The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT Series

by Matt Oldfield , Seth Burkett

(45 reviews)

Readers aged 7+ are NOT ready for this football-themed and black-and-white illustrated series from Matt Oldfield, the bestselling author of Ultimate Football Heroes, and Seth Burkett, a former professional footballer.

In each Football GOAT book, two football legends go head-to-head to find out who is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME! It's a true superstar showdown of the best of the best in the ultimate football debate packed full of fantastic illustrations in black and white, making the books visual and easy to read. The books compare all the latest data, stats, fascinating facts and awesome stories, then decide which football legend is the greatest of all time. This is a great reading option for all the football-obsessed, and any reader who is a commentator in the making.

Perfect for fans of the Football Superstars books and Play Like Your Football Hero.

Love this series? Check out our list of the Best Non-Fiction Series for 7 and 8 year olds.

All the Football GOAT books in order:

Book 1: The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo (2024)
Book 2: The Football GOAT: Mbappé v. Haaland (2025)
Book 3: The Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona (2025)
Book 4: The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham (2025)
Book 5: The Football GOAT: Saka v. Yamal (Feb 2026)

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Book 1

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 1

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Celebrate the 2026 World Cup in the superstar series full of facts, stats and stories, where you can choose which footba... MoreThe Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(15 reviews) 5 15

Review

Book 2

The Football GOAT: Mbappé v. Haaland: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Mbappé v. Haaland: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 2

The Football GOAT: Mbappé v. Haaland: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Celebrate the 2026 World Cup in the superstar series full of facts, stats and stories, where you can choose which footba... MoreThe Football GOAT: Mbappé v. Haaland: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(10 reviews) 5 10

Review

Book 3

The Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 3

The Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Celebrate the 2026 World Cup in the superstar series full of facts, stats and stories where you can choose which footbal... MoreThe Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(11 reviews) 5 11

Review

Book 4

The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 4

The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

*SHORTLISTED FOR THE WEEK JUNIOR BOOK AWARDS 2026*Celebrate the 2026 World Cup in the superstar series full of facts, st... MoreThe Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(9 reviews) 5 9

Review

Book 5

The Football GOAT: Saka v. Yamal: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Saka v. Yamal: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 5

The Football GOAT: Saka v. Yamal: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Celebrate the 2026 World Cup in the superstar series full of facts, stats and stories where you can choose which footbal... MoreThe Football GOAT: Saka v. Yamal: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(0 reviews)

Review

Book 6

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

Book 6

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

Are you ready for England v. the World? 2026 England players go head-to-head with their international rivals so you can ... MoreThe Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

(0 reviews)

Review

Book 7

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Book 7

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The superstar series full of facts, stats and stories so you can decide which Premier League football legend is the Grea... MoreThe Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

(0 reviews)

Review

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New Book

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

The Football GOAT: Who is the 2026 World Cup GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! The fun biography gift book for kids aged 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 - packed with stats & stories for boys and girls who love football

7th May 2026

(0 reviews)

Most Popular Book

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

1st August 2024

(15 reviews) 5 15

Coming Soon

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

The Football GOAT: Who is the Ultimate Premier League GOAT?: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate Premier League footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Paperback

13th August 2026

Recent Reviews

The Football GOAT: Messi v. Ronaldo: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

by Nell-D

I loved this book as it had snippets of newspapers and what things the doubters say. I learn a lot by reading this as it helped me learn new football ...
The Football GOAT: Kane v. Bellingham: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

by Zavier

It was very good. I liked this book because it gives me so much information about Bellingham and Harry Kane. There were many illustrations and photogr...
The Football GOAT: Pelé v. Maradona: Celebrate the 2026 World Cup and choose the ultimate footballer! Packed with facts & stories for kids who love football age 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

by Dorrington_Pupil_Librarians

This book is about who is better at football: Pele or Mararadona. It tells you about both of them. This book is good if you are a football fan. YOu ca...