7-1. The score line between Germany and Brazil in the semifinals of the 2014 International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) World Cup that cost the host country its largest defeat ever. For two years “7×1” became a national symbol of humiliation, until this summer, when the two nations met again in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Ninety minutes of regulation and 30 minutes of added extra time could not decide a winner. So the game went to penalty kicks. It came down to the man who under immense national pressure, captained his country and carried Brazil on his shoulders through the whole tournament, Neymar Jr.

Walking the line of ultimate heartbreak and redemption, he converted his penalty kick and immediately fell to his knees, overcome by joy. This moment was not only added to football record books, but also to Brazil’s prideful national history. In the battle between soccer and American football, only one sport can carry this level of significance: futebol.
Soccer is simple. Whoever scores the most goals wins the game. However, putting the ball in the back of the net is easier said than done. Instant replays, penalty flags and hoards of equipment are not required to play. With a game so simple, it is easy to identify the elite from the amateur, the talented from the mediocre. This generation has witnessed some of the greatest of all time: Lionel Messi the magician, Philipp Lahm the little giant and Cristiano Ronaldo the superstar. The game highlights flashes of brilliance, allowing players of every position to have their moment in the spotlight. The massive crowds that show up to El Clasico, the Pacific Northwest rivalry and the North London derby always act accordingly. Cheers, dropped jaws and moments of speechlessness amplify the stadium atmosphere with every nutmeg, crossover and elastico.
Soccer allows for stories to be written. A tournament, a match, a single goal. Any one of these events can ignite media outlets and be displayed on the front cover of every newspaper. The greatest example of this was the 2011 FIFA Women’s World Cup Final in Germany between powerhouse United States of America (USA) and emerging talent Japan. Japan’s technical ability and simple triangular passing juxtaposed the USA’s physicality and athleticism. After 120 minutes of playing time, Japan was deemed the winner on penalty kicks. But it was so much more than just a game. Japan’s victory uplifted a broken nation from the devastating 2011 Fukushima nuclear meltdown and resultant tsunami devastation, and also sparked the development of women’s football across Asia. Additionally, it set up one of the greatest redemption arcs for the United States team, fueling their “score to settle” mentality which led them to victory at the 2015 Women’s World Cup in Canada. This sport allows for these almost cliché story arcs to be unfolded, allowing fans the greatest satisfaction when their team wins it all.
Soccer is everyone’s game. No matter gender, ethnicity and socioeconomic background, soccer is made accessible to everyone around the globe. Unlike a sport primarily enjoyed by fans in North America, soccer is the world’s game. Despite the constant struggle of interchanging between “soccer” and its true name “football,” the sport is emerging across the United States and is already prominent in cities such as Portland, Oregon and Orlando, Florida. Whether the playing field is a concrete pitch in the backstreets of São Paulo, or in the 81,000 capacity Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, the location of the final of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the perfect blend of competition and camaraderie radiates off every single player, coach and spectator. Therefore, when it comes down to it, football versus football, the winner is obvious. Only one is nicknamed “the beautiful game.”