Football was not invented by a single person; its origins trace back to various ancient games that involved kicking a ball. The modern form of association football (soccer) began in England in 1863 when the Football Association was established, and Ebenezer Morley is recognized as a key figure in creating the rules and organizing the sport into its modern form. In the United States, American football evolved from rugby and soccer rules, with Walter Camp known as the "father of American football" for shaping the game's structure in the late 19th century. A legend from 1823 credits William Webb Ellis with creating a new style of play in football by picking up the ball and running with it during a school match, which influenced the game's development. Overall, football's invention is a collective result of various contributions over time, especially from Ebenezer Morley in England for association football and Walter Camp in America for American football.
