I know, I know. You're probably either cringing at the use of "soccer" instead of football, or wondering how a sport that sometimes ends in 0-0 ties and isn't regularly broken up by beer commercials could possibly be the best in the world. But let's put all that aside for a minute and talk about why this game -- whatever you want to call it -- is hands down, without question, the greatest sport that ever was.
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1. First off, it's a global sport.Phillipe Lopez via Getty ImagesSoccer is the sport played most consistently around the world. It's not sectioned off or dominated by one particular country. According to FIFA's most recent Big Count survey, there are 265 million players actively involved in soccer around the world, roughly about 4 percent of the world's population. Sports like American football, on the other hand, are predominantly played and watched in only one country.
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2. And the rules are pretty damn simple.Goldmund Lukic via Getty ImagesGive or take a few offsides, corner kicks and yellow versus red card rules, it's just about getting the ball into the net without using your hands. What could be easier to understand than that?
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7. Most sports get an "offseason" -- soccer doesn't.Armend Nimani via Getty ImagesFor most top-flight players, there's a league season, a league cup, a club championship and international games all going on at once. If that's not enough, almost every summer there's an international cup or competition of some sort, not to mention friendlies and World Cup qualifying.
It's the sport that never ends. -
8. Meanwhile, World Cups bring the entire planet together.Jasper Juinen via Getty ImagesAnd basically give everyone one VERY important reason to party. The FIFA World Cup is the world's most widely viewed sports event. Around 715 million people watched the 2006 final match in Germany, while the 2010 South Africa event was broadcast to 204 countries on 245 different channels.
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9. And with all the international friendlies taking place, you can see top teams play without spending a fortune.Joern Pollex - FIFA via Getty ImagesA friendly is exactly what it sounds like: two teams playing "for fun" without any real consequence to their current standing. Because not everyone can afford World Cup prices.
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10. Mostly, it's just beautiful to watch.YouTubeIf you're a true fan, you remember Nike's Joga Bonito, or "Play Beautiful," campaign like it was yesterday.
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12. Soccer chants prove just how passionate fans are about this.YouTubeAnd they may, at times, even bring a tear to your eye. And you know that "Seven Nation Army" chant everyone does at sports games now? Guess who started that?
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14. Women kick ass in the game -- there's a women's World Cup that also gets crazy viewership numbers.And the women's game is just as exciting to watch as the men's. The 2011 Women's World Cup smashed viewership records, drawing hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. Soccer is also a huge draw in the Summer Olympics, and many countries have women's pro-leagues. The skill of these women isn't lost on their fans -- female footballers are some of the biggest celebs abroad.
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15. Sportsmanship is an important part of the culture.Getty Images via Getty ImagesAnd even though there are rivalries, players usually respect one another for their individual talents and love of the game. This becomes no more apparent than when you see players exchange jerseys after a good match.
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16. Soccer announcers are far superior to all other announcers in the sports world.YouTubeI mean, come on. You can hear the excitement in their exhausting "gooooaaaaal." If you need any more proof that they are by far the most passionate for their sport, just get to know Tiziano Crudelli.
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17. There are always new superstars whose fancy footwork or goal-scoring prowess seems to be a gift from the heavens.Messi & Beckham via Associated Press/Ronaldo via Adam Pretty for Getty Images/Zidane via Andalou Agency for Getty Inc.Many great ones have come and gone. This year, everyone will be watching Argentina's Lionel Messi, Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil's Neymar Jr. in hopes of witnessing the magic they'll most likely conjure up on the field.
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20. But most importantly, more people watch soccer than any other sport in the world.Associated PressWe're three billion strong and the most passionate fans on the planet. We can also be pretty damn coordinated, so be prepared for some craziness this summer.
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12 2002 World CupGetty ImagesULSAN, REPUBLIC OF KOREA: USA line up for a team photo, 21 June 2002 at the Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan, ahead of quarter-final action between Germany and USA in the 2002 FIFA World Cup Korea/Japan. From L above: Brad Friedel, AFP PHOTO/GREG WOOD (Photo credit should read GREG WOOD/AFP/Getty Images)
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8 2006 World CupGetty ImagesKaiserslautern, GERMANY: Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda gives a yellow card as US midfielder Landon Donovan (21), US forward Brian Mc Bride (20), and US midfielder Claudio Reyna react during the World Cup 2006 group E football match Italy vs USA, 17 June 2006 at Kaiserslautern stadium. AFP PHOTO / PATRICK HERTZOG (Photo credit should read PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images)
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7 2006 World CupGetty ImagesGelsenkirchen, GERMANY: Czech midfielder Pavel Nedved (R) vies with US midfielder DaMarcus Beasley during the World Cup 2006 group E football game Czech Republic vs.USA, 12 June 2006 in Gelsenkirchen. AFP PHOTO / KARIM JAAFAR (Photo credit should read KARIM JAAFAR/AFP/Getty Images)
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6 1950 World CupGetty ImagesEnglish midfielder Thomas Finney (C) tries to head the ball between American defenders Charlie Colombo and Walter Bahr 29 June 1950 in Belo Horizonte during the World Cup first-round match between England and the United States. Heavily-favored England was upset by the United States 1-0 on a goal scored by forward Joseph Gaetjens. AFP PHOTO (Photo credit should read STAFF/AFP/Getty Images)
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5 2002 World CupGetty ImagesDAEGU - JUNE 10: Clint Mathis of the USA celebrates scoring the opening goal during the FIFA World Cup Finals 2002 Group D match between South Korea and the USA played at the Daegu World Cup Stadium, in Daegu, South Korea on June 10, 2002. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. DIGITAL IMAGE. (Photo by Gary M. Prior/Getty Images)
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4 2010 World CupGetty ImagesRUSTENBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - JUNE 12: Clint Dempsey of the United States celebrates his goal during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa Group C match between England and USA at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium on June 12, 2010 in Rustenburg, South Africa. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
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1 1994 World CupGettyFILES,- JUNE 22: US national team defender Alexi Lalas jumps in the air 22 June 1994 as he celebrates after the US defeated Colombia in their World Cup match at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. The US won their match 2-1. (Photo credit should read PATRICK HERTZOG/AFP/Getty Images)
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