Foosball was invented due to the popularity of football many years ago. Today, the tabletop game which was designed for people to play football in their homes is a regulated sport played in many countries.
In this article, we’ll talk the top 5 best foosball players in the world today.
Learning the History and Origin of Foosball
With its growing popularity, it is a bit strange that different countries call different names to this tabletop game.
In the United Kingdom, it is called the “Table Football” while in France, it is fondly called the “Baby Foot”.
In other parts of Eastern Europe, it is called the “Kicker” which was influenced by one of the first company that produced Foosball’s game table.
In Spain, it is called the “Futbolin” while in the United States, it is called “Foosball” which was borrowed from the German word “Fuzbol”.
The history and the origin of this tabletop game are somehow confusing with many individuals claiming to have invented the game.
Nobody was sure who invented it, but some historians claimed that it started as a parlor game in the 1880’s played in different parts of Eastern Europe.
An automobile engineer in France named Lucien Rosengard insisted to develop the game in order to entertain his grandchildren during the winter.
Alexandre De Fiesterra claimed to have made the idea while he was in the hospital recovering from the injuries he sustained in the Spanish civil war.
One thing is for sure, Harold Searles Thorton from the United Kingdom was the earliest known patent to claim the invention of the game as he submitted his claim on October 14, 1921.
His application was accepted two years later on November 1, 1923.
Foosball as a Regulated Sport
With the tabletop game’s increasing popularity, Lawrence Patterson brought Foosball to the United States in the 1950’s.
Foosball became a massive hit and reached its pinnacle in the United States in the 1970’s.
During this period, the game was so popular that it could be found in pool halls and bars in many places in the US.
In the year 2002, the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF) was formed in France with the aim of promoting and regulating the Foosball as a sports body.
The sports association is responsible for regulating international competitions and bringing the game closer to the people.
ITSF is also working together with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the General Association of International Sports Federation (GAISF).
Also read: how to play foosball like a pro
The 5 Best Foosball Players in the World Today
Competitions in Foosball became popular in bars, pubs, and even in schools using different sets of independent rules.
Official competitions in the national level were first recorded in Europe in 1940’s using organized rules.
However, it was in 1976 when Lee Peppard, known as the father of modern professional table soccer, organized the first professional tour and big money event dubbed as the “Quarter Million Dollar Tour”.
Many organizations and promoters followed him, holding large money events worldwide as the popularity of the sport continues to reach greater heights.
Today, under the regulation of the International Table Soccer Federation (ITSF), regular competitions and international events are held including the annual World Championships and the World Cup.
Ranking of the best players will be computed with points awarded to the winner of these events.
Please find the top 5 best Foosball players in the world today based on their ranking in ITSF:
Number 1: Tony Spredeman
The current top-ranked Foosball player in the world today with 655 points based on the ranking of the ITSF is Tony Spredeman.
The American is a multiple world champion and is also a consistent top rank player in the doubles competition.
He has won several World Championships including the Tornado Worlds Championships in 2008.
Number 2: Todd Loffredo
The second-ranked player with 644 points is also an American. Born in 1961, 1.
Todd Loffredo is considered a legend among his contemporaries as he has been playing the game for several years already.
Among his famous achievement was winning the Master Title in 2003, becoming the first three-peat winner of the event.
He is also a consistent World Champion in the double category.
Number 3: Miguel Dos Santos Lote
Currently ranked third with 614 points in the updated ITSF ranking, the 27-year-old Frenchman is a two-time champion in the ITSF World Championship Series, having won back to back in 2013 and 2014.
Number 4: Sebastien Meckes
Another Frenchman is in the top foosball player in the world today. He has currently garnered a total of 596 points in all the competitions he participated this year.
Number 5: Olivier Covos
The fifth-ranked Foosball player is again from France. This 41-year-old player has currently got 558 points in the ITSF ranking in all the tournaments he has participated this year.
How to Play Foosball
A normal Foosball game is a race to 5 points or goals. The first team to score 5 points wins the game. Rules may differ depending on the competition format.
Please find below the rules and tips when playing the game:
Start
To determine who serves first, a coin toss is made.
The Serve
The coin toss decides who gets the first serve. The last team to score a goal gets the serve again.
Offensive 5 – Bar – Passing
Spinning is not allowed and the player has 10 seconds limitation to shoot or pass.
The objective is to pass the ball surpassing your opponent’s 5-bar and your 3-bar is in the catch position.
Offensive 3 – Bar – Passing
Again, spinning is not allowed and the player has 10 seconds to shoot. Move the ball between your men and aim for the goal.
Defensive 5 – Bar
The objective is to keep the ball from opponent’s striker row. Keep your man on the front of the ball at all times.
Defensive Zone – Blocking
The middleman on the defensive 3 – bar and a man on the 2 – bar should be used as a defensive unit.
The outside men of the 3 – bar should be used for digging the ball out of the corners and maneuvering the ball.
Defensive Zone – Clearing
Again, no spinning and the player has 10 seconds to clear the ball.
No need to shoot on goal as the purpose is to clear the ball by looking on passing holes on the sides of the table.
Stop!
The first team to reach 5 points wins the game.
Conclusion
As mentioned above, Foosball was invented because of the popularity of football decades ago.
It was primarily designed so that football fans can play their favorite game at the comfort of their homes.
Foosball has come a long way as it is now a regulated sport with professional players playing for big prizes.
The ITSF is the game’s governing body that regulates the competition and events that is played throughout the year. It also compiles ranking points that determine the 5 best Foosball players in the world today.
