Lionel Messi's World Cup Triumph:

by Chris Barish, Nate Sweitzer (Illustrator)

This thrilling new nonfiction graphic novel series offers a front row seat to the greatest moments in sports history, starting with Lionel Messi and his triumph in the 2022 FIFA World Cup against French superstar Kylian MbappéA Junior Library Guild Selection***STARRED REVIEW*** “Packed with world history and soccer lore, this is a promising and visually ­fertile series starter. Highly recommended.” ―School Library Journal, starred reviewIt’s the 2022 FIFA World Cup final, and Lionel Messi―one of the greatest players to ever take the field―is one match away from victory. Despite his many awards and accolades, Messi has never been able to add a World Cup trophy to his collection.If Argentina wins, this would be a historic moment not just for the country, but for the entire legacy of soccer on the international stage.Travel back in time to learn how the World Cup began and see the incredible players―from Maradona to Mbappé―who built it into the global phenomenon we know today.This exciting new graphic novel series offers a portal to the past, putting young readers in the middle of the most epic moments in sports history.Along with action-packed games and nail-biting victories, this series zooms out to explore the incredible backstories, social and political issues, and larger historical context that truly make these games the greatest in history.

Genres: Sports, Middle Grade, Nonfiction, Comics

136 pages, Paperback

Published March 17, 2026

Reviews

[alexandra .ᐟ [tate's version] · Rating 4 out of 5]

☆4

⋆ mini review ⋆

pre-read˚.⋆
you bet i’m reading this
🇦🇷🔛🔝

⚽️ ⋆.˚.𖥔˚

• ꒰ overall thoughts ꒱ •
this book was nice! i personally love messi and the argentina team so i obviously had to read this! although, this book wasn’t just about that, it was also about some iconic soccer players in history! the story also included some history with how soccer started! good read!!

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• ꒰ recommendations ꒱ •
age ⋆°•☁︎⋆ 9+ years old
interests ⋆°•☁︎⋆ argentina // messi // soccer // fifa world cup // history
genre ⋆°•☁︎⋆ nonfiction

𓂃𓂃𓂃 🇦🇷 𓂃𓂃𓂃1️⃣0️⃣𓂃𓂃𓂃🇦🇷 𓂃𓂃𓂃

thank you so much for taking the time to read my review! i hope it was helpful in your reading experience. if you enjoyed this review, please consider following me to receive more valuable reviews! xoxo, alexandra ୨୧
˗ˏˋ ꒰ ♡ ꒱ ˎˊ˗

[Tonja Drecker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Messi fans are in for a treat but so are general soccer fans, since these pages bring many aspects about the World Cup to life.

This book attacks everything from the view of a sport's commentator, and this it an exciting, game feel from the very first page. To keep expectations high, it begins with the pre-game moments at a World Cup game. The tension comes across nicely as does Messi's nervous excitement and hope for the game. These first scenes then open up to all sorts of dives into history, World Cup facts, other players, trivia, and, of course, the highlights of this tense game. It runs smoothly and allows everything to meld in without letting the pacing fall or the atmosphere grow boring. In other words, it does a lovely job at bringing everything across and keeps the reader in the pages the entire way through.

While much of the book concentrates on Messi and his soccer history, it also dives into other aspects surrounding the World Cup. These are glided off from the main story with pages marked as Water Breaks or titled as history. This allows information to sink in with the atmosphere of a game pause. These are never boring, either. The information is constantly brought across with energy, and the graphic novel form makes sure that it remains lively and carries atmosphere, while also making some details clear. The history isn't dry and even touches upon some lesser known facts, while adding in personality and interesting situations. There are trivia moments, where the reader needs to guess an answer to a question. These answers are found in the back of the book. Then, there are moments of humor added, too.

The graphics are well done and let the action, emotions, and information come across clearly. The text fits the middle grade audience nicely and stays in a more conversational or commentator style. It creates an interesting read even for those readers, who aren't strong soccer fans, and it will be interesting to see where this series goes from here.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

This non-fiction graphic novel tells all about Messi's big 2022 World Cup win. You learn about the history of soccer, FIFA, and other big name players, like Diego Maradona. I learned a lot about soccer, including why we call it soccer versus football, the history of FIFA, and famous players. There are time-outs for history that give more information about what was going on during these big games. There are also trivia goals throughout. What memorable event occurred during a World Cup match? A) A player's pants fell down during a penalty kick in the semifinals. B) The soccer ball popped after a winger blasted a shot on goal. C) A player's shoe flew off and scored a goal in the upper right corner. Which facts is true about the first contract Messi signed with FC Barcelona? A) The soccer club required him to shave his head. B) It was written on a restaurant napkin. C) It included a bonus of a soccer ball stuffed with money. I love the balance between text and panels. There's also some great action panels from these big games. I also love the detailed drawings of the players, so it is closer to a newspaper photo rather than just a Procreate illustration. YES! Just what the kids want. A sports book and it's a graphic novel and it's about Messi. YES! (I do question them publishing this before the 2026 World Cup because it would feel like an unfinished story if Argentina had won again. I'm sure they were trying to ride the hype for the World Cup, but it seems like a risky bet and still dates the book really quickly.)

[Stephanie Tournas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This attractive nonfiction graphic novel reels in soccer-loving readers with the dynamic cover, and stealthily builds on Messi at the 2022 World Cup match with history and related world events. Starting with the Argentinian Messi’s dramatic rise, the book tells of other recent World Cup Finals and who the important players were. Readers will learn about Argentinian Diego Maradona, Kylian Mbappé of France and Pelé from Brazil. The 1930’s Depression, World War I, Iran, Qatar are other topics that relate to soccer here. The narrative feels up close, as if you’re watching a game – it’s narrated by a young white male as if he were the commentator. Interesting side bars and interludes break up the action: there’s soccer trivia to guess as, “Water Break!” sections that examine related soccer topics, and “time outs” that give historical background. And finally, the exciting and momentous 2022 World Cup game is given a thorough treatment complete with strategy and pivotal moments.

This title is the first in the series, and it’s a winning combination of stellar graphic art and engaging text in an easily digestible graphic format. Kids will love all the many images of players in action on the field. These folks know their audience! A very good choice for sports fans who need a dose of history. Sources are given.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Abrams Fanfare presents the first book in a new series highlighting some of the greatest games from history. The first book in the series focuses on the 2022 World Cup final between France and Argentina. Presented in graphic novel form, readers are introduced to soccer/football and the history of the World Cup. A brief introduction to Lionel Messi, the Argentinian star precedes the description of the game explaining why this game was especially important to Messi and the Argentinians. Trivia questions scattered throughout the book give readers a chance to interact with the game and those who play it (answers are included at the back of the book). The book is narrated by a sports broadcaster and carries readers through the main points of the game before concluding with a debate about who is greater between the two Argentinian stars : Maradona or Messi. Fans of the game and/or Messi will enjoy this look at one game and what it meant to those who played in it. The art does a fine job of highlighting the action of the game as well as the history of the event. Recommended.

[KATIE MEYERS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lionel Messi’s World Cup Triumph is a thrilling and engaging graphic nonfiction retelling of one of the most unforgettable moments in modern sports history. It captures both the intensity of the 2022 FIFA World Cup final and the emotional journey behind Messi’s long-awaited victory.

What makes this book stand out is its ability to blend sports action with historical and cultural context. By exploring the evolution of the World Cup and highlighting legendary figures like Maradona and Mbappé, it gives readers a deeper appreciation of the game’s global significance.

The graphic format enhances the storytelling, making it dynamic, accessible, and visually compelling. It works especially well for younger readers or those new to football history, while still offering meaningful depth for long-time fans.

A powerful and inspiring read that celebrates perseverance, legacy, and one of the greatest achievements in sports history.

[Mrs_R_Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Abrams Fanfare for providing access to an eARC of this title in exchange for my honest review.

First, I want to mention that I am not a soccer enthusiast and have limited knowledge of the sport. However, I found this title to be very engaging. I appreciate how the author incorporated historical context into the book and connected it to how global events at the time influenced the World Cup matches, demonstrating how soccer can serve as a unifying force even during challenging times.

Although this book is rated for upper elementary students, I plan to purchase it for my high school library, as I believe my students will also find it enjoyable. I will certainly keep an eye out for additional titles in this series as they become available.

[Chrissy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the premise of "History's Greatest Games". I am not a sports fan, but some events are important to history as well as sports. The volume about Messi does a good job of showing how the world cup is one such event. I like the use of a sportscaster hosting the book, as well as the "breaks" sprinkled throughout to highlight extra points of interest while giving the reader a break from the action. The text clearly shows all sides of each contest and the arguments over who may or may not be the GOAT of soccer. By this I mean you don't have to be a die hard Messi fan to like the book. I also really liked the illustrations. The line sketches showed facial expressions really well.

[Jennybeast · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an excellent soccer book -- does a fantastic job of building and maintaining tension with regular breakaways for history, trivia and commentary. I love how it creates context for this specific game, is deeply inclusive of fans, and treats players with respect. I'm not a soccer fan, but the book sucked me in and gave me reasons to care about the game. It's hard to gauge the reading level since there are so many different types of information and it's pretty non-stop.

[Caroline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like other reviewers, I'm not a massive soccer fan. But even so, I could appreciate the soccer mania in this book. With a fun, conversational style and plenty of historical information - kids will eat this book up.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy.

[That One Witchy Librarian · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a soccer fan, but I enjoyed learning about Lionel Messi. I think soccer fans would love reading this book. I liked all the soccer history and trivia questions spread through out the book as it keeps readers interested.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Way more than a graphic biography of Messi. So much world history and World Cup history, too. Great nonfiction read for middle grade.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The appeal on this title is high, but it’s also really well done. Even though you know that Messi is going to win the World Cup in 2022, the excitement and tension still comes across on the page.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

I understand Messi more now after reading this book. It was done in a way to give history of not only Messi’s triumph but also soccer and the World Cup in general. lthough I am not a huge soccer fan, I found the graphic novel interesting and also helped me understand the hype of Messi.

[Ms. Yingling · Rating 5 out of 5]

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This was a very well done sports graphic novel covering one particular game, in 2022, or Messi's career. I enjoyed the style of artwork (which sometimes lapsed into some vintage inspired panels!), the turquoise blue and red color palette, and the general formatting, which used a good size, readable font that also had a comic book feel to it. I also loved that there was a lot of soccer history in the first chapter (including the WWI era Christmas soccer match between British and German soldiers), which hopefully readers will not ignore before getting to Messi's story. The "water breaks" and "trivia goals" are fun as well. I will definitely purchase a copy, if not two, because demand will be VERY high in upper elementary and middle school libraries.

Since I have never actually seen a soccer match, and am not a fan of graphic novels, this wasn't a personal favorite of mine, but I am very much looking forward to this Abrams Fanfare series. There is no information about further titles right now.