Somehow, soccer ignites a passion in fans that they can’t quench. The thrill of competition makes sports so exciting, but soccer has a few unique characteristics that have propelled it to global prominence.

Accessibility and Safety

A football and a pair of sneakers are all required to play the game. A net may be constructed. Dribbling practice is essential whether you do it alone or with a partner. A set of cleats and some shin guards are all you need to join a league. Everyone can do it; it’s just that simple.

Soccer is prone to injuries, some of which are serious, just like any other activity. Soccer players, however, are less vulnerable to harm than their counterparts in other sports. Johns Hopkins Medicine reports that in 2009, around 88,000 youngsters (ages 5-14) in the United States were treated for injuries sustained while playing soccer. Almost 111,000 were treated for baseball-related injuries, 170,000 were treated for basketball-related injuries, and a whopping 215,000 were treated for American football-related injuries. Soccer has fewer risks, making it a better choice for youngsters who wish to get into sports.

Skill & Technique

Except for the subtleties of the “off-side rule,” the rules of the game are simple to learn and understand: Get the ball into the opposing goal without touching it with your hands. Make sure you touch the ball before fouling someone. When the ball gets out of bounds, you should toss it back in. After introducing the rules of offside, fouls, yellow/red cards, free kicks, and corners, you have a game.

To be successful in soccer, you need both ball control ability and excellent technique. It might be challenging for some players to learn how to guide the ball with their feet and make it do what you want. The ball must be handled with a light yet certain touch, and passing must be made with confidence, even in confined spaces. As a soccer game gets down to the final few feet, the true skill of the players becomes apparent. Seeing excellent players use such a wide array of tricks and strategies is awe-inspiring as a fan. Excellent players possess a wide range of skills, including the ability to plan, see the big picture, act swiftly, think strategically, work well with others, and win as a team.

Normal Physical Form

Several sports nowadays are so complex and difficult that success requires a certain body type. It’s no secret that taller men and women have a significant edge over their shorter counterparts in basketball. Yet, soccer is unique. It is more important to have quick hands and feet than a big body.

Soccer players are the healthiest athletes because they must be in peak physical condition, yet their size matters less than in other sports. Players benefit greatly from having a lower centre of gravity while playing soccer. Even the smallest players have a chance to be great, as shown by the fact that 5-foot-7 Lionel Messi is among the greats.

Marketing

Great marketing by the world’s top businesses is largely responsible for a sports event drawing 3 billion viewers. It’s not only the world cup that benefits from sponsorships; major soccer teams like Real Madrid and Barcelona also get the financial rewards. According to Forbes, Barcelona’s largest sponsor paid them 233 million dollars in 2017, whereas Real’s sponsor only gave them 210 million.

You can bet that the words “Football” or “soccer” will be plastered everywhere, from restaurants to bars to hotels to flights to the internet to video games, and beyond if major corporations start pouring money into a sport. The marketing of the sport contributes to its widespread appeal. As soccer is a huge industry, companies are rooting for its growth. Also, you can find out about worldwide e-commerce statistics and information

Globally Featured

This means that soccer is the most played sport in the world. Most sports are only popular in a small part of the globe. American football is played only in the United States. Soccer, on the other hand, is played on every single continent. There are now 211 recognised FIFA members, split among six zones (CONCACAF, UEFA, CONMEBOL, CAF, AFC, and OFC). It means every nation can qualify for a FIFA World Cup.

Winners of the World Cup may legitimately claim the title of “World Champions” since the event provides teams from every corner of the globe an equal opportunity to triumph. Unlike the Super Bowl, the World Series, and the NBA Finals, none of these events occur in a single nation. This is why soccer is so enjoyable. A nation can rally around a single soccer team.

So Why Do More People Wager on Football Than Other Sports?

Football betting is more popular than betting on other sports for a number of reasons. Football games have a greater average number of points scored than other sports, making them more entertaining to watch and wager on. Point spreads, money lines, props, and futures bets are some ways football games may be wagered on. This allows gamblers to tailor their bets to their specific methods and preferences.

• Smart bettors know that each football club has unique strengths and limitations and use this information to their advantage when placing wagers. Moreover, owing to its global appeal, football games often feature larger betting pools than other sports, meaning more significant payoffs for winning bets. These and other variables contribute to football’s popularity among bettors.
• If you’re a football fan and know what you’re doing, betting on games is a fun way to express your support. Before placing any wagers on football events, bettors should familiarise themselves with the various wagering options and their respective processes.
• Having something at risk while watching a game might provide a more thrilling viewing experience. Many individuals like the excitement of placing wagers on football games for the chance for financial gain.
• Football betting is a great way to learn about your favourite game. It’s possible to master the game by learning everything about the teams, the players, and the tactics. With this information, you’ll be more able to make informed wagers on upcoming football games.
• Betting on football matches is fun to show support for your favourite team and earn extra cash. Just keep your spending in check and gamble sensibly.

Pros and Cons of Playing Football

Let us look at some pros and cons of playing football.

Conclusion

It amazes me that soccer has become a religion for millions of people. Soccer is the only sport that can cause a nation to shut down for a single game. If you want to talk about passionate supporters, soccer is where it’s at. In the hearts and minds of its devotees, soccer is akin to faith. Soccer fans are very devoted to their favourite teams. The sport’s long history is a big part of its appeal.

The post Living Legend: Incredible Popularity of Football on the Globe appeared first on Heavy Gains.

Top athletes who managed to earn the most in 2022

Sportico has published data on the 100 highest-paid athletes worldwide. Making the rating, its analysts conducted a great job, taking into account the income of athletes directly from sporting events, as well as profits stars from advertising projects and their own business.

The top 100 includes athletes from 10 sports from 24 countries.

The 10 highest-paid athletes in the world according to Sportico:

1. LeBron James – The 37-year-old Los Angeles Lakers (NBA) basketball forward is at the peak of his career and earned $126.9 million in 2022, moving up from fifth in the rankings to first in the last year.
2. Lionel Messi is the king of Argentine soccer, the seven-time winner of the major individual soccer trophy, the Golden Ball. Despite his considerable age (he is 35), he continues to play for a top French soccer club Paris Saint-Germain. He earned $ 122 million during the year.
3. Cristiano Ronaldo is a 37-year-old Portuguese footballer who plays for Manchester United in the English Premier League, the captain of the national team. The most popular sports blogger on Instagram (owned by Meta, which is recognized as extremist and banned in Russia) with 500 million followers. In 2022, Ronaldo’s fortune increased by $ 115 million.
4. Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is a 30-year-old forward for the Brazilian national soccer team, currently playing for soccer club Paris Saint-Germain (France), one of the best forwards in world history. Neymar earned $103 million this year.
5. Canelo Alvarez is the only boxer of the top 10, 32-years-old athlete in the WBC middleweight division, WBO and WBA world champion, the best boxer of the year 2022 according to The Ring. The highest paid boxer of 2022, with earnings of $89 million.
6. Stephen Curry is a North American NBA star, playing at the point guard position, four-time NBA champion, twice named best player of the season (2015, 2016). Now playing for the Golden State Warriors, the 34-year-old Stephen Curry earned $86.2 million in 2022.
7. Kevin Durant is a 34-year-old professional NBA basketball player with the Brooklyn Nets who plays for the U.S. national team. World champion and Olympic gold medalist. Athletic competition and advertising contracts have allowed Kevin Durant to earn $85.9 million in 2022.
8. Roger Federer is a former men’s world number one, 41-year-old Swiss professional tennis player and popular blogger. For 2022 he earned “only” $ 724,000, but advertising contracts and blogging brought Federer another $ 85 million.
9. James Harden is one of the best basketball players in the NBA today, an Olympic gold medalist and a regular participant in NBA All-Star games. The 33-year-old Harden currently plays for the Philadelphia Seventy Sixers as an offensive guard. Total earnings for 2022 are $76 million.
10. Tiger Woods is a legendary American golfer who has won PGA Tour tournaments 82 times and the Europe Tour 40 times. The first-ever billionaire athlete. In 2022, he earned $73.5 million, of which only $8.5 million in prize money.

So, Sportico says the world’s highest-paid athlete in 2022 among men is NBA superstar LeBron James, among women, first-ranked Japanese Naomi Osaka (in the “general standings” she is on the 20th place with the result of $ 53.2 million: $ 1.2 – prize money, $ 52 – income from non-sports entrepreneurship (advertising, production of skin care products of own line, etc.)). Virtually all of the above-mentioned persons were successful not only in sports, but also in business; their names are often used to build advertising campaigns and invite them to the opening of various events, thus attracting even more people. For example, almost all of the most famous athletes have been the face of betting companies and online casinos.

The highest paid sports in the world

The Sportico and Forbes rankings include the 100 and 50 highest-paid athletes in the world, respectively, but the composite top sports with the highest salaries is less numerous. There are only 10 positions:

1. Basketball.
2. Soccer.
3. Tennis.
4. Boxing.
5. American soccer.
6. Golf.
7. Auto racing (F1).
8. Ice hockey.
9. Baseball.
10. MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) – mixed martial arts.

Based on the Forbes ranking, the most profitable sports for athletes are only 8:

1. Soccer.
2. Basketball.
3. Tennis.
4. Boxing.
5. American soccer.
6. Golf.
7. Auto racing.
8. MMA.

Forbes has calculated that the world’s 50 highest-paid athletes professionally involved in these eight sports earned a total of $2.97 billion before taxes and agency fees for the year (May 2021-May 2022). That’s 8 percent ($200 million) more than last year.

The 100 highest-paid athletes in the world according to Sportico, the publication estimates, for 2022 all together earned $4.46 billion, of which $3.24 billion in wages and prize money and $1.23 billion off the field, court or ring – for the promotion of goods and services, from their own businesses, etc.

The post The World’s Highest-Paid Athletes appeared first on Heavy Gains.

Cristiano needed a refreshment without leaving the pitch. At this point, the cameraman kept the Portuguese star in the frame. Being in the Ghanaian penalty area, Ronaldo, who was not actively involved in the episode at that moment, because the goalkeeper fixed the ball, was looking for something in his underpants for a few seconds, and then chewed on the run and continued to play.

Recall, November 24, Portugal defeated the national team of Ghana 3-2. Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 65th minute and became the first player in history to score in five World Cups.

Cristiano Ronaldo (full name: Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro) – the greatest player of modern soccer, played for clubs Sporting (Portugal), Manchester United (England), Real Madrid (Spain), Juventus (Italy), for the national team of Portugal, who set a dozen records.

His record is full of the most beautiful goals, awards and titles. Among them – the victory in the European Championship, the UEFA Nations League, a record five victories in the Champions League, as well as five awards for the best footballer of the year in Europe “Golden Ball” and four awards for the best striker of the European Championships “Golden Boot”.

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Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers, quarterback)

The first player on this list already exemplifies the debate among fans regarding the Top 100 rankings. Rodgers is considered an incredibly talented quarterback and often successfully proves it on the field. Aaron holds a number of records that validate his top class. He’s won the Super Bowl, won the NFL MVP twice, and made the symbolic All-Pro team twice, which selects the best of the best.

Rodgers missed most of last season due to injury. The quarterback played five games before suffering a broken collarbone in the sixth and was out for virtually the rest of the season. Aaron’s importance to the team is evidenced by the fact that before his injury, Green Bay had four wins with one loss. After his injury, the team played 10 games with a 3-7 record and did not make the playoffs. Rodgers returned for one game late in the season, but failed to lead his team to victory before going off to heal the injury. If the quarterback can avoid injury in the new season, the Packers will have a great chance to get back in the relegation games.

Vaughn Miller (Denver Broncos, linebacker)

One of the best quarterbacks in the NFL who has held up at a high level throughout his career. Selected number two overall in the 2011 NFL Draft, Miller was an immediate and brilliant player, earning All-Star honors as a rookie defensive lineman and making the Pro Bowl All-Star team. Miller’s record also includes three All-Pro appearances, and the pinnacle of Vaughn’s career so far is winning the Super Bowl and being named Super Bowl MVP, which is incredibly cool for his position considering defensive players have only been named MVP 10 times in a history that includes 52 games, including Miller himself.

Vaughn is Denver’s leader and top star, confirming his status as the highest-paid defensive lineman in NFL history. Under a contract signed in 2016, Miller will earn $114.5 million over six years.

Drew Brees (New Orleans Saints, quarterback)

Brees, 39, is considered the most underrated player in the NFL, not getting the recognition and respect he really deserves. This year, his eighth-place finish on the Top 100 list angered many fans who saw him in the top three.

Drew has tremendous talent and yet is a crazy workaholic and a paragon of professionalism. The New Orleans player once recalled that he decided to be sure to arrive at the training base before Brees. He arrived at 7 a.m. and when he entered the base saw that Drew was already sitting in the video analysis room watching game footage of their future rival.

Just one fact speaks volumes about Brees’ toughness — in the history of the NFL, only nine times have quarterbacks finished a season above the 5,000-yard passing mark. On five of those nine occasions, it was Drew Brees.

Brees won the Super Bowl once while becoming the MVP, made the All-Pro team once and was named the NFL’s best offensive player of the season twice. Already this year, Brees will become the all-time record holder in NFL history for passing yards (Brees now has 70,445 yards, leader Peyton Manning has 71,940 yards). Also, Brees is the premier good guy in the league, who just can’t be hated no matter what team you root for.

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