No single person can be credited with inventing soccer, as it evolved from multiple ancient games like Tsu’ Chu, Kemari, Episkyros, and Harpastum. However, Ebenezer Cobb Morley played a significant role in creating unified rules as the first secretary of the FA.

In England, Ebenezer Cobb Morley is believed to have invented soccer. His invention is attributed to the fact that he is one of the original fathers of the Football Association and modern football. He wrote to the Bells Life Newspaper proposing governance of a body for the sport that would be responsible for setting its standard rules.

The Chinese were the first to get their kicks by kicking balls into nets for sport in the third century B.C., and the game known globally as football was formalized in England in the 19th century. But the predecessor of most modern ball games can be found in the Americas. (See vintage pictures of soccer players around the world.)