11 Fun Facts About Football You Need to Know

Brazilian journalist, playwright, and football enthusiast Nélson Rodrigues once said that sports are “the most important of the least important things in life.” That quote perfectly sums up the spirit of football — a simple game that continues to stir intense emotions across the globe.
 

Despite its simplicity, football is filled with surreal stories that sometimes feel like they were imagined by Salvador Dalí or Luis Buñuel — other times, they reflect real political and social histories.
 

There are endless fun facts about football, but since time is short (and so is space), we’ve narrowed it down to 11 – just like the number of players who step onto the field in the world’s most beloved game.
 

1. A Stadium Named After a Journalist

Let’s start with a fun fact about football that connects to Nélson Rodrigues’ own family. His brother, Mário Filho, also a journalist, is the namesake of the world-famous Maracanã Stadium.
 

Mário Filho used his newspaper, Jornal dos Sports, to campaign for the creation of a massive municipal stadium in Rio de Janeiro. The result? On June 16, 1950, the iconic Estádio Jornalista Mário Filho – better known as Maracanã – was born, with room for 150,000 fans.
 

2. A World Cup Qualifier on Dirt

We’re used to lush green fields, but until 1981, some European qualifiers were still being played on dirt pitches. One standout example: Malta vs. East Germany on May 2, 1981, at Gzira’s Empire Stadium — a venue that had never seen a blade of grass since opening in 1922.
 

This is one of those fun facts about football that shows just how much the sport has evolved.
 

3. The Last Dirt Field in Portugal’s Top League

It’s not just Malta. Up until the mid-80s, Portugal’s First Division also had dirt fields. That changed in 1984 when the federation made grass mandatory. The final dirt game? Salgueiros vs. Boavista on May 13, 1984. Salgueiros won 1–0, thanks to a goal by Penteado — now an artist in Serralves.
 

4. A Lost Earring Stopped a Derby

During a Benfica vs. Sporting match in 1978, Vítor Baptista scored a brilliant goal… and lost an earring during the celebration. What followed was pure comedy: players, opponents, and even the referee searched the pitch for ten minutes. The earring was never found. One of the most bizarre yet hilarious fun facts about football.
 

5. Goals Without Crossbars

Until 1882, many football matches featured goalposts without crossbars — think rugby-style scoring. The game we know today still carries echoes of its early, chaotic days.
 

6. Playing With Hands? Not Always a Foul

Before the rules were fully standardized in 1863, players were actually allowed to touch the ball with their hands — unless they were in the penalty area. Imagine the confusion back then!
 

7. The Longest Match Ever: 19 Hours

Yes, you read that right. In 2005, a Tunisian match between Espérance de Tunis and Club Africain lasted 19 hours as part of the Tunisian League's 88th anniversary celebrations. It still holds the record for the longest football match in history. Definitely one of the craziest fun facts about football.
 

8. Where Portuguese Football Was Born

While Cristiano Ronaldo may be the biggest name today, the roots of Portuguese football trace back to Madeira. In 1875, a young Englishman named Henry Hinton played the first organized game with friends in the village square of Camacha. From that moment grew a legacy that includes a Euro title, youth world cups, and some of the best goals in football.
 

9. The Biggest Win in Portugal

In 1971, Sporting CP defeated Mindelense from Cape Verde 21–0 in the Portuguese Cup — the largest win in official Portuguese football history. A third of those goals were scored by Peres, a midfielder who also played for the national team. Another record? Sporting’s 14–0 victory over Leça in 1941, with legend Fernando Peyroteo netting 9 — among the best goals in football ever seen in the league.
 

10. Portuguese Coaches Conquer the World

Portuguese managers have won national titles in 35 different countries — not even counting continental trophies. From Mourinho’s success in England to Manuel José’s African titles with Al-Ahly, the legacy of these tacticians is a fun fact about football that showcases Portugal’s impact on the global stage.
 

11. The Ball That Changed Everything

Before the iconic Telstar design was introduced at the 1970 World Cup, footballs were made from leather – or even pig bladders. Far from perfect spheres, they bounced oddly and soaked up water. Yet, these irregular football balls gave rise to some of the earliest and most memorable fun facts about football.
 

Football is an endless source of legends, history, and jaw-dropping moments. From record-breaking games to strange rules and unforgettable stadiums, the game continues to surprise and unite fans across the globe.
 

Want more fun facts about football and stories about the Portuguese national team?
 

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