Humans knew the Earth was spherical thousands of years before Columbus set sail from Spain. It was common knowledge in Columbus' time. Eratosthenes of Cyrene was even able to measure the Earth's circumference with surprising accuracy around 240 B.C.
So how did this idea of Columbus discovering the Earth was round come into being, and why?
Thank you in advance.
This older answer on Columbus and the Flat Earth myth should be of interest for you.