Soccer Quiz with Answers: Test Yourself and Learn

Cameroon became the first African nation to reach the quarterfinals of a FIFA World Cup at the 1990 tournament in Italy. Led by the legendary Roger Milla, who came out of retirement to represent his country at age 38, Cameroon defeated Argentina in the opening match before progressing to the last eight. Milla became one of the most celebrated figures of that tournament, dancing around the corner flag after each of his goals in a moment that captivated the world.

Manchester City won an historic treble in the 2022-23 season under Pep Guardiola, claiming the Premier League title, the FA Cup, and the UEFA Champions League in the same campaign. They defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the Champions League final in Istanbul, with Rodri scoring the only goal. It was City's first ever UEFA Champions League title and completed one of the most successful single seasons in English football history.

FIFA permanently introduced the rule allowing teams to make up to five substitutions per match in 2022, following a temporary adoption of the rule during the COVID-19 pandemic. Teams are permitted a maximum of three opportunities or windows to make their five substitutions, excluding halftime. The rule was designed to help manage player workload across increasingly congested fixture schedules at the top level of the professional game.

The answer is True. Stanley Matthews of England was the first ever recipient of the Ballon d Or award in 1956, when the prize was created by the French magazine France Football. Matthews was 41 years old when he received the award, making him the oldest winner in the history of the prize. Known as the Wizard of the Dribble, Matthews played top-level professional football until the age of 50 and is regarded as one of the most gifted wingers English football has ever produced.

The answer is False. The Ballon d Or is an award given annually to the best male soccer player in the world, as voted by journalists from around the globe. A separate award called the Ballon d Or Feminin was introduced to recognize the best female player. The male Ballon d Or was first awarded in 1956, with Stanley Matthews of England being the inaugural winner. Lionel Messi holds the record for the most wins with eight awards as of 2023.

Corinthians of Brazil won the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2000, defeating Vasco da Gama in the final on home soil. The tournament brought together club champions from six different confederations and was hosted in Brazil. Corinthians are one of the most popular clubs in South America and their victory in the first edition of the competition remains one of the defining moments in the club's history.

Petr Cech holds the all-time Premier League record for clean sheets, having kept 202 shutouts across his career in the competition. The Czech goalkeeper spent the majority of his Premier League career at Chelsea, where he won four league titles and the UEFA Champions League in 2012, before moving to Arsenal in 2015. Cech was renowned for his exceptional reflexes, command of his penalty area, and his professionalism throughout a career that spanned more than a decade at the highest level.

Inter Milan won the UEFA Champions League in 2010 under Jose Mourinho, defeating Bayern Munich 2-0 in the final in Madrid. The victory completed an historic treble of the Serie A title, the Coppa Italia, and the Champions League in the same season. Mourinho became only the third manager in history at the time to win the Champions League with two different clubs, having previously won it with Porto in 2004. The achievement is widely regarded as the peak of Mourinho's managerial career.

The UEFA Champions League final is held at a pre-selected neutral venue chosen by UEFA. The trophy is officially called the European Champion Clubs Cup, though it is widely known by its nickname. The winning captain traditionally lifts the trophy on the pitch in a ceremonial presentation. A replay is not held if the match ends level after extra time. Instead, a penalty shootout is used to determine the winner, making option B incorrect.

Ajax won the UEFA Champions League in 1995 with one of the most celebrated young squads in the competition's history, defeating AC Milan 1-0 in the final in Vienna. The winning goal was scored by Patrick Kluivert as a substitute. The squad also featured Edgar Davids, Clarence Seedorf, Marc Overmars, and Edwin van der Sar, most of whom were sold to major European clubs in the seasons that followed, ending Ajax's period of continental dominance.

The answer is True. Didier Drogba scored a dramatic headed equalizer in the 88th minute of the 2012 UEFA Champions League final against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena in Munich, rescuing Chelsea when they appeared certain to lose. Chelsea went on to win the match on penalties, with Drogba converting the winning spot kick. The performance cemented Drogba's legacy as one of Chelsea's greatest ever players and one of the most clutch performers in Champions League final history.

Just Fontaine of France scored a remarkable 13 goals in just six matches at the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden, a record that remains unbroken as of 2025. Fontaine averaged more than two goals per match across the entire tournament and finished as the top scorer by a considerable margin. Despite France finishing in third place, Fontaine's extraordinary individual performance is one of the most impressive goal-scoring feats in the history of international football.

The three points for a win rule was introduced at the 1994 FIFA World Cup, replacing the previous system of two points for a win. The change was designed to encourage more attacking and positive football by making victories significantly more valuable than draws in the standings. The rule rewarded teams who played to win rather than settling for a point through defensive play and quickly became standard across all major competitions worldwide.

The Golden Boot is awarded to the top scorer of each FIFA World Cup. If two or more players finish level on goals, assists and then minutes played are used as tiebreakers. Just Fontaine of France scored 13 goals at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, a record that still stands as of 2025. The Golden Boot was not awarded at the 1930 World Cup, as the formal prize was introduced later in the tournament's history, making option D incorrect.

The answer is True. UEFA abolished the away goals rule in 2021, ending a system that had been in place since 1965. Under the old rule, if two teams were tied on aggregate after two legs of a knockout tie, the team that had scored more goals away from home would progress. UEFA determined that the rule unfairly disadvantaged home teams in the second leg and discouraged attacking football. The change was widely welcomed across European club football.