BigSoccer

{{Short description|Internet forum}} {{Advert|date=December 2013}} {{Infobox website | name = BigSoccer | favicon = | logo = <!-- Deleted image removed: BigSoccer logo --> | screenshot = | caption = | url = http://www.bigsoccer.com/ | commercial = | type = Internet forum | registration = 150,000 | owner = Big Internet Group LLC | author = Jesse Hertzberg | launch_date = 2000 | current_status = Active | revenue = undisclosed }} '''BigSoccer.com''' is a soccer-related Internet forum in the United States. The site has more than 150,000 registered users and had over 1.2 million unique visitors during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Forty percent of the site's traffic comes from outside the United States, with the site having particular popularity in Canada, Mexico, United Kingdom, Australia and Germany.

==History== ===First years=== Founded by Jesse Hertzberg as personal hobby in 1995 with Ethan Beard joining in 1997, the site was originally located at www.inch.com/~huss and was created in the wake of the 1994 FIFA World Cup in the United States and in anticipation of the launch of Major League Soccer (which eventually was delayed from 1995 to 1996). The site was used to post links to MLS and US Soccer related news, with a particular focus on his local MLS team in New York (soon to be announced as the MetroStars, now known as the New York Red Bulls).

In the beginning, a significant number of BigSoccer posters came from the North American Soccer (NAS) listserv. In the early to mid-90s, the NAS list was one of the best sources of information and one of the few opportunities for community for supporters of the United States men's national soccer team. With the advent of MLS, the NAS list soon sprouted listservs for many of the teams in the new league as well. As the "bulletin board" technology advanced, the listservs soon faded away.

The site evolved in two directions, becoming two distinct sites, MetroFan.com and SoccerBoards.com (which evolved into the current BigSoccer.com). While MetroFan continued to focus on the local MLS squad and eventually evolved into MetroFanatic.com, SoccerBoards invited other MLS fan clubs to join an interactive forum where they could share news, gossip, opinions, etc. about their local MLS side, the league, and US Soccer, as well other soccer teams and leagues around the world.

===Recent years=== SoccerBoards continued to be a hobby for its founders until 2000, when, with financial backing from StarMedia Network, the business was renamed BigSoccer and became a full-time endeavor. The company acquired Matchday USA, a soccer magazine and online retailer, later that year. Though the magazine was subsequently shut down, the retail operations have grown substantially and today the BigSoccer Shop, in partnership with 365 and Eurosport, carries over 10,000 products from dozens of countries and hundreds of teams.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-12-28 |title=Top 35 Soccer Forums in 2025 |url=https://forums.feedspot.com/soccer_forums/ |access-date=2025-05-06 |website=FeedSpot for Forum Lists and Online Message Boards |language=en-US}}</ref>

In addition to NAS, many smaller online soccer communities migrated to BigSoccer. These include Soccer America Graffiti.

===Impact in American soccer=== BigSoccer, described by Richard Deitsch of SI.com as "arguably the nerve center of American soccer",<ref> {{cite news |last=Deitsch |first=Richard |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/richard_deitsch/07/20/media.arena/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060811204752/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/richard_deitsch/07/20/media.arena/index.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=August 11, 2006 |title=Vocal Coach |publisher=SI.com |date=2006-07-20 |accessdate=2007-01-18 }}</ref> is read by prominent members of the American soccer community, including players, officials and coaches, as well as members of the media.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-07-01 |title=Terms and Conditions |url=https://betjee1.com/terms-and-conditions/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241005004947/https://betjee1.com/terms-and-conditions/ |archive-date=2024-10-05 |access-date=2025-05-06 |work=Betjee |language=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref>

Former Chicago Fire general manager Peter Wilt regularly used the site to communicate with the club's supporters, and D.C. United senior vice president Stephen Zack does the same.<ref> {{cite news |last=Hruby |first=Patrick |url=http://www.washtimes.com/sports/20030521-125924-1233r.htm |title=It came from the message boards |publisher=The Washington Times |date=2003-05-21 |accessdate=2007-01-18 }}</ref> Former US national team head coach Bruce Arena, who was introduced to BigSoccer by his successor Bob Bradley, said the site "helps me with some reports from Guatemala. I can find out more about their team over the Internet than just about any other way."<ref> {{cite news |last=Wahl |first=Grant |url=http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2000/09/06/wahl_insider/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010413171304/http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/inside_game/grant_wahl/news/2000/09/06/wahl_insider/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=April 13, 2001 |title=Hankinson: A latter-day Dick Howser? |publisher=SI.com |date=2000-09-07 |accessdate=2007-01-18 }}</ref> And in October 2006, Major League Soccer commissioner Don Garber invited BigSoccer readers to submit questions, and his answers, whose subjects ranged from the league's marketing strategy to expansion, were posted on the site.<ref> {{cite news |last=Bell |first=Jack |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/11/sports/soccer/11soccer.html |title=Wait May Be Solution, Not Obstacle, for U.S. |work=New York Times |date=2006-10-11 |accessdate=2007-01-18 }}</ref><ref> {{cite news |last= |first= |url=http://www.bigsoccer.com/forum/showthread.php?t=419851 |title=The Answers |publisher=BigSoccer |date=2006-10-06 |accessdate=2007-01-18 }}</ref>

==Partnerships==

* In 2003, BigSoccer partnered with News Corporation's Fox Sports World to become the network's official online community provider. The relationship was terminated in 2004.<ref>{{cite press release |title=Fox Sports World, the Home of World Class Soccer, Launches an All-New Web Site: www.foxsportsworld.lycos.com |publisher=Fox Sports World |date=2003-03-05 |url=http://www.emailwire.com/news/spo3434.shtml |accessdate=2007-01-19 |quote=With the launch of its new site, FoxSportsWorld.com also teams up with BigSoccer, North America's premier soccer online community, to combine FoxSportsWorld.com content with BigSoccer's popular message board services to serve and encourage the growing community of soccer fans in the United States. |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20061118015559/http://emailwire.com/news/spo3434.shtml |archivedate=2006-11-18 }}</ref> * In August 2006, BigSoccer launched a partnership with Major League Soccer, to become the official supplier of online community tools to the league's and teams' official websites.

==Awards== In 2022, BigSoccer users elected the best players in history, annually from 1870 until 2021 via a panel consensus. The awards were dubbed as a ''revisited'' Ballon d'Or.<ref>[https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/ballon-dor-awards-revisited-by-bigsoccer-users.2119696/ - Nominees 1872-2021 - bigsoccer.com]</ref> Criteria were: *A player's performances (individual and collective) duringa calendar year, his record of achievements *Class (talent and fair play) *Career and charisma

Results are as below:<br> ''Source: [https://shop.bigsoccer.com/threads/ballon-dor-awards-revisited-by-bigsoccer-users.2119696/page-107 Consensus]''

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=== 1870s=== *1870: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Arthur Kinnaird *1871: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Charles W. Alcock *1872: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Charles W. Alcock (2) *1873: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Arthur Kinnaird (2) *1874: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jerry Weir *1875: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Harry McNeil *1886: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Billy MacKinnon *1877: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jerry Weir (2) *1878: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Harry McNeil (2) *1879: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Norman Bailey

=== 1880s=== *1880: {{Flag icon|SCO}} George Ker *1881: {{Flag icon|SCO}} George Ker (2) *1882: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Andrew Watson *1883: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Andrew Holm *1884: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Walter Arnott *1885: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Nevill Cobbold *1886: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Nick Ross *1887: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Archie Hunter *1888: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Nick Ross (2) *1889: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jack Gordon

=== 1890s=== *1890: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jimmy Ross *1891: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Edgar Chadwick *1892: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Billy Bassett *1893: {{Flag icon|SCO}} John Campbell *1894: {{Flag icon|ENG}} John Reynolds *1895: {{Flag icon|SCO}} John Campbell (2) *1896: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Gilbert Oswald Smith *1897: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Ernest Needham *1898: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Ernest Needham (2) *1899: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Robert Hamilton

=== 1900s=== *1900: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Alexander Smith *1901: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Bobby Walker *1902: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Ned Doig *1903: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Bobby Walker (2) *1904: {{Flag icon|WAL}} Billy Meredith *1905: {{Flag icon|WAL}} Billy Meredith *1906: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Alex Raisbeck *1907: {{Flag icon|WAL}} Billy Meredith *1908: {{Flag icon|WAL}} Billy Meredith *1909: {{Flag icon|WAL}} Billy Meredith (5)

=== 1910s=== *1910: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jimmy McMenemy *1911: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Charlie Roberts *1912: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Bob Crompton *1913: {{Flag icon|ENG}} George Holley *1914: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Jimmy McMenemy (2) *1915: {{Flag icon|EIR}} Patsy Gallacher *1916: {{Flag icon|EIR}} Patsy Gallacher (2) *1917: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Imre Schlosser *1918: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Alfred Schaffer *1919: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Alfred Schaffer (2)

=== 1920s=== *1920: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Gyorgy Orth *1921: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Gyorgy Orth (2) *1922: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Manuel Seoane *1923: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Alan Morton *1924: {{Flag icon|URU}} Jose Leandro Andrade *1925: {{Flag icon|URU}} Hector Scarone *1926: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Alex Jackson *1927: {{Flag icon|CZE}} Karel Pesek *1928: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Dixie Dean *1929: {{Flag icon|SCO}} Alan Morton (2)

=== 1930s=== *1930: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Giuseppe Meazza *1931: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Raimundo Orsi *1932: {{Flag icon|AUT}} Matthias Sindelar *1933: {{Flag icon|AUT}} Matthias Sindelar (2) *1934: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Giuseppe Meazza *1935: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Gyorgy Sarosi *1936: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Giuseppe Meazza (3) *1937: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Gyorgy Sarosi *1938: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Gyorgy Sarosi (3) *1939: {{Flag icon|PAR}} Arsenio Erico

=== 1940s=== *1940: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Leonidas *1941: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Jose Manuel Moreno *1942: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Jose Manuel Moreno (2) *1943: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Zizinho *1944: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Zizinho (2) *1945: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Rinaldo Martino *1946: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Adolfo Pedernera *1947: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Valentino Mazzola *1948: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Stanley Matthews *1949: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Ademir de Menezes

=== 1950s=== *1950: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Ademir de Menezes (2) *1951: {{Flag icon|SWE}} Gunnar Nordahl *1952: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Ferenc Puskas *1953: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Ferenc Puskas *1954: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Sandor Kocsis *1955: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Alfredo Di Stefano *1956: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Alfredo Di Stefano *1957: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Alfredo Di Stefano *1958: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele *1959: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Alfredo Di Stefano (4)

=== 1960s=== *1960: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Ferenc Puskas (3) *1961: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele *1962: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Garrincha *1963: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele *1964: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele *1965: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele *1966: {{Flag icon|POR}} Eusebio *1967: {{Flag icon|HUN}} Florian Albert *1968: {{Flag icon|Northern Ireland}} George Best *1969: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Gianni Rivera

=== 1970s=== *1970: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Pele (6) *1971: {{Flag icon|NED}} Johan Cruyff *1972: {{Flag icon|NED}} Johan Cruyff *1973: {{Flag icon|NED}} Johan Cruyff *1974: {{Flag icon|NED}} Johan Cruyff (4) *1975: {{Flag icon|USSR}} Oleg Blokhin *1976: {{Flag icon|GER}} Franz Beckenbauer *1977: {{Flag icon|ENG}} Kevin Keegan *1978: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Mario Kempes *1979: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Diego Maradona

=== 1980s=== *1980: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Diego Maradona *1981: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Zico *1982: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Zico (2) *1983: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Michel Platini *1984: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Michel Platini *1985: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Michel Platini (3) *1986: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Diego Maradona *1987: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Diego Maradona (4) *1988: {{Flag icon|NED}} Ruud Gullit *1989: {{Flag icon|NED}} Marco van Basten

=== 1990s=== *1990: {{Flag icon|GER}} Lothar Matthaus *1991: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Jean-Pierre Papin *1992: {{Flag icon|NED}} Marco van Basten (2) *1993: {{Flag icon|ITA}} Roberto Baggio *1994: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Romario *1995: {{Flag icon|FIN}} Jari Litmanen *1996: {{Flag icon|GER}} Matthias Sammer *1997: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Ronaldo *1998: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Zinedine Zidane *1999: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Rivaldo

=== 2000s=== *2000: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Zinedine Zidane *2001: {{Flag icon|POR}} Luis Figo *2002: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Zinedine Zidane (3) *2003: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Thierry Henry *2004: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Thierry Henry (2) *2005: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Ronaldinho *2006: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Ronaldinho (2) *2007: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Kaká *2008: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo *2009: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi

=== 2010s=== *2010: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi *2011: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi *2012: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi *2013: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo *2014: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo *2015: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi *2016: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo *2017: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo *2018: {{Flag icon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo (6) *2019: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi

=== 2020s=== *2020: {{Flag icon|POL}} Robert Lewandowski *2021: {{Flag icon|ARG}} Lionel Messi (7) *2022: {{Flag icon|FRA}} Karim Benzema *2023: {{Flag icon|NOR}} Erling Haaland *2024: {{Flag icon|BRA}} Vinicius Jr *2025:

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=== Wins by player === Players with multiple wins.

{{sticky-header}} {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders sticky-header" |- !scope="col" | Player !scope="col" style="background-color: silver" | Winner !scope="col" style="background-color: white" | Top5 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ARG}} Lionel Messi | 7 |16 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|POR}} Cristiano Ronaldo | 6 |14 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Pele | 6 |10 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|WAL}} Billy Meredith | 5 | 6 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ESP|1945}} Alfredo Di Stéfano | 4 | 9 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ARG}} Diego Maradona | 4 | 9 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|NED}} Johan Cruyff | 4 | 9 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ITA}} Giuseppe Meazza | 3 | 6 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|Hungary }} Gyorgy Sarosi | 3 | 5 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|FRA|1974}} Michel Platini | 3 | 7 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|HUN}} Ferenc Puskas | 3 | 9 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|FRA|1974}} Zinedine Zidane | 3 | 7 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Ronaldinho | 2 | 3 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Zico | 2 | 8 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|HUN}} Gyorgy Orth | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|FRA|1974}} Thierry Henry | 2 | 3 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Alan Morton | 2 | 6 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|HUN}} Alfred Schaffer | 2 | 3 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|AUT}} Matthias Sindelar | 2 | 6 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Zizinho | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|BRA}} Ademir de Menezes | 2 | 2 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|NED}} Marco van Basten | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|EIR}} Patsy Gallacher | 2 | 4 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ENG}} Charles W. Alcock | 2 | 3 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Arthur Kinnaird | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Jerry Weir | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Harry McNeil | 2 | 6 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} George Ker | 2 | 3 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ARG}} Jose Manuel Moreno | 2 | 4 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Nick Ross | 2 | 5 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} John Campbell | 2 | 4 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|ENG}} Ernest Needham | 2 | 5 |- !align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Bobby Walker | 2 | 4 |-

!align="left" scope="row"| {{flagicon|SCO}} Jimmy McMenemy | 2 | 5 |- |}

==References== {{reflist|2}}

==External links== *{{cite web | url = http://www.soccerloop.com/interviews/big.soccer/ | title = SL Interview: Jesse Hertzberg | accessdate = 2007-01-19 | publisher = Soccer Loop | archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070105224445/http://www.soccerloop.com/interviews/big.soccer/| archivedate= 5 January 2007 | url-status= live}} *[https://shop.bigsoccer.com/threads/ballon-dor-awards-revisited-by-bigsoccer-users.2119696/page-108 Awards - all votes per year] bigsoccer.com

Category:Association football websites Category:Sport Internet forums Category:Soccer mass media in the United States Category:Internet properties established in 2000