Football Facts That Sound Fake But Are Actually True
Football is full of amazing stories, quirky statistics, and unbelievable feats that sometimes sound too wild to be real. However, beneath the surface of the sport’s rich history, certain facts might make you raise an eyebrow and wonder if they’re true. But believe it or not, these football facts, while sounding completely fake, are 100% real! Here are some of the most surprising ones.
1. A Match Once Ended 149-0… All Own Goals
Yes, you read that correctly. In 2002, a match in Madagascar ended with a jaw-dropping scoreline of 149-0, with all the goals being own goals. The reason? It was a protest by Stade Olympique L'Emyrne against refereeing decisions in a previous match. To express their frustration, the players intentionally scored one own goal after another for the entire 90 minutes. It remains the highest-scoring match in football history, albeit for all the wrong reasons.
2. The Shortest Player to Ever Play Professional Football Stands at 4’11”
When you think of professional footballers, you imagine tall, athletic figures dominating the pitch. But the shortest player to ever play professionally was Élton José Xavier Gomes, a Brazilian player who stands at just 4 feet 11 inches (1.51 meters). Despite his height, Élton’s quick feet and technical skills have seen him enjoy a successful career across various leagues, proving that size isn’t everything in football.
3. A Goalkeeper Scored a hat trick in a Single Match
It's rare for goalkeepers to score goals, let alone a hat-trick. But that’s exactly what Jose Luis Chilavert, a Paraguayan goalkeeper known for his free-kick and penalty-taking skills, did in 1999. While playing for Vélez Sarsfield, Chilavert scored three goals in one match — all from the penalty spot. He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific goal-scoring goalkeepers in football history, with over 60 career goals.
4. The 1974 World Cup Final Didn’t See a Single Touch by the Opposing Team Until a Goal Was Scored
In the 1974 World Cup final between the Netherlands and West Germany, the Dutch team managed to hold onto the ball from kickoff until they were awarded a penalty — without the Germans touching the ball even once. Johan Cruyff’s dribbling drew a foul, leading to a penalty that Johan Neeskens converted to give the Netherlands the lead. This unique feat of holding possession until a goal was scored is something that has never been replicated in a World Cup final.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović Have Scored in Every Minute of a Match
Scoring goals is what makes superstars stand out, but doing so consistently across every possible minute of a match? That’s the next level. Cristiano Ronaldo and Zlatan Ibrahimović are the only two players who have scored in every single minute of a 90-minute match at least once in their careers. From the first to the 90th minute, these footballing legends have proven their knack for finding the net whenever it matters.
6. There’s a Team That Has Never Been Relegated in Over 120 Years
While most clubs experience the ups and downs of promotions and relegations, Athletic Club Bilbao in Spain's La Liga has never been relegated since the league was founded in 1929. The only other clubs to share this impressive record are Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. Athletic Bilbao's feat is impressive because they have done it while adhering to their unique philosophy of only fielding players of Basque descent.
7. A Football Match Was Played Between Earth and Space
In 2018, the International Space Station (ISS) hosted the first-ever football match played in space. Russian cosmonauts challenged each other to a friendly kickabout while floating in zero gravity. It wasn’t quite a typical match, given the microgravity environment, but it’s officially the first time football has been played beyond Earth’s atmosphere.
8. The Player Who Played for Both Teams in the Same Match
In a bizarre twist of events in 1999, Colombian goalkeeper René Higuita played for both sides in a friendly match. Higuita initially started for his team, Atlético Nacional, but later switched to play for their opponents, Deportes Quindío, after Quindío's goalkeeper was injured, and they had no substitute. It was a light-hearted gesture in the spirit of sportsmanship, making it one of the strangest moments in football history.
9. A Dog Once Became the Official Captain of a Football Club
In 2017, a dog named Pickles was made the official captain of Chilean third-division side Deportivo San Pedro. The team’s beloved mascot, Pickles, symbolised unity and morale for the players. To honour the dog’s dedication, the club even held a small ceremony to bestow the title, with Pickles wearing the captain’s armband (and wagging his tail enthusiastically).
10. The Fastest Red Card Ever Issued Happened After Just Two Seconds
Most players manage to last at least a few minutes before being sent off, but that wasn’t the case for Lee Todd, an English semi-professional footballer. In 2000, Todd was sent off just two seconds into a match for foul language. The referee blew the whistle to start the game, and Todd exclaimed, “F*** me, that was loud!” The referee promptly showed him a red card, making it the fastest sending-off in football history.
Conclusion
Football is full of strange, wonderful, and sometimes downright unbelievable moments that remind us why we love the game. Whether it’s the dedication of fans, the oddities on the pitch, or the quirky records that players set, these stories add to the rich tapestry of football’s history. As strange as these facts may sound, they’re all true — and they make the beautiful game even more fascinating.
