Fun facts

Brazil is the only country to have participated in every World Cup since 1930.

Germany has been in eight World Cup finals — more than any other country.

The Netherlands lost three World Cup finals (1974, 1978 and 2010) and never became world champions.

Uruguay won the very first World Cup in 1930 — with only thirteen participating countries.

Four-time world champions Italy did not qualify for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups.

Morocco became the first African country ever to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2022.

South Korea became the first Asian country to reach a World Cup semi-final in 2002.

Croatia immediately finished third in its World Cup debut in 1998.

Just Fontaine scored 13 goals at the 1958 World Cup — still the record for a single tournament.

Miroslav Klose is the all-time top scorer in World Cup finals with 16 goals.

Spain won a record four European Championship titles (1964, 2008, 2012 and 2024).

Spain was the first country to win two European Championships in a row (2008 and 2012).

Greece won Euro 2004 as a complete outsider — the only major title in its history.

Denmark became European champions in 1992 after being admitted to the tournament only ten days before it started.

The 1988 European Championship is still the only major final victory for the Dutch national team.

Portugal won both the European Championship (2016) and twice the Nations League (2019 and 2025).

Real Madrid won the first five editions of the European Cup I in a row (1956–1960).

Real Madrid is the record winner of the European Cup I / Champions League with fifteen titles.

Juventus lost seven European Cup/CL finals — a negative record.

Ajax won the European Cup I three years in a row (1971, 1972 and 1973).

Feyenoord was the first Dutch winner of the European Cup I in 1970.

The Netherlands produced three different European Cup I winners: Feyenoord, Ajax and PSV.

In the 2005 CL final, Liverpool came back from 0–3 against AC Milan and won ('Miracle of Istanbul').

Steaua Bucharest (1986) and Red Star Belgrade (1991) are the only Eastern European European Cup I winners.

Nottingham Forest won the European Cup I twice (1979 and 1980) — one of the biggest upsets in history.

Cristiano Ronaldo is the first player ever with more than 200 international caps (226).

Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in international football (men).

Lionel Messi is the only player to have won eight Ballons d'Or.

Pelé is the only player to have won three World Cup titles (1958, 1962 and 1970).

Marta is the all-time top scorer at World Cups with 17 goals — among both women and men.

Kristine Lilly played 354 international matches: the world record for both men and women.

Bayern Munich won eleven Bundesliga titles in a row (2013–2023) — a record for a top European league.

Juventus won nine Serie A titles in a row (2012–2020).