15 Crazy Facts About FIFA World Cup

Over the past 25 years, football has enhanced its status as the world’s leading game, reaching into other branches of society, commerce and politics. Football, more than any other factor, has enveloped whole regions, people and nations. And the sport is represented by the best sporting event in the world which is the FIFA World Cup. The first competition for the cup was organized in 1930 and was won by Uruguay. The trophy cup awarded from 1930 to 1970 was the Jules Rimet Trophy named for the Frenchman who proposed the tournament. This cup was permanently awarded in 1970 to then three-time winner Brazil(1958, 1962, and 1970), and a new trophy called the FIFA World Cup was put up for competition. The latest cup was won by Germany in 2014 by beating Argentina in the extra time with a single goal scored by Mario Gotze. The 2018 World Cup has been full of surprises as goals and controversies were rampant during the group stages as well as the knock-out stage. The VAR system which has been introduced in FIFA World Cup for the first time has been full of controversies, yet successful. But the most shocking fact has been the fall of World Champions Germany in the group stage itself! The 2014 champions were swiftly followed by the 2010 champions Spain. Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi who share a mind-boggling 10 Ballon d’Or between themselves have also flown from Russia following their teams Portugal and Argentina’s departure from the World Cup. The most-crowned champions Brazil were also shown a way out by underdogs Belgium leaving Brazilian star Neymar teary-eyed. With the semis on its way, check out the some of the craziest FIFA World Cup facts that you probably did not know!