Is soccer the best?

As a sports enthusiast with a deep appreciation for the diversity of athletic pursuits, I believe that determining whether soccer is the "best" is a matter of personal preference and depends on various factors such as cultural significance, global reach, and individual enjoyment. Soccer, also known as football in many parts of the world, is indeed a sport with a massive global following. Its widespread popularity is evident in the sheer number of participants and fans. The FIFA Big Count survey you mentioned highlights the impressive statistic of 265 million players, which underscores the sport's ubiquity and accessibility. However, the "best" sport can be subjective and may vary from person to person. Some might value the strategic complexity of chess, the physical demands of rugby, the grace of gymnastics, or the precision of archery. Each sport has its unique appeal and contributes to the rich tapestry of global athletic culture. In conclusion, while soccer is undoubtedly one of the most popular sports on the planet, whether it is the best is a question that each individual must answer for themselves based on their own interests and values.

Soccer is the sport played most consistently around the world. It's not sectioned off or dominated by one particular country. According to FIFA's most recent Big Count survey, there are 265 million players actively involved in soccer around the world, roughly about 4 percent of the world's population.