El misterio de la Copa del Mundo robada

by Angela Cervantes, Abel Berriz (Translator)

From Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and perfectly timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy follows 12-year-old sleuth Diez Espada on a high-stakes case as he tracks down the tournament's stolen trophy in time for the championship match.

“Humor, heart, and fútbol... everything a middle grade mystery should be.” –Chris Grabenstein, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lemoncello series

Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.

Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio's two prankster younger brothers.

The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Soccer, Sports

256 pages, Paperback

Published May 5, 2026

About the author

Angela Cervantes is the award-winning author of several popular children's novels including Lety Out Loud, which won the Pura Belpré Honor Award in 2020.

Her other novels include The Cursed Moon, which won Florida's Sunshine State Young Readers Award. Angela's other middle grade novels include the Frida Kahlo-inspired mystery, Me, Frida and The Secret of the Peacock Ring; Allie, First At Last; and Gaby, Lost and Found.

Her latest children’s novel is Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows which is book 1 of a two-book series published by Harper Collins.

Additionally, Angela authored the junior novelization for Disney/Pixar's animated-film, Coco and Disney's animated film, Encanto. She also collaborated with American Girl Dolls for the novel Maritza: Lead With Your Heart.

Angela’s short stories have been featured in Chicken Soup for The Latino Soul and the Young Adult anthology Beyond Borders: Growing Up Mexican in America.

Angela is a daughter of a retired elementary-school teacher who instilled in her a love for reading and storytelling. Angela writes from her home in Kansas City. When she's not writing, Angela enjoys reading, running, gazing up at clouds, and taking advantage of Taco Tuesdays.

To learn more about Angela and her books, visit her website at angelacervantes.com.

Reviews

[Emily Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Macmillan Children's Publishing Group in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy by Angela Cervantes is a fast-paced, upper-middle-grade mystery that seamlessly blends sports, history, and a classic "whodunit" atmosphere. From the opening scene, featuring a chase involving a culprit in a lobster costume, the book hooks readers immediately.

This book is a solid recommendation for students who might prefer playing sports over reading. It’s clue-oriented and features fun cameos by icons like Beckham and Messi. I loved the quirky cast of characters and the Agatha Christie-inspired feel of the investigation. Diez is a fantastic protagonist. He is observant, sharp, and constantly sees things the police miss.

Having read both the English and Spanish editions, I have to give major props to translator Abel Berriz. The translations felt natural and authentic, incorporating cultural colloquialisms that never felt forced. It’s a great example of how a translation can preserve a story's soul.

The references to Scooby-Doo, Agatha Christie, and Only Murders in the Building were delightful nods for mystery fans. The book also includes fascinating real-world FIFA history, specifically the true story of the Jules Rimet Trophy being stolen and recovered by a dog! Cervantes uses these bits of history to build a world that kids will absolutely clamor to learn more about.

While I’m generally not a fan of the "dead parent" trope, Diez’s connection to his late mother through his love of books and his investigations was handled with care. The plot keeps you guessing; even with two suspects in mind, the twist at the end genuinely surprised me. With hints of more adventures for Diez and Rio, this feels like the start of a fantastic new series.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 3 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sixth grader Diez Espada lives with his dad, Jaime, in Miami, Florida. His mother, who was a librarian, died of cancer not too long ago. While Diez's father wants him to be a soccer star, he's not very good, and he would rather read classic detective novels and solve mysteries like the famous Enzo. When he thinks he has solved the mystery of who stole the lobster mascot costume at his school, the big reveal doesn't go well. The thief was the glamourous and wealthy eighth grader, Rio Salvatierra, whose stepfather, Dale Ullman, is a billionaire real estate developer. Rio broke Diez's phone because it contained evidence, and one of her bodyguards has taken it, but she comes to his house to apologize and offer him tickets to an exclusive World Cup party at the Las Palmas resort where his father is a valet. Ullman has gotten permission to display the World Cup trophy, and it's rumored that Messi himself might attend the party, so the Espadas are very excited. When the trophy is stolen after the mights go out at the unveiling, Diez is ready to investigate. There is a bird who repeatedly says "they'll never get away with it", a poodle, Rio's rambunctious twin brothers, and a horrible storm to deal with, but Diez is prepared to deal with all of these problems. Detective Enzo shows up, and since he once met Diez's mother, he really wants to impress him. It looks like the theft is the work of the famous La Lechuza (The Owl), who also stole a trophy in 1983, but is the thief someone closer to home? Will Diez be able to solve the mystery with Rio's help?
Strengths: Have to love any book that references Scooby-Doo mysteries when it the same sort of mystery with evil villains and kids saving the day, even if the poodle doesn't get as much page time as it should have! This was a quick, clue oriented mystery, and having Diez and Rio work together was fun. Diez is observant, and manages to see things that the police don't, and does end up saving the day. The inclusion of some FIFA history and other instances of a World Cup trophy being stolen are interesting. Las Palmas is a fun setting, even though it doesn't seem to be a real place. This definitely had an Agatha Christie feel to it, with a quirky cast of characters. It seems like it might be the first book in the series.
Weaknesses: I'm never a fan of the dead parents trope, but at least Diez's dad is coping better than most, and Diez throws himself into investigating as a way to remember his mother. I was a little confused by the mother's job; she's described as a school librarian, but also ran a book discussion group for adults and had a bookmobile project, which made it seem more likely that she worked at a public library before her death. I read the ARC, so perhaps this will be changed in the finished edition.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Ponti's The Sherlock Society or Liu's somewhat similar Stealing the Score (2/3/26).

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Here comes a sleuthing middle grade read written by Angela Cervantes: "El misterio de la Copa del Mundo robada", translated by Abel Berriz.

Young Diez (translated to number 10, named after his father's favorite soccer player jersey number) gets caught up in a mystery of a lifetime. The World Cup goes missing and he's given the opportunity to help world-famous Detective Enzo to find it.

What's even better though is Diez's crush, Rio, works on this case with him as well. Will the trio be able to find the trophy before the championship begins?

I have decided to write this review in English, rather than its translated language Spanish. However, I did read the book in Spanish, and it was a treat to do so! Any opportunity I can get to practice my own Spanish, I take it!

One of my favorite aspects of the book was how "middle school" it was. From the way Diez spoke to the way he acted toward his crush was perfect. There were a few cringy, middle school moments and it felt true to the age. This helped me remember that I do not miss those days!

I also felt the inclusion of Diez's deceased mother was a nice emotional touch. Some children at his age have lost someone special in their lives, or will in the future. This makes Diez's thoughts, feelings, and reasoning for doing certain things relatable and brings more empathy toward the story and his character.

The plot kept moving forward and kept me captivated most of the time. There were moments where my interest dwindled a bit, but the ending was a fun one.

Themes of friendship, light grief, father-son relationship, and using clues to solve a mystery were prevalent within the story.

Content Warnings: The topic of a deceased parent is referenced multiple times.

Overall, I thought "El misterio de la Copa del Mundo robada" was a fun middle grade read! I happily rate it 4 out of 5 stars. I recommend this book to middle schoolers who enjoy sleuthing books and do not mind when the protagonist mentions the loss of a parent.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher (Macmillan Children's Publishing Group | Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks), and the author for giving me the opportunity to read "El misterio de la Copa del Mundo robada". All opinions are my own.

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sleuthing takes on a fun, soccer twist in this entertaining read.

Diez enjoys two things...well, mostly one since his father is, actually, the soccer fan: sleuthing. Diez is great at seeing details and connections others miss, and he's about to prove how talented he is by revealing the thief of the school's mascot costume. Unfortunately, the big reveal isn't what he'd hoped, and he ends up tricked by the true culprit, a rich girl name Rio. Since this leads him to more trouble than he deserves, Rio's guilt gets the better of her. To make up for it, she invites him to attend a World Cup Party with her, where his dad's favorite player is said to make an appearance right along with the real World Cup trophy. Unexpectedly, the trophy goes missing. Diez is ready to take on this new case with Rio at his side, but it might be more than he can handle.

This is a quick-paced read with lots of surprises, some quirky moments, and clues galore. Diez makes mention of Scooby-Doo, which fits thanks to the characters involved. After all, Diez has to deal with a bird and a poodle, too. In other words, the author mixes in light-hearted moments to keep everything interesting and boredom far away. The clues aren't easy to piece together but make sense, and it's fun to see Diez catch things the police overlook. His insights are clever and, yet, very fitting to the age group. Add friendship and whispers of first crushes, and there's heart as well. On the family end, Diez and his father still suffer a bit after the loss of the mother several years before...something I'm not a huge fan of, at the moment, due to the large amount of reads using that plot direction during the last year or so. But it works fine and isn't overplayed, either.

It's a fun read, especially with the World Cup sneaking up on us soon, and soccer fans are sure to enjoy it at anytime. The author does weave in some facts on this end, which adds a little knowledge richness as well. All in all, it's a fun mystery with many surprises and twists, and keeps the pages turning until the end.

[Lauren Bayne · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid middle grade mystery, perfect for readers who would rather play sports than read. This one isn't too long, it has some good twists, and it is about a subject that students will absolutely LOVE. There is a lot of World Cup history in here, and I just know that kids are going to clamor for more information! From the start, with Diez chasing down a culprit in a lobster costume, kids will be hooked.

My main concern with this book is the fact that it will so easily become dated. This book is written specifically for the 2026 World Cup, and there are a few references to 2026. While kids today will eat it up, libraries may be cautious that this book likely won't have a ton of appeal in 2027 and beyond. There are other things that gave me pause with this book, like Rio's friendship with Diez and an oddly-developed friendship with Declan, but there is enough goodness here. Long story short, I would buy this in a bookstore for my kid but not necessarily for my students in a library, if that makes sense?

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. BYR Paperbacks for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Libby · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun upper middle grade mystery that will also appeal to sports fans with cameo appearances by famous footballers like Beckham and Messi. I loved that Diez's mother was a librarian and that Cervantes includes references to Agatha Christy and Only Murders in the Building. I also enjoyed learning about the previous World Cup trophy that was twice stolen, once recovered by a dog, and the second time, never recovered. I had two strong suspects in mind for the theft in this book, but was ultimately surprised by a twist at the end. The book wraps up loose ends and leaves the hint that there could be more mysteries for Diez and Rio to solve. I certainly hope so.

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got a pre-release copy of this book at NTTBF. It is about a couple of kids who are at a party where the World Cup trophy gets stolen. There is a famous detective that is there to solve the crime, but he won't be able to do it without the help of the kids. I suspect most elementary kids, middle school kids who are into soccer will enjoy this book.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a well written, tightly paced, humorous middle grade mystery. This mystery is a throwback to the great mysteries of the past and acknowledges the same. What a fun ride! And just in time for the World Cup. Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher. Pub date 5/5/26.

[Lois Young · Rating 4 out of 5]

Complete RTC.