Records trace the origins of the sport back more than 2,000 ... further back to old Mesoamerican cultures - but 'football' or 'soccer' as we know it today has its roots in 19th century England.

Al Nassr's Cristiano Ronaldo is awarded the Best Middle Eastern Player award at the 2024 Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, December 27, 2024. Globe Soccer/Handout via REUTERS "Of ...