World Cup Story Time: 11 Picture Books Full of Soccer Stars, Global Stories & Life Lessons

This picture book profiles 10 of the world’s biggest soccer stars—including Mbappé, Messi, Salah, Sam Kerr, and others—in a simple, engaging format designed specifically for the youngest fans. What makes Soccer Stories: Heroes of the World Cup especially sweet is the through-line: Every one of these megastars was once just a soccer-loving kid, maybe not so different from your child. With bold, energetic illustrations and bite-sized text that works beautifully as a read-aloud, it’s a fun book to build excitement as the World Cup gets underway.

Part of the beloved Celebrate the World board-book series from Little Simon, this title breaks down the history and excitement of the World Cup in the simple, engaging way that makes the series so popular with young readers. From sold-out stadiums to legendary athletes to roaring victory celebrations, it captures the global spirit of the event in a format perfectly sized for little hands.

This book celebrates the significance of the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team in American sports history. It highlights the incredible achievements and inspiring journeys of the team’s talented players, showcasing their dedication, skill, and passion for the game. With engaging storytelling and vibrant illustrations, World Cup Women: Megan, Alex, and the Team USA Soccer Champs emphasizes the value of gender equality, teamwork, and determination. It educates young readers about the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team’s impact on the world stage and illustrates how a small group of people can make a massive difference.

S is for soccer. F is for football, fútbol, and fußball. No matter what you call the game, this clever alphabet book celebrates it from A to Z. G Is for Golazo: The Ultimate Soccer Alphabet is a soccer ABC with a twist. Author James Littlejohn makes some unexpected choices that will get you talking about letters and soccer: Diego Maradona shows up under H for “Hand of God,” and Marta under Q for “Queen.” Matthew Shipley’s illustrations are vibrant and stylish, with bold colors and a graphic energy that feels like the sport itself—fast, exciting, and full of personality. Preschoolers will love the colorful surprises on every page, while the grown-ups will get a kick out of the soccer deep cuts. With legends from across the globe, it’s a genuinely international celebration of the beautiful game that’s just right for World Cup season.

Discover how one of soccer’s most legendary players started his career dribbling balls made of rags on the streets of Brazil. As a young boy, Edson can’t focus because his mind is on the soccer field. He spends all of his free time practicing, practicing, practicing—which pays off when he starts winning. In Young Pelé, Lesa Cline-Ransome and her illustrator husband James E. Ransome bring to life the incredible true story of the soccer star.

There’s no shortage of Messi biographies out there right now, but this 2026 Children’s Book Council Kids’ Favorites award winner truly stands out. In Messi’s Magic: How Lionel Messi Became the G.O.A.T., Caroline L. Perry zeroes in on moments kids will connect with most. She brings tonight Messi’s loving, noisy, soccer-obsessed family in Rosario, Argentina; the grandmother who insisted her grandson be allowed to play; and the little boy who simply never stopped believing in himself. We follow the boy all the way to lifting the World Cup trophy with Argentina in 2022. Luciano Lozano’s action-packed illustrations move from tender family moments to sweeping field spreads. Soccer-savvy kids will love hunting for details like jerseys and stadiums tucked into the backgrounds. The volume also includes a timeline and fun facts that will keep the conversation going after you finish the story.

Did you know Inuit culture holds that the Northern Lights are the souls of the departed—playing soccer in the sky? Northern Lights: The Soccer Trails is an award-winning picture book that follows young Kataujaq, who misses her mother deeply. The child finds comfort in looking up at the lights, imagining her mother out there playing the game she loved. Inuit author Michael Kusugak brings an authentic, tender warmth to this one-of-a-kind story. With Canada serving as a 2026 World Cup host, it’s a beautiful moment to share a book that shows how deeply the love of soccer runs through one Canadian Indigenous culture.

Max knows everything about soccer … well, almost everything. He knows the important things, like munching on orange slices and watching the clouds and chasing runaway puppies off the field. He’s a little less concerned with actually kicking the ball. This lighthearted read will introduce young readers to terms like cleats and delight them with Max’s whimsical daydreams.

This delightful Kirkus-starred picture book takes young readers to an Indian village during monsoon season. When rain keeps Mina from her beloved game of soccer, she miserably waits inside all day, trying everything she can think of to ward off the storm. In the process, Mina discovers a surprising secret about her own mother that brings them closer together. Debasmita Dasgupta’s charming illustrations draw you into Mina’s world, and the Hindi/Urdu words scattered throughout truly bring the story’s setting to life for readers anywhere.

When the field calls, everyone comes running—young and old, rain or shine—in this vibrant picture book set on a Caribbean island. The story follows a community that drops everything to play a spirited game of football together. Author Baptiste Paul, who was born in St. Lucia, sprinkles Creole words throughout the text. The whole scene comes to glorious, colorful life in the illustrations by Jacqueline Alcantara, winner of the We Need Diverse Books Illustration Mentorship Award. It’s a sweet read for World Cup season, reminding readers that all you really need for a great game is people who love to play.

When I was growing up in the nineties, no female athlete was more popular than Mia Hamm. A two-time Olympic gold medalist in soccer and founding member of the first-ever professional women’s soccer team in the United States, she was seen as proof positive of girl power in sports. (I mean, remember her commercials with Michael Jordan? She was just so cool!) Now, Mia Hamm has done it again, by writing a children’s book that recounts the story of a young soccer enthusiast who encounters challenges on her journey to becoming a skilled player. With relatable characters and engaging storytelling, Winners Never Quit teaches valuable life lessons about resilience, teamwork, and the importance of never giving up. This book motivates young readers to understand that true winners are those who persevere.