Soccer has always been the king of sports, captivating millions of hearts around the world. Long before the modern matches we see today, the ancient Maya also organized similar games. The difference is that in their games, players fought not just for victory or defeat but for their very lives.
The ancient Maya are believed to be the first to play a sport akin to modern soccer. Pok-a-tok, this sport was seen as a form of entertainment and a demonstration of the community’s religious beliefs.
The Maya constructed ball courts across their territory, and today, ancient courts still exist along the Gulf of Mexico. Historically, around 3,000 ancient matches took place, and each game was a unique sacrificial ritual of the Maya.
Ball Courts
Chichen Itza Ball Court
The ball courts were constructed in an I shape, symbolizing the wealth and prosperity of the Maya empire. The Chichen Itza court is the largest and most famous among them, larger than modern soccer fields and adorned with intricately carved walls depicting the game’s events and the sacrificial rituals that followed. The dimensions of the courts varied considerably. The largest, Chichen Itza, measures 96.5 meters in length and 30 meters in width, whereas the court in Tikal measures only 16 meters long and 5 meters wide.
Hoop Goals
On either side of the court, two sloped walls were erected to prevent the ball from flying out and to enhance its bounce. The court was typically paved with plaster or stone. Three circular stone hoops were mounted on the walls a few meters above the ground. Players had to get the ball through the hoops to score.
The Ball
The ball used in the game was made of high-bouncing rubber derived from a native plant—the rubber tree. The balls were hollow to make them lighter and bounce better. Some balls even contained human skulls wrapped in rubber. These skulls symbolized the life-and-death stakes of the game.
Maya Soccer Ball
The size of the ball could range from that of a baseball to larger than a watermelon—approximately 3.6 kg. With such a size, players had to be extremely cautious when the ball was in play to avoid injuries and broken bones. It is evident that, even without the sacrificial rituals, the matches were already quite brutal, as players faced a high risk of injury and potential death if the ball struck dangerous areas.
Players
Only members of the nobility were allowed to participate in the games, and the number of players varied across different regions. During play, athletes wore *Yuguito* to protect their knees and wrists and to assist in striking the ball better. Additionally, players wore *Yoke* around their waists—leather gear to protect their bodies and support the ball—and *Manoplas* (stone gloves) to hit the ball.
Maya Ball Game Attire
Players had to keep the ball in the air using their hips, torso, shins, or arms. Touching the ball with their feet or hands was not permitted. They aimed to strike the ball against the walls or to other players to maintain possession and create scoring opportunities.
If a player scored, they would have the right to take a valuable piece of jewelry from the spectators in the audience. However, for the losing team, a tragic fate awaited—their death.
Post-Game Sacrificial Rituals
For the losing team, the captain would face the punishment of sacrificing his life to the gods. For the Maya, sacrifice was always deemed necessary to maintain national prosperity and the strength of their people. The murals on the Chichen Itza court also depict the death of the losing player.
Mural Depicting Player Sacrifice After Losing
This may be the heaviest penalty ever to exist in a sport, but when viewed positively, the Maya regarded it as a normal religious ritual, and the sacrificial victim always felt honored to serve the gods and bring prosperity to their people.
