Soccer, also known as football in most parts of the world, was not invented at a single point in time or by a single person. It evolved over many centuries from various early forms of ball games played in different ancient civilizations.

• The earliest known soccer-like games date back to ancient times, including ancient China during the Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) where a game called "cuju" was played involving kicking a ball into a net.
• Ancient Greeks also had a game called "episkyros" around the 3rd century BCE, which involved teams kicking or throwing a ball to score.
• In medieval Europe, especially England, various rough forms of football were played from around the 12th and 13th centuries during festivals, often with local variations and few standardized rules.
• The modern form of soccer with standardized rules began in England in the 19th century. The Football Association (FA) standardized the "Laws of the Game" in 1863, marking an important moment in organizing and regulating soccer into the sport known today. The first official soccer game under these rules was played in December 1863.
• Ebenezer Cobb Morley is often called the "father of soccer" for his role in creating the first official rules in England, although the sport itself was not invented by any single individual.

In summary, soccer's origins are ancient and multicultural, with formalization happening in England in the mid-19th century. The sport gradually evolved from ancient ball games to the global game now known worldwide.