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World Football Day celebrates the power of football to unite people across cultures, nations, and backgrounds.
Lionel Messi (from left) and Cristiano Ronaldo are widely regarded as two of the greatest footballers of the 21st century.
World Football Day 2025: Last year, the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to recognise May 25 as World Football Day. In 2024, the day marked the 100th anniversary of the first international football tournament featuring teams from all regions.
Football, known as soccer in the United States, made its Olympic debut in Paris in 1924. This annual celebration is meant to honour the global impact of football as a unifying sport. It also sheds light on the role of football in promoting peace, development and women’s empowerment. The day encourages all countries to celebrate the value of the sport through special events and competitions.
Football traces its roots to ancient civilisations, with early versions of the game being played in China, Greece, and Rome. The modern version, however, emerged in 19th-century England, when official rules first came into place, leading to the foundation of the Football Association in 1863.
World Football Day 2025: History
From dusty fields to state-of-the-art stadiums, football has now grown into a global passion, with tournaments like the FIFA World Cup uniting nations and cultures. The proposal to designate May 25 as World Football Day was put forward by Libya’s ambassador to the United Nations, Taher El-Sonni. The initiative received widespread support, with over 160 UN member states showing a thumbs-up to the resolution.
While presenting the proposal, Ambassador El-Sonni highlighted football’s global reach, emphasising its presence in communities of all sizes—from small villages to major cities. He also admitted it to be the most popular sport in the world.
World Football Day 2025: Significance
World Football Day celebrates the power of football to unite people across cultures, nations, and backgrounds. The sport promotes teamwork, fair play, and mutual respect, while also driving social inclusion, community development, and peace-building efforts. It also honours football’s cultural impact and its ability to inspire youth and encourage healthy lifestyles.
World Football Day 2025: Top 10 Footballers In 21st Century
- Lionel Messi
- Cristiano Ronaldo
- Ronaldinho
- Thierry Henry
- Ronaldo Nazario
- Zinedine Zidane
- Andres Iniesta
- Luka Modric
- Xavi Hernandez
- Toni kroos
World Football Day 2025: Quotes
- “Football is the only sport where you put people together, it doesn’t matter if you are rich or poor, black,or white. It is one nation. This is the beauty of football.”- UNESCO GOODWILL AMBASSADO
- “With United, we’d all grown up together, we all wanted to win the biggest trophy in football. We did it together.”- David Beckham, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
- “I have benefited first-hand from the power of sports to lead a healthy life, and I am committed to working with WHO to share such gains worldwide.”- Didier Drogba, World Health Organisation’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health
- “If you are determined and confident, there is nothing in this great existence that can stop you from achieving what you want.”- Zinedine Zidane, UNDP Goodwill Ambassador
- “Football unites the world. I want every girl to have the opportunity to be her most determined, accomplished, joyful self.”- Marta Vieira da Silva, UN Women Goodwill Ambassador for women and girls in sport.
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