Football is shocking. It’s so shocking that people have been known to literally lose their minds while doing football. I don’t have to prove that statement to you, it’s just a publicly acknowledged fact. Here are 25 football things that’ll have you looking like Phil Jones defending a lofted through ball by the time you’ve finished reading.
25 Crazy Football Facts That'll Shock Your Socks Off
#1. Thomas Muller is only 27 years old. The six-time Bundesliga winner and 85-time German international is really just getting started.
Thomas Muller scoring for Germany at the 2010 World Cup. Photo: @Bayern_mania | Twitter
#2. Charlie Adam is only 31. He's actually younger than Cristiano Ronaldo. Like Muller, the Scotsman is just getting started.
The great Charlie Adam vs. Cristiano Ronaldo debate will never end. Photo: @BetinKenya | Twitter
#3. Franck Ribery is already 34, but it seems like he was the Ligue 1 Young Player of the Year only yesterday — that was back in 2006. Where has the time gone, Riblets?
Old Man Riblets. Photo: @FranckRibery | Twitter
#4. Cristiano Ronaldo is the leading active international goalscorer with 75. Lionel Messi is second with 58. Clint Dempsey is third with 56.
From Nacogdoches, Texas to the top of the world. Photo: @jiceggermont | Twitter
#5. Former Inter Milan, Newcastle United and Seattle Sounders striker Obafemi Martins plays for Shanghai Greenland Shenhua in the Chinese Super League.
The next Michael Owen. Photo: @Obo89 | Twitter
#6. Andre Villas-Boas makes £11 million-a-year coaching Shanghai SIPG in the CSL.
The OG Don Juan. Photo: @SportpesaNews | Twitter
#7. The only team to finish the 2010 World Cup undefeated was New Zealand. They drew with defending champions Italy at that tournament.
#8. Costa Rica never lost a match in regular or extra time at the 2014 World Cup. They were eliminated in the quarterfinals by the Netherlands in a penalty shoot-out.
#9. Brazil had more shots (18-14), shots on target (13-12) and possession (52-48) than Germany in their 1-7 defeat in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.
David Luiz celebrates Brazil's statistical advantage. Photo: @TeamFA | Twitter
#10. Memphis Depay has a Jigglypuff tattoo, and he's married to Steve Harvey's daughter.
Jiiiiiggglyyypuuuff Jiiggglyypufff. Photo: @minishlad | Twitter
#11. Between 1961 and 1984, Barcelona won La Liga once — the 1973-74 season.
It wasn't always like this. Photo: @BarcaNaija | Twitter
#12. Norway has played Brazil four times, they’ve won two and drawn two.
Bring on Brazil. Photo: @SquawkaNews | Twitter
#13. The transfer of Gaizka Mendieta from Valencia to Lazio (€48m) was more than what Real Madrid payed for Brazilian Ronaldo (€46m) and Manchester City for Sergio Aguero (€45m).
Gaizka Mendieta played in 20 Serie A matches for Lazio. Photo: @SuperbFootyPics | Twitter
#14. Jozy Altidore is only six caps away from breaking into the top 10 all-time for the USMNT. He's also third all-time in goals scored. He's only 27.
Altidore could go down as the best ever. Photo: @GQMagazine | Twitter
#15. Honduras took third at the 2001 Copa America, dumping Brazil out in the quarterfinals.
Brazil, of course, would then win the 2002 World Cup. Photo: @CONCACAF | Twitter
#16. Guadeloupe took fourth at the 2007 CONCACAF Gold Cup. Guadeloupe is an overseas department of France and not a country.
One of Frances' finer overseas regions. Photo: @caribbeanftbl | Twitter
#17. Gary Lineker s**t himself in England’s opening match at the 1990 World Cup against Ireland. He stayed on until the 83rd minute.
#18. ENGLAND CREATED THE WORD SOCCER. ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL ——> ASSOC FOOTBALL ——> SOCCER. THEY DID THAT ABBREVIATION.
#19. The greatest international goalscorer of all-time, without a shadow of a doubt, is Argentina’s Guillermo Stabile. In four World Cup matches for La Albiceleste, he scored eight goals.
Stabile didn't set personal goals. Personal goals set Guillermo Stabiles. Photo: jptaborda74 | Twitter
#20. A "Space Clause" was put in Stefan Schwarz’s contract upon signing for Sunderland saying he couldn’t travel to space. One of the Swede’s advisors had booked a place on one of the first commercial flights to space, so Sunderland made sure that Schwarz wouldn’t be traveling with him.
"Buddy, I'm going to space." "Hmmm?" Photo: @PAdugout | Twitter
#21. Jack Rodwell went three years, eight months and 29 days without winning a Premier League match in which he started — a winless run of 39 games.
Jack Rodwell — The Vincible. Photo: @BelTel_Sport | Twitter
#22. Jesus Navas, signed by Manchester City for £14.9 million in 2013, ended his City career without a goal in more than 103 hours of EPL football — 115 matches.
Jesus Navas made Raheem Sterling look like Pele. Photo: @FootgossEuro | Twitter
#23. Mario Balotelli has only one Premier League assist — this one.
#24. Honduran Alex Pineda Chacon won the 2001 MLS MVP award with 19 goals in 25 matches for the Miami Fusion. The team then folded, and Chacon played for the New England Revolution, LA Galaxy and Columbus Crew over the next two seasons, totaling two goals in 34 matches.
2001 MLS MVP Alex Pineda Chacon. Photo: @FranciscoRiva25 | Twitter
#25. Three teams have never been relegated from the Spanish Primera Division: Real Madrid, FC Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao
Athletic Bilbao's San Mames. Photo: @BobStarkey3 | Twitter
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