What types of football are there and how do they differ: a detailed overview

Football is a cultural phenomenon that unites millions of people around the world. But who is behind this emotion? Who are the wizards that make stadiums explode with applause? In this article we will tell you about the best footballers in history, who are distinguished by their ability to score goals, incredible technique, the urge to win and the ability to inspire fans. These are the players who have left an unforgettable mark on the world football field.

Pele: football legend and his mark on history

From an early age, Pele surprised with his performance, starting his career at Santos, where his skills helped the club win dozens of national and international titles. He won the World Cup three times with Brazil – in 1958, 1962 and 1970 – and became the only player with such an achievement. Pele scored over 1,000 goals during his career, including some unforgettable moments at the World Cup.

Diego Maradona: football icon and his great moments

In 1986, Maradona not only led Argentina to victory at the World Cup, but also created some of the most famous moments in football history – the “Goal of the Century” and the infamous “Hand of God”. He led Napoli to their only ever Serie A title, forever changing the perception of the club and becoming the idol of football fans.

Zinedine Zidane: maestro of the midfield

At the 1998 World Cup at home, Zidane scored two goals with a header in the final against Brazil, becoming a national hero. He also shone at Juventus and Real Madrid, where his technique and understanding of the game inspired his team-mates.

Lionel Messi: the greatest footballer of our time

Messi is the winner of seven Golden Balls, the record holder for the most goals for one club and the author of incredible achievements. He inspires millions with his dribbling, his ability to see the pitch and his precise passes that cut through defences like a knife.

Cristiano Ronaldo: a symbol of perseverance and success

Ronaldo’s journey began at Sporting, then he moved to Manchester United, where his talent was unleashed on the international stage. At Real Madrid, the player won the title of one of the greatest footballers in history, setting a record for the number of goals for the club. At Juventus, he went on to win trophies before returning to Manchester United to prove once again that age is just a number for him.

Johan Cruyff: architect of modern football

At Ajax, Cruyff won the Champions Cup three times before continuing his career at Barcelona, where he became a symbol of ‘total football’. He not only shone on the pitch, but as a coach he turned the understanding of football philosophy upside down.

Franz Beckenbauer: Kaiser of Defence

Beckenbauer won the World Cup twice: as a player in 1974 and as a coach in 1990. The best footballer changed the role of the defender, becoming one of the very first liberos in history to be actively involved in attack.

Ronaldo Nazario: football phenomenon

Ronaldo Nazario, known as the Phenomenon, was one of the most talented forwards of his time. He scored for Barcelona, Inter and Real Madrid, showing incredible speed, technique and the ability to beat defenders.

Michel Platini: one of the greatest footballers

Michel Platini was the leader of the French national team in the 1980s and a three-time consecutive Ballon d’Or winner. He led France to victory at the 1984 European Championships and shone with Juventus.

Paolo Maldini: the symbol of the Italian defence

Paolo Maldini is a symbol of loyalty to one club. The defender has dedicated his entire career to Milan. His discipline, incredible skills and leadership on the pitch have made him one of the best players in history. Maldini won five Champions Cups and seven Serie A titles.

Andres Iniesta: the master of final moments

Andres Iniesta is a man whose goals have decided the fate of major tournaments. In 2010, his goal in the World Cup final brought Spain their first ever victory. At Barcelona, he was a key player, a master of space and a man who saw the pitch like no other.

George Best: talented footballer and colourful personality

George Best is one of the most talented players the world has ever seen. He shone with Manchester United, won the European Cup and became a symbol of English football in the 1960s.

Garrincha: the pride of Brazilian football

Garrincha could delight fans like no other. His amazing dribbling and ability to beat opponents made him a favourite of millions. Garrincha played a key role in Brazil’s World Cup victories in 1958 and 1962.

Eusebio: The Black Panther

Eusebio is Benfica’s best player and one of the most prolific strikers. In 1966, he led the Portuguese national team to third place at the World Cup, scoring nine goals. His speed, accurate strikes and skill made him the best footballer of his time, leaving a bright mark in the history of world football.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic: the king of charisma and goals

Zlatan Ibrahimovic is a true artist on the football pitch. He has won championships in the Netherlands, Italy, Spain, France and England and has left his mark on every club he has played for.

Romário: Torjäger und Führungsspieler

Romário verhalf der brasilianischen Nationalmannschaft 1994 zum Gewinn der Weltmeisterschaft, indem er in wichtigen Spielen wichtige Tore erzielte. His career at Barcelona and other clubs was also characterised by triumphs and brilliant performances.

Bobby Charlton: England’s hero

Bobby Charlton played over 700 games for Manchester United and was the epitome of tenacity and honour on the pitch. His contribution to the history of English football cannot be overstated, and a list of the greatest footballers of all time is sure to include his name.

Ronaldinho: Star of world football

Ronaldinho’s dribbling, feints and incredible passes had fans on the edge of their seats. He won the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or with Barcelona.

Carles Puyol: The indomitable captain

Carles Puyol is a symbol of resilience and loyalty. He has remained loyal to FC Barcelona throughout his career and has won numerous trophies there, including the Champions League and the Spanish championship.

Cafu: the symbol of Brazilian football

Cafu is the only player to have played in three consecutive World Cup finals, winning two of them – in 1994 and 2002. He has become a role model for many young athletes who want to combine their skills in defence and attack.

Ruud Gullit: the leader of the Dutch Golden Generation

Ruud Gullit was captain of the Dutch national team that won the European Championship in 1988. His physical strength, technique and versatility made him one of the greatest footballers in history. Gullit also shone at AC Milan, where he was the strength of the team alongside Van Basten and Rijkard.

Gabriel Batistuta: Goalscorer and Argentinian inspiration

Gabriel Batistuta had an outstanding career at Fiorentina and Roma, where he scored incredible goals and set performance records. He was also a leader in the Argentinian national team and helped the team to outstanding performances on the international stage.

Steven Gerrard: The Liverpool legend

Steven Gerrard is the heart and soul of Liverpool FC. He has spent his entire career at the club and has led the club to victories, including the famous Champions League final in 2005, when the team pulled off an incredible comeback against AC Milan.

Roberto Baggio: a legend of Italian football

Roberto Baggio is one of the most talented Italian footballers, whose career is remembered not only for brilliant goals but also for dramatic moments. At the 1994 World Cup, his missed penalty symbolised a missed victory.

Luis Suarez: Tenacious and unstoppable

Suarez scored decisive goals, won trophies and proved his worth in the most difficult situations to become one of the best footballers in history.

Robert Lewandowski: The Polish marksman

Robert Lewandowski is one of the most successful strikers of our time. He won the German championship with Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich, set goal records and led Bayern to victory in the Champions League.

Gianluigi Buffon: Goalkeeper

Gianluigi Buffon is one of the best goalkeepers of all time. In 2006, he helped Italy win the World Cup with an incredible reaction time.

Neymar: The Brazilian star of the moment

Neymar began his career at Santos and then moved to Barcelona, where he became part of the legendary trio along with Messi and Suarez. His move to PSG was the most expensive transfer in football history.

Alessandro Del Piero: Juventus’ symbol

Alessandro Del Piero is a symbol of loyalty and excellence. He spent almost his entire career at Juventus and helped the club to win national and international trophies. His technique, outstanding free-kick goals and leadership qualities made him one of the most popular players in Italian history.

Marco van Basten: Career ended by injury

Marco van Basten was one of the most talented strikers of his time, whose career was unfortunately ended by injury. He shone at Ajax and AC Milan, scoring incredible goals and winning numerous titles, including the 1988 European Championship.

Conclusion

Each of these great athletes is unique in their own way, but what they all have in common is an incredible love of the game, a passion for excellence and the ability to inspire millions. The greatest footballers in history are those who not only won trophies, but also created moments that will be remembered forever.

Football is a passion that unites millions of people around the world. The rules of a football match may seem simple at first glance, but the essence of the game is hidden in the nuances. The more you know about the set standards, the more you understand why a game can become a real spectacle. Everyone has heard the referee shout, watched the goalkeeper make a crazy dive or seen the offside light go on. Let’s dive into these details to make football more than just a race for the ball.

The basics of the game: How the football pitch and the team are organised

The football pitch is the stage on which the drama plays out. The pitch has clear dimensions: It is between 100 and 110 metres long and between 64 and 75 metres wide. The exciting battles between the teams take place on these square metres. In the centre is the kick-off circle and each team has a goal, which is defended by a goalkeeper. The size of the goal is strictly regulated – 7.32 metres wide and 2.44 metres high.

A team consists of eleven players, each of whom plays an important role:

1. Goalkeeper: the last bastion of the defence. His job is to keep the ball out of the goal with his hands inside the penalty area.
2. Defenders: like fortress walls, they block the path of the opposing attackers and prevent them from getting into attacking positions.
3. Midfielders: They are the link between defence and attack, often initiating attacks and setting the rhythm of the game. They are the ones who receive the most passes.
4. Strikers: The ones who want to score goals and make the most of every opportunity. Their results are often decisive for the game and remain in the memory of the spectators.

Important areas on the pitch

There are several important areas on a football pitch:

1. Penalty area: the area in front of the goal, which is 16.5 metres long and 40.3 metres wide. Care and precision are particularly important here, as any offence can lead to a penalty.
2. Corner area: The radius of the corner area is 1 metre. This area is used for corner kicks when the ball is played over the goal line by a player of the defending team.
3. Central area of the pitch: The circle in the centre of the pitch has a radius of 9.15 metres. This area is used for the first draw and to restart play after a goal.

The corner area of the pitch is also very important. If the ball leaves the field of play behind the goal line by a player of the defending team, the opponent has the right to a corner kick. Corner kicks are attacking opportunities and often decisive goals are scored after this type of play. The central area of the pitch is important for the initial moves and strategic movements, as this is where the main distribution of attacking actions takes place.

The team on the pitch: who is responsible for what?

The rules of a football match stipulate that there must be eleven players from each team on the pitch, each of whom has a different task:

The goalkeeper is the only one allowed to touch the ball with his hands, but only within his own penalty area.
The defenders work at the back of the pitch and their main task is to prevent the opponent from getting into an attacking position.
Midfielders are versatile fighters who can be deployed both in defence and attack. They control the rhythm of the game like conductors control the orchestra, and most passes go through them.
Strikers are keen to score goals and often become the heroes of matches, as their effective actions are remembered by spectators.

Football terms: How not to get confused about offside and penalties?

Football is full of technical terms that can sometimes confuse even experienced fans. Let’s start with one of the most controversial terms – offside. What does it mean? It is a situation in which the striker is closer to the opponent’s goal than the ball and the penultimate defender at the time of the pass. This rule of football was invented to prevent strikers from being unfairly ‘hit’ near the goal.

Penalty and penalty kick: When does the referee blow the whistle?

A penalty kick is awarded for an offence outside the penalty area. There are two types of penalties: direct and indirect:

1. With a direct penalty kick, the athlete may immediately shoot at goal and if the ball hits the goal, the goal counts.
2. In an indirect penalty kick, the ball must first touch another player before it hits the goal. Penalty kicks are usually taken between 18 and 30 metres in front of the goal, which creates good attacking conditions. The referee indicates that it is an indirect penalty kick by raising his hand and holding it up until the ball touches another player or goes out of play.

The location of the penalty kick is determined according to where the offence was committed. A wall consisting of players from the defending team is placed 9.15 metres away from the ball to reduce the likelihood of a direct shot on goal. The execution requires great skill as you must either avoid the wall or find a gap between the players.

A penalty kick is the highest penalty for an offence inside the penalty area. It is taken from the penalty mark (11 metres in front of goal) and is one of the most dramatic moments in football when only the offending player and the goalkeeper remain on the pitch. The latter is obliged to remain on the goal line until the kick is taken, which makes the game even more difficult. The probability of scoring a penalty is 75-80%, but much depends on the psychology and technique of the player and the reaction of the goalkeeper.

Penalties are awarded for serious offences such as fouls, tripping, delaying an opponent or handball inside the penalty area. The outcome of the game is often decided in this phase, when nerves are on edge. There are many examples in history of teams winning or losing crucial games through penalty shoot-outs, such as the 2005 Champions League final between Liverpool and Milan, where a penalty shoot-out decided the championship title. In such situations, athletes and fans are in a state of incredible tension and every shot can be decisive.

Yellow and red cards: How the referee awards penalties

The referee is the main person responsible on the pitch for ensuring that the rules of a football match are adhered to. He hands out yellow cards for serious offences and unsportsmanlike behaviour in order to caution the player. If the offence is serious or the player receives a second yellow card, the referee shows a red card and the player must leave the pitch. This not only weakens the team, but often changes the entire course of the game. For example, the exclusion of the captain can demoralise the entire team, which the opponent is sure to exploit.

Rules for a football match: Conclusions

Now that we have learnt the rules of a football match in detail, we can safely say that football is an art of tactics, skill and emotion. From understanding the offside to recognising the meaning of each card, it all helps you to experience every moment on the pitch more intensely. Try watching a game and find yourself already understanding why the referee has shown a yellow card or why an offside has been whistled.