Do you know what transformed football from just a sport into a global phenomenon? Yes, it had to do with the unbound popularity of sensational players like Ronaldo, Messi, Neymar, Rooney, and Fabregas. But there is more to the sport than the nail-biting leagues and the gripping world cups that have made it the most-watched and played sport on the planet.
What most fans dont know is that football originated in 476 BC China and has since undergone centuries worth of evolution. So sit back as we take you from the balls humble beginnings to the international spotlight it finds itself in today.
Ancient civilizations
It would be safe to say that much of the football frenzy also existed among our ancient ancestors. There is enough evidence to suggest that early Chinese, Egyptian, Roman, and South American civilizations played with a spherical-shaped ball made from either cloth, animal bladder and skull, or scarily enough — human heads! In fact, the Chinese version of the game — which FIFA acknowledges as the first codified ancestor of the sport — was called Tsu Chu.
A representation of Tsu Chu being played in China (Image: Wikimedia Foundation)
1855
We can all thank Charles Goodyear (Does the name ring a bell? The world-renowned tyre and rubber company is named after him.) for sparing us the horror of playing football with animal parts! Goodyear introduced the world to the first vulcanised rubber football bladder in 1855. He also created panels similar to todays basketball and glued them at the seams. Prior to this, cow and pig bladders covered in leather were used extensively for the sport. This did not allow the players to aim well in a certain direction and also took away the key factor of bounce from the ball.
A football made out of pig bladder (Image: Pinterest)
1872
The English Football Association (FA) standardised the official weight and size of the football in 1872. It described the ball as “spherical with a circumference of 27 to 28 inches”. Additionally, the weight was defined to be 13-15 oz and later changed to 14-16 oz in 1937. The association already required the ball to possess an “outer casing of leather or other approved materials”.
The ball used in the finals of the first-ever FIFA World Cup in 1930. (Image: Pinterest)
Early 1900s
Footballs in the early 1900s were far less tough than the ones we use today. Most balls back then would tatter and be unusable after a single match. In order to make them tougher, they were reinforced with tanned leather covers with 18 sections of six panels with three strips per panel. All this was hand-stitched together with an opening to insert the inflated bladder.
1940
In the 40s, the focus shifted to how well a player could control the ball. Experts added strong and stable materials between the inflated bladder and the outer shell to increase durability and control while playing. Another problem faced by players was that most footballs were not water-resistant. Thats why for the first time they began to coat footballs with synthetic and non-porous materials to prevent water absorption.
1951
Better visibility on the field was achieved with the official introduction of the white football by whitewashing leather. Interestingly there were also orange footballs for teams who played on snow.
1960
The first part-synthetic football was created in 1960. However, the first fully synthetic leather football was created only in 1980.
1970s
The next two decades saw the football evolve into a completely synthetic object.
The architect, R Buckminster Fuller created the Buckyball — a model that has been used till date to mass-produce footballs.
| Did You Know?
Richard Buckminster Fuller was an American author, systems theorist, architect, designer, inventor, and futurist. He dedicated his life to using the best of technology to revolutionize the construction and improve human housing.
Apart from giving the world the iconic football design, he is also well known for accurately representing the Earths surface on a polyhedron consisting of 20 triangles of equal size and is said to have invented his own geometry. Additionally, his famous geodesic dome design has been reproduced over 300,000 times globally. In Organic Chemistry, a kind of carbon molecule known as fullerenes is named after him due to its resemblance to his geodesic designs. |
Adidas manufactured the Telstar Buckyball with the classic 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal patches that are fitted and stitched together to form a sphere. It also featured the unmissable black spots designed to help players learn how to curve a football and track its swerve.
The Telstar Football aka Buckyball with the classic 20 hexagonal and 12 pentagonal patches is the single most iconic design of the football. (Image: Pinterest)
1980s – Present
While the world of football stayed true to the buckyball structure, changes have been made periodically to enable better performance. For instance, in 2014 Adidas introduced the most tested football ever, the Brazuca, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
Adidas introduced the most tested football ever, the Brazuca, at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. (Image: Pinterest)
In 2018 Adidas came full circle and paid homage to the first Telstar of 1970 with the Telstar 18. Though the original Telstar had 32 panels, Telstar 18 has only six textured panels glued together unlike its stitched predecessor.
Adidas’ Telstar 18 was the official match ball for the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in England. (Image: Pinterest)
The evolution of footballs over the decades (source: Pinterest).
Most die-hard football fans would agree that football is more than just a sport — it is an emotion experienced by millions all over the world — well summed up by Ronaldinho when he said, I learned all about life with a ball at my feet. But before all the leagues, cups, and the global frenzy, there were men and women who worked hard for centuries to give our beloved players the best footballs to play with.
Did you enjoy reading this? For more slices of history, check out other interesting pieces from the Evolution of Everything series.
Tracking the evolution of technology
Ankita Dutta is a STORYWEAVER at BYJU?S. Avid reader and writer by day, a classical singer by night, Harry Potter nerd, a film aficionado, and the classroom joker in her yesteryear. Ankita believes that words can influence to a point where they change personalities and ideologies. Wish to contact her about intriguing debates, writing trends and stories? Drop in a mail to storyweavers@byjus.com
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Comments
Krishna prasath
August 31, 2020
Very excited.And also I request to give about cricket
Anindan Biswas
August 31, 2020
Really the article is so interesting.???
Som Satwik Deo
August 31, 2020
We are missing the byjus fun facts
Please bring it again.
Krishna periwal
August 31, 2020
Wow what a revolution
Satya
August 31, 2020
Yes it’s quite nice
Satya
August 31, 2020
Yes it’s quite nice
Interesting
Cool
K.Amirthavarshini
August 31, 2020
Thank u byjus !!!! I love football so so so much !!!!!!! It was fascinating to read
Maanvi Bachra
August 31, 2020
Woaa……I Very Interesting ????I Love Playing Football ? But Can’t Play As It Risky ?…I Cannot O
Play Other Outdoor Games…????…….I want to know about the history of teachers next???
Samriddhi Gaur
August 31, 2020
Wow
I’m surprised to see the journey of football
Thank You BYJU’S to tell the journey of football
Jay
August 31, 2020
Whoa!!!! I didn’t knew that football was evolved so many times!!!??
G.V.N.Sanjana
August 31, 2020
Thanks for the information..useful information??
Harini Parthiban
August 31, 2020
Superb article about evolution of football…
Keep on posting about sports facts.
Mugdha
August 31, 2020
Wow it is very interesting….??
Uday and Ujjwal Choudhary
August 31, 2020
We are Uday and Ujjwal Choudhary .we love byjus the learning app the best learning platform
Thanks for such a message
Lekshmi Jayan
August 31, 2020
Thanks for the information on the evolution of football (though not a great fan of football ? but love reading about the evolution of different things
Kindly keep posting new articles like this and on other topics. It’s a lot fun and interesting to read these.
Thank you so much ???? to Byjus Learning Tree.
Om Jain
August 31, 2020
Thank you for this nice information
SRIJON MONDAL
August 31, 2020
THANKS FOR TELLING ME ABOUT FOOTBALL HISTORY AND
TYPES OF FOOTBALL.
Samadrita sen
August 31, 2020
Wow!!! So fascinating ??????
HARINAND B S
September 1, 2020
The story behind the football is great.
I’m a real fan of football.The story behind the football
Is amazing. Thank you Byjus.
Aditya R Hegdekatte
September 1, 2020
Wow, it’s really awesome history. I love football
ANIRUDH
September 1, 2020
This is very interesting ?
Jhanvi Dutt
September 1, 2020
This is amazing, Thank you ??
Ishwari p.
September 1, 2020
Awesome evolution ??
Gagan
September 1, 2020
Very good
Shreya
September 1, 2020
Wow that ‘s nice happy to see this
Rishabh
September 1, 2020
Very interesting story of football .I like it
Minakshi
September 1, 2020
Thanks for giving this. Football isu favourite sport.
Aarvi
September 1, 2020
thanks byjus!!!
Sukanya
September 1, 2020
Wow??, amazing history behind Football
MITUL
September 1, 2020
I wondered that in ancient civilizations they played football with HUMAN HEADS!!!???
PREET
September 1, 2020
brillint
Adwaith
September 1, 2020
QUITE INTERESTING
Teesta
September 1, 2020
So coooool????? Could you please tell me about the evolution of basketball? too.Would ??to know. Thank you Byjus ?
Maradani Jayati
September 1, 2020
Nice work ?? so nice byju ? ????. ?
Suyash Ram
September 1, 2020
Article was very interesting. I also want to know about badminton
Shreya
September 1, 2020
very interesting….. i request you to give about some art skills or like basketball…. thank u
Trrishan Saha
September 1, 2020
The “Buckyballs” of the 1970’s are the most popular!
Ishika Sharma
September 1, 2020
Amazing and really helpful information ??
Kristi
September 1, 2020
wow!I ALWAYS WONDERED HOW THESE FOOTBALL
HAVE BEEN MADE! THANK YOU BYJUS
Bhargavi Bhabani Jena
September 1, 2020
This is amazing ! I Travelled many years back to the history of football from which we are playing now
Reet Tiwary
September 1, 2020
I enjoyed reading this article, it was really interesting!
Mayur Singh
September 1, 2020
It is so interesting, but please give information about cricket.
And some experiments
Avani
September 1, 2020
Nice information and also nice pictures????
Vedant chhanam
September 1, 2020
How many things in balls changed
Aayush Kumar?
September 1, 2020
Cool!My favourite is the Brazuca Football ??
Kashvi Ruparelia
September 1, 2020
I simply love playing football but I didn’t know there was soooooo much behind this ball.
I mean to say that even if you research about and observe the small things around you, you can unravel a whole new world!!
And you help us to do that by sending such facts on objects that no one ever even bothers to find out about!!
Thaks a to for giving me such a wonderful price of information!!????
Ashish kumar
September 1, 2020
As science is upgrading, everything is upgrading along with it .
NIMISHA SONI
September 1, 2020
Seriously such a nice article to read about …. Even I am a football player but I did not know about it !
Rudra Pratap Parida
September 2, 2020
It was interesting but if there was a diy then it would be great
Parth Kadam
September 2, 2020
The information was quite nice and surprising but the most horrible part was playing with animal bladders and human heads.
L.prithika
September 2, 2020
It is very interesting for me. I learned many information. ?????????
Arnav Singh
September 2, 2020
That is an interesting story. ???
Aanya Sinha
September 2, 2020
It’s very excited topic and I love football
Súnishka
September 2, 2020
But what about the results of the friendship day contest???
Samruddhi Panhale
September 2, 2020
Very nice I request byju to give about atletics
Trrishan Saha
September 2, 2020
Hahaha! ??off! History of teachers! The first teacher was Confucius, who was the god of Confucianism!
Jeevan
September 2, 2020
Yes football is aexcellent sport created as a tsu-chuand I am really excited with this and I also want information about ?
Muskaan
September 2, 2020
This is super thankyou BYJUS learning tree
Soumyadeep Shyam
September 2, 2020
Really the article is so interesting.???
Sathwik
September 3, 2020
IAM SO, TO PLAY HOCKEY PLEASE ME ABOUT HOCKEY
Prabhkirat singh
September 3, 2020
Amazing give one for badminton as well
Sri harsha
September 3, 2020
This article is so amazing
? Manashvi Singh
September 4, 2020
Woah :0
That was a very informative information Byjus . Loved it <3 Glad to see that you all chose Football over cricket because cricket sport is little overrated in my opinion. Football and Basketball at such awesome games too. Looking forward for more amazing information on sports
Shivam saawarn
September 4, 2020
The history of football is very interesting. I also want to know the history of cricket and hockey,please tell me the history of cricket and hockey
Aditya
September 4, 2020
I really like this information thanks for it byjus
Sethuram
September 4, 2020
Very interesting story about foot ball . Foot ball is my favorite sport . ????????
Nanaki Jaswal
September 5, 2020
Very interesting and informative information about football??
Can I get a post for badminton ??
But at the end of the day, I love to read articles I these…..
THANKYOU!
Vaishnavi
September 5, 2020
Want to know more about another sports as well.
Sukhdev
September 6, 2020
I am excited when English subject on byjuss I am waiting for English subject
Niranjana. Manoj
September 7, 2020
Thank you very much Byju’s for this information about football ?. Me being a great football fan. It would be great to say this news to my school football team ??. I am a part. So a good information for mee
Omsai
September 7, 2020
Very intresting artical I loved it thanks for giving information about football but I also want to know about cricket but once again thanks for information about football because football is very intresting than cricket and more fuuny
Shivanshi Dwivedi
September 11, 2020
Wow! What an amazing evolution . I request for badminton tooo.
Thank u.
Vanshika
September 12, 2020
Nice thank you byjus mam
krishiv
September 12, 2020
it is very interesting please give about badminton
Sonismita Priyadarshini
September 12, 2020
It’s really a knowing fact about football. Thanks for the article from this I get to know more interesting facts about football.. Because I am a football lover too….
Adrita Acharya
September 13, 2020
Wow! It’s just amazing.
Love it.
Abhinav Kumar
September 13, 2020
It is very interesting??.
I request you to give knowledge about cricket also .
Harsh pratap singh
September 21, 2020
Nice article i want to know about cricket too??
Krishti
September 23, 2020
So cool?? can you please also one more like this one about the history of badminton.
RAJPUTPRINCE
September 28, 2020
More give about cricket