Top Children's Books About Soccer

Inside: Looking for the best children’s books about soccer? Discover fiction and nonfiction books for kids to read and learn everything about this worldwide sport!

Children’s Books about Soccer

Mina vs. the Monsoon by Rukhsanna Guidroz, illustrated by Debasmita Dasgupta

This isn’t a picture book about the monsoon rains. It’s really a story about a young girl who loves soccer. There is a surprise about who else likes soccer that you can discover drinking chai, eating samosas, and, of course, playing soccer! [picture book, ages 4 and up]

The Field by Baptiste Paul, illustrated by Jacqueline Alcántara

It just takes an open field, a makeshift goal, and a ball to play futbol. Rain, mud, and mamas calling you in can stop these joyous children from playing soccer! This is a joyous celebration of a Creole childhood and of the love of soccer. Creole words included in the text.

“Creole is a language spoken by peoples of several Caribbean islands including Haiti, Saint Lucia, and Dominica.” [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Soccer Dreams by Shawn Pryor, illustrated by Genevieve Kote

I love the diverse characters in this new easy reader series by Capstone featuring girl protagonists. In Soccer Dreams, Keisha joins a soccer team because wants to be a striker like her grandpa but it turns out that there’s another position that suits her more. [easy reader, ages 5 and up]

Lola Levine is Not Mean! by Monica Brown, illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Lola Levine is a great soccer goalie but that’s not always appreciated by her classmates. The popular girls think Lola is mean when she slide tackles a classmate who ends up injured. Lola uses her writing to resolve her problems and young readers will enjoy this strong girl character as she navigates second grade.

I especially liked the references to Monica Brown’s Pelé soccer picture book biography (also on this book list), and a favorite picture book of mine, Everyone Poops. Monica Brown scores the winning goal with this soccer story of fitting in, being yourself, and playing your heart out.[early chapter book series, ages 6 and up]

You Can Do It, Yasmin! by Saadia Fariqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly

The first story in this collection features Yasmin reluctantly learning to play soccer. She tries to get out of playing but Coach Garcia wants her to try new things. She gets chosen to be a goalie. Will she be able to stop the ball? Yasmin is a spunky and relatable character that readers will root for! [chapter book, ages 6 and up]

Booked by Kwame Alexander

My son learned that he liked poetry after reading The Crossover. My son doesn’t play basketball but he’s played club soccer since he was eight. When I told him Kwame Alexander’s next book was about soccer, he was excited to read it. He liked this book about soccer, divorce, and bullying too.

I was surprised that a soccer star could be bullied. I haven’t seen that where I live, but I guess it happens. [novel in verse, for ages 10 and up]

Mañanaland by Pam Muñoz Ryan

Review from Randomly Reading:

“Eleven-year-old Maximiliano Cordoba loves playing fútbol, and hopes to someday play on the celebrated Santa Maria national team just like his Papá and his Abuelo did when they were young. And tryouts are only a few weeks away. But when Max is invited to join a fútbol clinic in another town, his father refuses to give him permission to go. Instead, Max is invited to help his father find needed stones for building a new bridge and earning money to buy a new pair of coveted soccer shoes. Additionally, Papá and Abuelo offer to coach Max themselves so he can make the team. But when Max learns that he will need a birth certificate to play on the Santa Maria team, he also learns that his Papá doesn’t have a copy of it. Nor does Max know where his mother is, only that she left when he was a baby…For the most part, Max’s story seems to be divided into two unrelated threads – his desire to play fútbol and his desire to find out about his mother. But then Ryan begins to tie these two threads together in the most unexpected way and that when the book becomes unputdownable.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

#OwnVoices Soccer Picture Book Biographies

For the Love of Soccer! by Pelé, illustrated by Frank Morrison

Arguably the best soccer player of all time, Pelé speaks to a young audience about what drove him. He loved competing in games, being part of a team, and most of all, the pure love of the game. His positive messages and inspirational story of overcoming poverty are other reasons why he is an icon of soccer. [picture book autobiography, ages 4 and up]

Sunakali the “Messi of the Himalayas by Jennifer Vorms-Le Morvan, illustrated by Nicolas Wild

This is not an #OwnVoices book but it does tell the story of a remarkable talent in the Himalayas. Sunakali, a small Nepalese country girl, keeps goats with her friends in the Himalayas. But the girls have a secret passion: soccer! They play it every afternoon in the pastures. One day, a visitor from Katmandu asks to meet them. I want to start a national women’s soccer team. I will coach you and get you invited to tournaments. It’s the beginning of an incredible true story. [middle grade picture book, ages 8 and up] Releases November 28, 2021

Pelé, King of Soccer/Pele, El Rey del Futbol by Monica Brown, illustrated by Rudy Gutierrez

More Great Diverse Soccer Books

Ten Thousand Tries by Amy Makechnie

From Caroline Starr Rose:

“Golden “Macaroni” Maroni is determined to become master of his eighth-grade universe by channeling his hero: international soccer superstar, Lionel Messi. But first, he’s got to survive middle school, win the soccer championship, and prevent Lucy Littlehouse from moving away. If he can do that, then maybe he can prevent Dad from losing to the three worst letters in the alphabet: A-L-S. Golden’s going to make it happen – even if it takes Ten Thousand Tries!” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Happy Like Soccer by Maribeth Boelts, illustrated by Lauren Castillo

Sierra lives with her aunt in a small apartment in the inner city. She’s made an elite soccer team that plays far from her neighborhood. The other players’ parents are able to cheer for their kids but Sierra’s aunt has to work. Saturdays are busy days at the restaurant.

For the last game, her aunt’s boss offers her a different shift so she can attend her niece’s game but it’s rained out. Sierra figures out a solution but is she brave enough to ask her coach [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Soccer Star by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by Renato Alarcão

This picture book should have been the 2014 World Cup designated picture book. Set in Brazil, it’s an homage to all the children who work for a living but manage to rise from poverty through the game of soccer.

Paulo Marcelo Feliciano works on a fishing boat by day and his captain also coaches their pick-up team. They play to win but when one player gets hurt, will Paulo’s little sister finally be able to join the boys? [picture book, ages 4 and up]

Goal! by Mina Javaherbin, illustrated by A. G. Ford

A new federation-size soccer ball is a rare prize in their small South African town. Ajani and his friends want to play soccer with it but how can they keep their ball safe from bullies that roam their streets? [picture book, ages 6 and up]

The Soccer Fence: A story of friendship, hope, and apartheid in South Africa by Phil Bildner

When Apartheid ended, the soccer fence separating Hector from a pitch where white boys played soccer was still closed. For the African Cup of Nations in 1996, the South African team was, for the first time, inclusive and their victory defeating Cameroon for the title helped to bring their country together.

And finally, the fence opened for Hector. The power of soccer to find commonality and bring people together is powerfully illustrated in this uplifting picture book. A history of Apartheid is included. [historical fiction picture book, ages 6 and up]

Beyond Lucky by Sara Aronson

This manages to be a soccer book, a coming of age book, and a book that explores the idea of self-confidence versus luck. Is it Ari’s rare and valuable Wayne Timcoe trading card that brings him luck? Is that why he’s the starting goalie this year instead of on the bench like in previous years?

But when his card goes missing, it’s up to him to stop the fighting on the team between his best friend and the new girl and figure out what truly makes him a good player. [ middle grade, ages 8 and up]

The World Between: Based on a True Refugee Story by Kenan Trebincevic and Susan Shapiro

From Ms. Yingling Reads:

“Kenan is a tween living in Brčko, Yugoslavia in the early 1990s. His family is Muslim, and while tensions are rising among religious factions, his father owns a popular local gym and feels that it is safe to stay. Kenan loves to play football (US soccer), but as the political situation worsens, he finds himself alienated from his teammates and friends at school. When asked if he is Bosnian, Yugoslavian, or Muslim, he replies “My country is Yugoslavia. I’m from the Bosnian Republic. My religion is Muslim.” For Kenan, it’s that simple, and his family just wants to continue to live in peace. This of course, is not feasible. The family (parents and older brother Edin) is lucky enough to make their way to Vienna, where they have some relatives. It’s not easy doubling up with another family, not having any space or privacy, and having to always be very quiet so as not to disturb their hosts. There are many refugees, and while the government is giving them a stipend, they don’t necessarily want the refugees to take jobs from the locals, so they aren’t allowed to get jobs. They apply to go to other countries, and eventually get clearance to go to the US. Kenan hopes to be in New York City or California, but the family is sent to a small town in Connecticut where they live with a woman named Barbara. She’s welcoming enough, but after the family moves out, they find that she was taking money and gifts the family was given and keeping it for herself. The pastor who helps the family, Don, is much more helpful. Living with him and his wife is much better, and Kenan starts to make friends at his school and starts to enjoy life in the US. His parents are still looking for employment, and when the father gets a job, the family must move to a town nearby. Kenan is angry, but realizes that he can still keep in contact with his best friend, and he slowly starts to establish his new, US identity.” [middle grade, ages 9 and up]

Soccer Trophy Mystery by Fred Bowen

Review from Randomly Reading:

“Thirteen-year-old twins Aiden and Ava and their good friend Daniel, all avid soccer players, have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library. It was never recovered.

So between games and practices for the town’s soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case. But will these amateur detectives be able to unravel the mystery and find someone who had both motive and opportunity to commit the crime? And will their teams make it all the way to the championships?

As with the rest of the acclaimed series, Fred Bowen weaves exciting play-by-play sports action with real sports history, including a chapter in the back of the book of “The Real Story” behind the disappearance of the original World Cup trophy that was never recovered. Featuring a new mystery storyline, as well as focusing on girls in sports, Soccer Trophy Mystery is also a great book for character education both on and off the field.” [chapter book, ages 7 and up]

FAME: The World Cup All-Stars: David Beckham, Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Diego Maradona by Michael Frizell, illustrated by Pablo Martinena & Angel Bernuy

These are graphic novel biographies of some of the best soccer players in the world. [graphic novel, ages 8 and up]

Ten Thousand Tries by Amy Mckechnie

Review from Ms. Yingling Reads:

“I’m not a fan of sad books, but this one has a brilliant balance between soccer and everyday life, and dealing with the devastating progression of ALS. There are just enough details of the father’s condition, and it’s contrasted with Golden’s misguided belief that his father can overcome the disease. The organizational problems of a family adjusting to having one less parent to help out is also brilliantly described– I don’t know that I have ever seen morning chaos depicted quite so brilliantly in a middle-grade novel. While this is sad, the family’s approach is pragmatic. The mother cries occasionally, the children are told that their father is going to die, and there are difficult emotions, such as when Golden accuses his mother of wanting the father to die because she’s not trying to make him “better”. Golden is so wrapped up in his own problems that he doesn’t notice that his friend Benny’s grandmother is descending into dementia, and the two have some difficulties over soccer as well. Golden at one point says “I wish we could rewind. Before…everything. When life was perfect and I didn’t even know it.” (Italics mine; quote from the ARC) This is quite possibly the most poignant line in all of middle-grade literature. But overall, there is a feeling of life and living, and making the most of each day no matter what happens. I loved that Golden is determined to put in the 10,000 hours needed to make him an expert at soccer. This novel zips along like a soccer ball heading toward the goal, taking unpredictable zigs and zags along the way.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Benchwarmers by John Feinstein

Twelve-year-old Jeff Michaels, son of a Philadelphia TV sports reporter, is just learning to play soccer on the new sixth-grade team at his middle school. Andrea Carillo has fought her way onto the squad, but the coach doesn’t think girls should play with boys, so she’s riding the bench with Jeff―even though she’s one of the best players.

With Jeff’s help, the Philly media gets ahold of the story, and suddenly Andi is all over the news as she shows her worth on the soccer field. But amid bullies, threats, and a media firestorm, will Andi’s skills and Jeff’s perseverance be enough to save the season?

From sportswriter John Feinstein comes this action-packed novel about two kids who may be “benchwarmers,” but prove themselves naturals when it comes to teamwork, friendship, and finding a path to victory. (publisher description) [middle grade, ages 8 and up]

Shine On, Luz Véliz! by Rebecca Balcárcel

Review by Ms. Yingling Reads:

“The beginning sucked me right in– a sports injury that makes a child incapable of playing a sport they love. This is absolutely devastating, especially when the father was also coaching. It was good that Luz found another interest, and her relationship with Mr. Mac was fantastic. In fact, I think he is my favorite middle-grade neighbor EVER! Of course, he is about my age, given his relationship with the entire history of computers! The coding and tech descriptions are about the best and most realistic that I have ever seen. Having a new sister arrive at the house is also done realistically, and the information about situations in Guatemala, as well as the Guatemalan culture in Luz’s household, also strikes just the right note. The depiction of starting a new school in a new country is great, and I loved that the girls communicated using Google translate! Just the other day, I had a student come into the library, type into her phone, and show me “Can I have a book that’s not too hard?” This is a spot-on use of technology. Luz’s parents are supportive, the school details all make sense, and I enjoyed this story quite a bit.” [middle grade, ages 8 and up]