Is Soccer More Than Just a Sport?

With about 3.5 billion fans worldwide, soccer is the most watched sport in the world. Contrary to popular belief, soccer is not simply a sport where 22 men run up and down a field to get the ball; it’s more than that. Soccer brings passion, love, courage, inspiration, compassion, and intense emotions as it makes people cry of happiness and even sadness.

Players such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo bring so much inspiration to both children and adults. Lionel Messi, known for being a fantastic soccer player of all time, inspired so many people to never give up and to always give it their all in every chance they get. In the soccer world, we can see this in Argentina with how Messi lost four straight finals and could not win any major tournament with his national team. Ultimately, after 15 years of Messi´s career he was able to win a tournament with his home country. Lionel Messi is an inspiration for little kids to become soccer players. Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the greatest soccer players, also is a beacon of inspiration who encourages kids to always be their best and to be determined to do the work that is needed to reach their goal.

A clear example is the World Cup run of Argentina, winning the tournament after 36 years, and not just that, but the passion that people had in Argentina during this time. More than four million people were in the capital city, Buenos Aires. Fans celebrated winning the World Cup with lots of happiness and love. Soccer in Argentina is just like a religion. People watch the games together and spend quality time with family and friends. When people get off work, they get together with coworkers to watch a soccer match, or play soccer while drinking some mate which is a traditional type of tea in Argentina. Additionally, in Argentina, when the game is going on during school hours, the teachers and the staff decide to put the game on during lunch so that everyone can watch it.

Furthermore, in other parts of the world like Europe (the greatest leagues, players, and competitions) people build certain traditions and rituals for their teams. Teams like Real Madrid, Barcelona in Spain, and other teams in England with Manchester City, Chelsea, and so many others across Europe and around the world. Fans will always be there with their family and friends cheering on their team by singing songs, and chanting.

Moreover, in other parts of the world like in Honduras, soccer can help children to escape by getting out of unsafe areas and dangerous neighborhoods. Compassion International interviewed Noemi, a project director at Los Valientes del Senor Child Development Center, about the benefit of soccer for children living in dangerous areas. These programs help children by giving them a way to escape the areas that they live in which allows them to to focus on soccer, and take their minds off the streets. With these types of help for children, soccer is sometimes the only option to be able to escape their poverty in the neighborhood they live in. Kids around the entire world find soccer as a way of escaping the poor reality that their cities or countries live through.

Soccer is not just players making millions for passing the ball to one another. People around the world live and feel passion for their team and always will be there for them. Families get together and eat BBQ to watch the game and enjoy time together. Soccer brings people together. Kids play whenever they can and make a little game to play. Soccer is more than just a sport, it promotes unity and connection.