This Is the World’s Oldest Football And It Has a Fascinating Story

Image credit: Smith Art Gallery & Museum
So, was this ball a personal item of Mary, Queen of Scots, that she hid behind the paneling to protect herself from witchcraft, a common practice at the time? Or was it somehow lost or forgotten by someone else who played with it in the castle courtyards or gardens? We may never know for sure, but we do know that this little ball is a remarkable witness to the history of football and its evolution from a medieval sport to a global phenomenon.