pelé Once Called "Not Smart Enough"?

Before Pelé became a football icon, he and his teammate Garrincha took an intelligence test. Shockingly, both players were labeled as below average in intelligence. However, their coach ignored the test results, trusted their talent, and took them to the World Cup. The rest is history—Pelé became one of the greatest footballers of all time!

Football Once Allowed Hands? The Birth of American Football

In early football matches in England, players were actually allowed to use their hands. However, as the sport evolved, a rule was introduced stating that only goalkeepers could touch the ball with their hands. Some teams still preferred the hand-carrying style, leading to the creation of what we now call American football!

China's First Football Star? Meet Gao Qiu

Long before modern football, China had its own football-loving celebrity—Gao Qiu from the Song Dynasty. He impressed Emperor Huizong with his fancy footwork and quickly rose to fame. Though he later became a controversial figure in history, his football skills were undoubtedly ahead of his time!

Did You Learn Something New?

Football isn't just about goals and trophies—it's full of incredible stories and hidden history! Which of these facts surprised you the most? Have you ever played football yourself? Tell us what you love about the game in the comments! Let's celebrate football together, Lykkers! ⚽