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Men in Blazers Present Gods of Soccer: The Pantheon of the 100 Greatest Soccer Players
From the hosts of the popular podcast and tv show Men in Blazers, comes their completely scientific, 100% definitive, defend-to-the-death list of the greatest soccer players of all time.
Every fan has their own list of the 100 soccer players they consider the greatest ever to play the game. A list based on triumphs, sublime moments of skill, superhuman tenacity, and telenovela-esque backstories. To the list-maker, that 100 feels objective. Unequivocal. An absolute truth.
This is one such list.
Written with the same signature Men in Blazers humor found in their New York Times bestseller Encyclopedia Blazertannica , and accompanied by Nate Kitch's iconic photographic illustrations, Men in Blazers share the stories of household names like David Beckham and Alex Morgan, along with cult icons such as Garrincha, the Brazilian star of the 1960s who was born with one leg six inches shorter than the other, and Briana Scurry, a trailblazer who paved a path for young Black soccer-playing women. Page by page, you will revel in the depictions of players you adore, discover tales you have never heard, and experience vivid stories of dreams, loyalty, perseverance, creativity, and luck. Together, they form an alternative telling of the history of soccer, tracing the evolution of the men's and women's games around the globe, one unlikely, unbelievable, unforgettable career at a time. Thanks to the transcendent career arcs depicted within, Gods of Soccer is rife with tales that will make readers' hearts soar. Encourage them to dream. And then quickly rush off to make their own lists.
FOR READERS Complete Book of Soccer, The Baseball 100 , Encyclopedia Blazertannica , and Reborn in the USA
A COMPANION TO MEN IN BLAZERS PODCAST AND This is the perfect companion for avid fans of the Men in Blazers podcast, one of the largest soccer podcasts in the world, and their weekly NBC show.
A GREAT Surprise the soccer fans in your life or introduce someone to the sport with God's of Soccer . This will make a fantastic gift for both novice and die-hard players and soccer fans of all ages.
Every fan has their own list of the 100 soccer players they consider the greatest ever to play the game. A list based on triumphs, sublime moments of skill, superhuman tenacity, and telenovela-esque backstories. To the list-maker, that 100 feels objective. Unequivocal. An absolute truth.
This is one such list.
Written with the same signature Men in Blazers humor found in their New York Times bestseller Encyclopedia Blazertannica , and accompanied by Nate Kitch's iconic photographic illustrations, Men in Blazers share the stories of household names like David Beckham and Alex Morgan, along with cult icons such as Garrincha, the Brazilian star of the 1960s who was born with one leg six inches shorter than the other, and Briana Scurry, a trailblazer who paved a path for young Black soccer-playing women. Page by page, you will revel in the depictions of players you adore, discover tales you have never heard, and experience vivid stories of dreams, loyalty, perseverance, creativity, and luck. Together, they form an alternative telling of the history of soccer, tracing the evolution of the men's and women's games around the globe, one unlikely, unbelievable, unforgettable career at a time. Thanks to the transcendent career arcs depicted within, Gods of Soccer is rife with tales that will make readers' hearts soar. Encourage them to dream. And then quickly rush off to make their own lists.
FOR READERS Complete Book of Soccer, The Baseball 100 , Encyclopedia Blazertannica , and Reborn in the USA
A COMPANION TO MEN IN BLAZERS PODCAST AND This is the perfect companion for avid fans of the Men in Blazers podcast, one of the largest soccer podcasts in the world, and their weekly NBC show.
A GREAT Surprise the soccer fans in your life or introduce someone to the sport with God's of Soccer . This will make a fantastic gift for both novice and die-hard players and soccer fans of all ages.
224 pages, Hardcover
First published October 11, 2022
38 people are currently reading
308 people want to read
About the author
Men in Blazers
2 books137 followersHosts Roger Bennett and Michael Davies believe soccer is America's Sport of the Future. As it has been since 1972.
Check out our goodreads GFOP Readers Group and come be a part of the discssion. See what we're reading and tell us what you're reading. Let's talk about books ba-by: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
Check out our goodreads GFOP Readers Group and come be a part of the discssion. See what we're reading and tell us what you're reading. Let's talk about books ba-by: https://www.goodreads.com/group/show/...
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews
October 20, 2022
the pretentious soccer book i was looking for; so pretentious, in fact, that though i only planned to read the chapters on the players i cared about, i liked those chapters so much that i read the whole thing. i was gonna write a whole review on art/athletics/reconciliation a la david foster wallace, but i'll save that for agassi's memoir and just leave you with some of my favorite quotes:
"but no one is more responsible for launching english football into the future than thierry henry, who played as if that's where he'd come from"
"he's the tommy wiseau of football, if tommy wiseau had accidentally made rashomon rather than the room"
"never mind double- or triple-teamed. six defenders surround him. you can smell their fear. and you know he likes the odds."
"the first thing you notice about messi is that he looks, well, basically like a normal guy...the second thing you notice about messi is is that his name sounds an awful lot like messiah. the third thing you notice is that he plays like God."
"what he does feels startlingly natural - truthful, even. like he is playing football - real, honest to god, plato's cave football - and everything else is just shadows" (shoutout to jhumpa lahiri for single-handedly ensuring i understood this reference)
"she makes troy bolton look like an extracurricular-juggling dilettante"
"watching it back in replay, it looks like there are four brazilians involved in that play. and there are. but three of them are ronaldo."
"that evening, paris went quiet for a moment in disbelief. the world waited, anticipating an eruption of anger from french fans to match zidane's own fateful eruption. yet, slowly but surely, they poured out of their houes, flooding the streets of paris once again, waving their tricolored flags, singing, shouting, crying, and chanting "zizou, zizou." to love is to forgive."
"but no one is more responsible for launching english football into the future than thierry henry, who played as if that's where he'd come from"
"he's the tommy wiseau of football, if tommy wiseau had accidentally made rashomon rather than the room"
"never mind double- or triple-teamed. six defenders surround him. you can smell their fear. and you know he likes the odds."
"the first thing you notice about messi is that he looks, well, basically like a normal guy...the second thing you notice about messi is is that his name sounds an awful lot like messiah. the third thing you notice is that he plays like God."
"what he does feels startlingly natural - truthful, even. like he is playing football - real, honest to god, plato's cave football - and everything else is just shadows" (shoutout to jhumpa lahiri for single-handedly ensuring i understood this reference)
"she makes troy bolton look like an extracurricular-juggling dilettante"
"watching it back in replay, it looks like there are four brazilians involved in that play. and there are. but three of them are ronaldo."
"that evening, paris went quiet for a moment in disbelief. the world waited, anticipating an eruption of anger from french fans to match zidane's own fateful eruption. yet, slowly but surely, they poured out of their houes, flooding the streets of paris once again, waving their tricolored flags, singing, shouting, crying, and chanting "zizou, zizou." to love is to forgive."
November 22, 2022
Getting prepped for the World Cup. I listen to Men in Blazers throughout football season, and have been for years. A longtime fan from back when they were just writing a column for ESPN. For the last couple of weeks, I would just pop open the lovely designed book, read about two or three of the greats in soccer history, and then go about my day. As someone else noted, quick access to YouTube makes for an excellent companion to reading about these players.
May 23, 2023
I absolutely love my signed copy, a very generous gift from a former baseball teammate in my awkward youth. Thanks, Atila!
Fantastic art and fair play for trying for equal representation between the women's and men's game. Point deducted for a truly ill-tempered write up of Cristiano Ronaldo who seems to have been included purely out of spite.
They may as well have just used this as the basis for the book art ;)
Fantastic art and fair play for trying for equal representation between the women's and men's game. Point deducted for a truly ill-tempered write up of Cristiano Ronaldo who seems to have been included purely out of spite.
They may as well have just used this as the basis for the book art ;)
May 8, 2023
Fun to read about so many soccer/football heroes and learn about new ones. Some very interesting tidbits, and of course with the witty voice of the Men in Blazers coming through.
Worth a read.
Worth a read.
February 11, 2023
An absolutely gorgeous book, with each footballer getting a thoughtful one-page write-up with a lovely piece of artwork on the facing page. The art is fantastic, a sort of collage style with areas or images enlarged or repeated, and splashes of color or hand-drawn effects added - it made me see some very familiar pictures in a brand new way. The text is sharply written, funny and often genuinely moving - the writers are at their best when they can situate these athletes in a larger cultural conversation, or deal with figures like Maradona, Ronaldo or Hope Solo whose legacy is, at best, complicated. It's the rare coffee table book that's as rewarding to read as it is to look at.
There are always going to be some arguments with a list like this (I appreciate the amount of attention paid to the women's game, but to say that of the 100 greatest footballers ever, twelve of them are American women seems a bit much), and a few of the write-ups feel perfunctory and weak, more about a particular national team than a player (these tend to follow a "such-and-such country was in trouble, so-and-so-scored an impressive goal, country was happy" pattern - there are only a couple, but they're really noticeable considering how strong the rest of the writing is) - in another book these might have been larger problems, but they're pretty minor in a book this sharply written and beautifully made.
There are always going to be some arguments with a list like this (I appreciate the amount of attention paid to the women's game, but to say that of the 100 greatest footballers ever, twelve of them are American women seems a bit much), and a few of the write-ups feel perfunctory and weak, more about a particular national team than a player (these tend to follow a "such-and-such country was in trouble, so-and-so-scored an impressive goal, country was happy" pattern - there are only a couple, but they're really noticeable considering how strong the rest of the writing is) - in another book these might have been larger problems, but they're pretty minor in a book this sharply written and beautifully made.
June 18, 2023
I think this book serves its purpose incredibly well. The book brings to life the hundred greatest soccer players which can be used to remember these greats if you grew up with them, or learn more about them if you're just getting into the sport.
Each player is granted a dedicated page, offering an immersive exploration of their careers, anecdotes, and legacies. The authors' writing style effortlessly conveys the passion and impact of these legendary figures. With meticulous attention to detail, the book weaves together statistics and personal insights to create a vivid tapestry of football history.
What sets "Gods of Soccer" apart is its visually stunning artwork. The illustrations accompanying each player's profile add a layer of aesthetic brilliance, capturing their essence and uniqueness. These art pieces elevate the book to new heights, providing a visually captivating experience.
Additionally, the book deserves praise for its commitment to gender inclusivity. By spotlighting women's players alongside their male counterparts, "Gods of Soccer" celebrates the talent and contributions of all players, regardless of gender. This inclusive approach broadens readers' understanding of the game's diverse range of stars.
Each player is granted a dedicated page, offering an immersive exploration of their careers, anecdotes, and legacies. The authors' writing style effortlessly conveys the passion and impact of these legendary figures. With meticulous attention to detail, the book weaves together statistics and personal insights to create a vivid tapestry of football history.
What sets "Gods of Soccer" apart is its visually stunning artwork. The illustrations accompanying each player's profile add a layer of aesthetic brilliance, capturing their essence and uniqueness. These art pieces elevate the book to new heights, providing a visually captivating experience.
Additionally, the book deserves praise for its commitment to gender inclusivity. By spotlighting women's players alongside their male counterparts, "Gods of Soccer" celebrates the talent and contributions of all players, regardless of gender. This inclusive approach broadens readers' understanding of the game's diverse range of stars.
December 22, 2022
I've been a dedicated supporter of the Men in Blazers since 2014, when I first heard their podcast episodes covering the World Cup that year. I listen to their podcast most weeks, read their previous book (Encyclopedia Blazertannica), and even saw a live show in St. Louis a few years ago. I almost feel like Rog and Dave-O are close friends of mine (even though they have no idea who I am, of course!). But, the Men in Blazers podcast is the main reason I became such a passionate fan of the Premier League and remains my main source for soccer knowledge, including international teams/competitions and several domestic leagues. This year, Rog and Dave-O once again helped me navigate the build-up to, and completion of, the men's World Cup. Throughout the tournament, I read this wonderful book, which contains short entries about the 100 greatest soccer players (according to Men in Blazers). I enjoyed hearing some anecdotes about players I was already aware of as well as learning about many players I had never heard of. The accompanying artwork for each player was also very impressive. Overall, a thoroughly enjoying book from my favorite football guides.
July 11, 2022
When you limit yourself to 100 players across both the women and men's game, you are going to handicap your "Pantheon of greatest players". I mean? No Rio Ferdinand or Nemanja Vidic? No Carlos Puyol? Ricardo Carvalho? Edwin Van Der Sar? How do you omit Iniesta but have Xavi? The Fact that Kyle Beckerman is in this book is insulting. Beckerman isn't even in the top 200 players. No Jaap Stam, no Pepe, or Sergio Ramos? No Wayne Rooney? No Maldini? Luis Suarez is included, even though he's bitten three separate players on three separate occasions, as well as having racially abused another player during a game. I'm surprised there was no Rivaldo, not my favorite player but he won a ballon d'or. I think they went for inclusion over actual success. I'm honestly surprised that they included Eric Cantona. I could go on forever about how many players they left out. I still can't get over the fact that KYLE BECKERMAN is included in this! ANYONE EVER HEARD OF LANDON DONOVAN?
January 5, 2023
An excellent collection of mini-biographies of the most notable footballers, a list that even the authors admit is subject to eventual scrutiny if not disagreement. Written in the familiar excited irreverent and windy (how can they speak of such obscure details off-the-cuff?) delivery we know Rog and Davo produce, this book is like a Men in Blazers special episode. Speaking of disagreements, I certainly would have liked to have seen these additions (or replacements): Ryan Giggs (most domestic medals of any in the EPL), Denis Law (alongside Best and Charlton), Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes, and since a couple of former players turned coaches are listed, Sir Alex Ferguson (the greatest manager ever).
December 2, 2022
while this collection of 100 greatest soccer players includes both men and women it leaves out several women I would have included. But I applaud the authors for including women at all. I didn't count them but I estimate that it contains about 20 women and about 80 men.
Some of the women include Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Sam Kerr, Carli Lloyd, Christine Sinclair, Mia Hamm and several other U.S. players as well as several European players.
Among the men Pele, Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and many others are mentioned. Most of the men mentioned I have never heard of which is not surprising since I am a relatively new fan of soccer.
Some of the women include Abby Wambach, Alex Morgan, Hope Solo, Sam Kerr, Carli Lloyd, Christine Sinclair, Mia Hamm and several other U.S. players as well as several European players.
Among the men Pele, Lionel Messi, Christiano Ronaldo, David Beckham and many others are mentioned. Most of the men mentioned I have never heard of which is not surprising since I am a relatively new fan of soccer.
January 13, 2024
Rog and Davo strike with a fun look at their personal pantheon of soccer greats. It's clearly NOT a list of the 100 most talented players ever, and they have their blind spots, but it's a great starting point for debate, it's witty and insightful. The brief write-ups about each player do a good job of explaining why the players matter in the story of soccer. Finally, I was impressed by the gender balance of the list - many more women than I was expecting.
October 20, 2022
Im biased as I've been listening to the Men In Blazers podcast since WC2014. Funny as hell, glad they included a ton of women's players who deserves the shine as much as the men. Probably missing a few players (Iniesta, Luka Modric, Ferdinand) and others but I loved it nonetheless. Definitely gets me excited for the World Cup despite how morally bankrupt this one in Qatar will be
March 22, 2023
Very entertaining as well as informative. I learned a lot - both about players I hadn’t heard of before, and new insights into ones I did. The writing style was wickedly funny & that made it fun even as some of the stats & rosters & titles could get confusing. Well worth reading for anyone interested in the history of soccer.
April 24, 2023
Having split 50/50 women and men chapters means that we have 30? years of female soccer being covered with the same “intensity” as 100 of male. This leads to a ridiculous “density” issue that is at its peak with the US female team. I think they have more than 7 entries for players born between the 70s and 80s.
Makes you question entry criteria.
Makes you question entry criteria.
October 31, 2022
I learned a lot and had a few chuckles reading this one. The art is wonderful and the variety of stories is fascinating. Just wish there was room for my personal favorite, Ronaldinho (Gaucho). Maybe a companion volume of 100 Ronaldinho stories in the future could right this injustice.
November 19, 2022
Another World Cup, another soccer book: These are concise, incisive portraits of the “best” (according to the authors) soccer players, male and female. The best thing to do after reading each bio is to look up their feats at YouTube,
January 16, 2024
According to this book Kyle Beckerman is one of the 100 greatest players of all time. Here are some notable players who didn't make the list: Iniesta, Romario, Puyol, Neymar, Nesta, Casillas, Khan, Ronaldinho, Gullit, Modric, Kaka, De Bruyne, Cafu, and Zanetti to name a few
October 25, 2022
Fantastic book - I learned so much about players I didn't know about and am the better for it. Now to go out and make my own list.
November 9, 2022
Fun, unique, and extremely helpful to get some history of the world's greatest game. Courage.
December 4, 2022
Great bios of each player chosen, but the illustrations really take the cake. This would be an amazing gift for any soccer fan in your life.
December 17, 2022
Fun read in parts but too many quality players left out to be taken seriously
December 28, 2022
Learned a lot including about players that paved the way for the future.
December 31, 2022
wowww thats crazy how fast i read this thanks to my grandma for this wonderful christmas present that i definitely didnt just use to meet my goal on goodreads!
January 1, 2023
Fun read, but I'm a football fan.
January 4, 2023
Good stuff, they shouldn’t have left out Bergkamp though
January 15, 2023
Perfect compliment to have open during a mildly boring soccer game.
June 5, 2023
Always difficult to do a 100 players list.. so many good players left out!
June 30, 2023
Best page? David Beckham. Hilariously written and perfect for any fan of the sport.
August 10, 2023
would be a great coffee table book, and certainly helped me understand more about the beautiful game
August 28, 2023
I don’t (didn’t) know anything about soccer or soccer players. However, I still found this an enjoyable read. I imagine it would be even more enjoyable for soccer fans.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 33 reviews