Football, also known as soccer, is the world's most popular sport played between two teams of 11 players using a spherical ball. It is played in over 200 countries and attracts billions of viewers. The sport has a long history dating back to ancient China but the modern game arose in England in the 19th century. Major football leagues and governing bodies like FIFA were later established to organize and regulate the game globally, leading to the highly popular World Cup competition held every four years. Some of the most famous footballers over history include Pelé, Maradona, Messi, and Ronaldo.