On a planet where FIFA has more members than the United Nations, Juan Villoro's examination of soccer and its 3.5 billion-person fandom has stakes beyond those of such playful questions. Football is more than just a game; it is a catalyst for global unity and even, Villoro suggests, the 'recovery of childhood'. At once serious and fun-loving, Villoro reports from the last World Cup of the 20th century, paints portraits of contemporary football's most prominent stars and teases out the contradictions of the game. A book for football fanatics.

Translated by: Thomas Bunstead