Soccer (also known as football) can be called a truly global game. Every year hundreds of competitions are held, which are the most grandiose events in the sports industry. Special attention of fans is paid to the championships and tournaments in this sport. Hardly any other game can compete with soccer in the number of fans around the globe. Today we will try to figure out which countries are the leaders in this field and which people really succeeded in this game.

Countries in the lead in the soccer ranking

1. England
   Modern soccer in England originated in 1863! The oldest club in the world, Sheffield, and the oldest professional club, Notts County, were also founded here. True, now the tone in English and global football is set not by them, but by the younger Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal.
   Every fan dreams of visiting the home arenas of top clubs, enjoying the fantastic atmosphere and singing from the stands. English football has a huge history and great traditions.
2. Brazil
   And although soccer came to Brazil much later than in European countries, today it is much more than sport No. 1 there. In most world championships, Brazil is the favorite and the main supplier of star football players to the most titled clubs in the world. It is no coincidence that the Brazilians are called the “magicians of the ball.”
   King of soccer Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Neymar… The list of sports legends of this country is endless.
3. Argentina
   Third place in our ranking belongs to Argentina, which is the main rival of Brazil in this industry. Argentine football players are also in huge demand in Europe’s top clubs. But the greatest achievement of Argentina is that it has given the world two of the greatest soccer players. Of course, this is Diego Maradona and Lionel Messi.
4. Italy
   The songs of the fans in the filled arenas of Rome, Milan, Turin, Bergamo, Naples and many other cities, the roar of firecrackers and smoke screens, crazy emotions on the football fields – all this makes the matches of the Italian Serie A very attractive. But if you are a tourist, then you need to be prepared for such a fire. Especially if there are principal rivals: Milan against Inter, Lazio against Roma. Or all these clubs play with the most popular Italian team – Juventus. In general, if you are traveling around the Apennine Peninsula and have not met the local soccer world, then you will not understand this country 100%.
5. Spain
   In Spain, there is very technical soccer here. Matches with Spanish teams will not leave anyone indifferent. Of course, it is worth mentioning the Classico – the longstanding confrontation between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Perhaps someone will say that this is no longer such a fierce battle, because Cristiano Ronaldo does not play for Real, and Leo Messi left Barcelona. However, real fans are sure that Clasico is always Clasico.
6. Germany                                                                                                                                                                                                                    “Football is played by 22 people, and the Germans win,” once said the Englishman Gary Lineker. Indeed, the German national team at the international level is one of the most successful football nations in the world. The Germans became world champions four times and won the European championship three times.
7. Portugal
   The Portuguese are referred to as “European Brazilians” as the players from this country are usually very technical. There are a lot of talented soccer players from Portugal, but all the names pale in front of the great Cristiano Ronaldo, who plays today for Manchester United. Perhaps it was he who became the main promoter of the football world of his homeland, helping it win the European Championship in 2016.