SOCCER GREATS

Tributes to six soccer superstars, from Pelé (1940-2022) to Kylian Mbappé (who was born in 1998).

Even newer fans of the sport will probably recognize the iconic names on Streissguth’s short roster: Pelé, Johan Cruyff, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Mbappé. Along with pointing to experiences or traits common to his choices—“amazing natural talent, obsessive work habits, and the gift of supportive families and coaches”—he fills in enough details while describing their careers to provide a sense of individuality for each. The author notes the racist, anti-immigrant taunts that the French Mbappé, whose parents are from Cameroon and Algeria, has endured and the abuse of cocaine and alcohol that probably shortened Maradona’s life. Still, in general his tone is positive, and in reeling off one stellar achievement after another, he offers appreciative comments about, for example, Maradona’s stunning footwork (“voodoo football,” as one newspaper report put it) and the aggressive “total football” popularized by Cruyff. The book describes the players’ impact on the sport: In joining the New York Cosmos after retiring from Santos in Brazil, Pelé “changed the attitude of many Americans toward the game,” while Ronaldo’s move from European teams to Saudi Arabia’s Al-Nassr resulted in the team’s “Instagram account exploding from 860,000 to 10 million followers.” Although each player’s chapter features just three stock photos, substantial source notes and resources at the end lead readers to more information and images.

Offers soccer fans glimpses of greatness.