Football is more than just a sport.

It’s a story of records, emotions, generations of players, and moments that transcend time.

First IFFHS Trophy Presentation - The World’s Best Referee 1987 - From left to right: Alexis Ponnet (Belgium) 2nd, Romualdo Arpi Filho (Brazil) 1987 winner, Luigi Agnolin (Italy) 3rd.

The Memory of World Football

Since 1984, the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) has made it its mission to preserve this memory and celebrate its greatest figures.

Its ambition is simple and essential: to document the history of the game and honor those who have shaped it.

President Pöge presents the IFFHS trophy for the GERMAN TOP GOALSCORER OF THE 20th CENTURY to Gerd Müller.

An institution founded to preserve the history of football

The IFFHS was founded on March 27, 1984, in Leipzig, Germany, by Alfredo Pöge, a journalist and football historian. From the outset, the Federation built an international network of sports journalists, statisticians, and football experts from numerous countries.

Their mission: to collect, analyze, and preserve the results, statistics, records, and archives of all national and international competitions worldwide.

Through this research and documentation work, the IFFHS traces the evolution of football from its origins in the 19th century to the modern era, constituting one of the most comprehensive archives of the world's most popular sport.

After the passing of its founder in 2012, the Federation continued its development under the impetus of Robert Ley, an IFFHS member since 1995, who helped strengthen its international influence.

From left to right: Sonia BOMPASTOR, Lionel MESSI, Hope SOLO, Gianluigi BUFFON, Zinedine ZIDANE, Cristiano RONALDO, Nadine KESSLER, MARTA Vieira da Silva and Robert Ley - IFFHS member since 1995.

A global benchmark for football analysis and awards

Each year, the IFFHS compiles international and continental rankings based on rigorous and transparent statistical criteria. These rankings identify the best clubs, players, coaches, and referees in global football.

The winners receive the prestigious IFFHS Awards, globally recognized for their independence, credibility, and integrity.

Over the years, these distinctions have become a benchmark for all stakeholders in international football.

IFFHS Trophy

IFFHS LEGEND : Celebrating Sporting Icons

In 2026, IFFHS opens a new chapter in its history with the creation of IFFHS LEGEND.

This exclusive collection pays tribute to the great figures of football and world sport through trophies and collectibles inspired by IFFHS's official awards.

This initiative is part of a broader vision supported by the Federation, also marked by:

- an international partnership with UNICEF,

- the organization of the IFFHS Children World Cup, a tournament dedicated to younger generations.

With IFFHS LEGEND, the story of football is no longer just told:

IT IS COLLECTED!
Discover the Founding Edition