Inspiring Stories of Soccer Greats: 12 Uplifting Tales for Kids - Paperback

by Chris Navalta (Author), Lorenzo Fornaciari (Illustrator)

Fuel your child's big dreams--and spark their love of reading--with these inspiring stories of soccer's greatest stars. A perfect book for FIFA World Cup 2026!

Does your kid dream of dribbling through defenders to kick the winning goal? Are they obsessed with "the beautiful game"? Score big with your young reader with Inspiring Stories of Soccer Greats! This uplifting collection shares stories of the game's biggest legends and its most remarkable teams.

Whether it's learning about Lionel Messi's record-breaking journey, or how the 1999 US Women's National Team broke barriers, or how Alex Morgan and Vinicius Jr. stood up for what's right, every page motivates young readers to dream bigger, work harder, and believe in their potential--on and off the pitch.

Inside this book, kids will discover:

• An all-star lineup of global soccer stars. Read about the 1999 US Women's National Team, 2015-2016 Leicester City, David Clarke, Gianluigi Buffon, Marta, Lionel Messi, Alex Morgan, Sadio Mané, Mo Salah, Christian Pulisic, Asisat Oshoala, Vinicius Jr., and Ada Hegerberg.
• Life lessons that go beyond the game. Stories about resilience, teamwork, and self-belief will help kids face their own challenges with the heart of a champion.
• More athletes to follow--and fall in love with. Learn about 12 more current soccer players, including Aitana Bonmati, Ousmane Dembélé, Lamine Yamal, Trinity Rodman, and more.
• An engaging read for emerging readers. Short chapters, packed with fun trivia, build confidence in even the most reluctant readers.
• The perfect soccer gift for kids who dream big. Whether for the 2026 World Cup, birthdays, holidays, or just because your kid loves soccer, this book makes a thoughtful addition to any kid's library.

Want even more inspiration for your young sports fan? Complete your sports book collection with From Challenge to Champion, Inspiring Stories of Football Greats, and Inspiring Stories of Baseball Greats.

Author Biography

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Chris Navalta studied journalism at Sacramento State University. As a sports reporter, he covered high school and college sports such as football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. After his days as a journalist, Chris began working in sports public relations with NBA teams (Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors) and in Minor League Baseball (Sacramento River Cats).
Today, Chris leads award-nominated PR campaigns in the video game industry. He continues to work with athletes, connecting them with their favorite video games. Chris is also the author of Basketball Stars: Stories and Skills from the NBA's and WNBA's Best Players.

Lorenzo Fornaciari is an illustrator, graphic designer, and teacher. He has loved drawing his whole life, and after attending Scuola Internazionale di Comics in Reggio Emilia, Italy, he began work as a freelance illustrator. He has lived in the UK and Italy while creating illustrations for children's books, and was a teacher of storyboarding and Photoshop at Scuola Internazionale di Comics. He has worked on many exciting projects, from video games and animation to websites, comics, and board games.