This thrilling new nonfiction graphic novel series offers a front row seat to the greatest moments in sports history, starting with Lionel Messi and his triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup against French superstar Kylian Mbappe´

A Junior Library Guild Selection

***STARRED REVIEW*** “Packed with world history and soccer lore, this is a promising and visually ­fertile series starter. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal, starred review

It’s the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and Lionel Messi—one of the greatest players to ever take the field—is one match away from victory. Despite his many awards and accolades, Messi has never been able to add a World Cup trophy to his collection.

If Argentina wins, this would be a historic moment not just for the country, but for the entire legacy of soccer on the international stage.

Travel back in time to learn how the World Cup began and see the incredible players—from Maradona to Mbappe´—who built it into the global phenomenon we know today.

This exciting new graphic novel series offers a portal to the past, putting young readers in the middle of the most epic moments in sports history.

Along with action-packed games and nail-biting victories, this series zooms out to explore the incredible backstories, social and political issues, and larger historical context that truly make these games the greatest in history.