The Ultimate Shortcut. My Favorite Books Out Of 250
In 2014, I rediscovered the love of reading and set a personal goal to read more books. Now, after 10 years, I have read 250
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When it comes to sports, nothing is as popular as soccer or football as it’s known in many countries. The reason soccer is so popular is that it has a subculture of its own as this culture extends beyond the game itself. It connects people across cultures and borders, and the raw emotions it evokes truly make it a beautiful game.
You will rarely find raw emotions, fan traditions, team loyalties, and stories of resilience from other sports. This rich culture has also inspired many soccer professionals to pen the best soccer books that cover various aspects of soccer.
So, I have compiled a list of the 10 best books about football that provide a dynamic angle into the beautiful game. These football books cover various topics, from player biographies to highs and lows and historical accounts.
While making the list of best soccer books, I had soccer fans and CulturalReads fans in mind. After all, the love of books shouldn’t be just fiction or non-fiction; it should also be about sports culture. So, let’s discuss these best soccer books that give unique perspectives on the world’s most popular sport.
Football is a huge game with many popular and great players.
It could take some pages just to talk about them, and football books are written about them. So, I will restrict myself to 3 autobiographies, personal stories and best books about football for inspiration, culture and history.
When I say football is a culture, I say mostly because of South American countries. After all, they have won 10 FIFA World Cups combined. It’s a huge milestone number, but is there a parameter that can measure passion? I believe, if ever there was, the scale would peak.
And what better way to discuss the best football books than by starting with the autobiography of Pele, one of the greatest players of all time and one of the most popular sports figures of the 20th century?
This autobiography delves into the soccer legend’s rise from poverty in Bauru, Brazil, to international stardom. Pelé recounts scoring his first goal for Santos FC at age 15 and his debut for Brazil’s national team at 16.
He shares behind-the-scenes details of his World Cup experiences, including the 1958 tournament, where, at just 17, he helped Brazil win its first title. He also shares insights into his playing style, training regimens, and the pressure to be in the global spotlight.
Pelé also discusses controversial aspects of his life, such as his relationship with Brazil’s military government and his reluctance to play in the United States. The autobiography provides a candid look at the man who won 3 FFA World Cups for Brazil.
Pele is the sole author of this soccer book. Whereas, when I recently covered the best Brazilian books, I mentioned another book, Why Soccer Matters. Pele co-wrote this soccer book with journalist, Brian Winter.
Maradona is another one of the greatest players without whose mention, football is incomplete. He was a key midfielder in the 1986 World Cup-winning team.
Also, his infamous “Hand of God” goal during the 1986 World Cup quarterfinals against England remains one of the most controversial moments in football history. The book discusses this controversy as well.
Interestingly, there’s so much more to the legend. And this autobiography is an unfiltered account of his humble beginnings in Villa Fiorito to rise as one of soccer’s most iconic figures. This soccer book provides great details of his career and his role in making soccer popular in Argentina.
He also discusses his struggles with drug addiction and how it affected his personal life and professional career. He shares insights into the pressures of fame and its toll on his relationships and mental health. We also read his thoughts on Argentine politics and his role as a cultural icon. All of these interesting aspects make this one of the best soccer books. You can order Maradona: The Autobiography on Amazon.
I talked about the greatest footballer, Pele, and now it’s time for the ‘European Pele’, Johan Cruyff. A 3-time Ballon d’Or winner, he led the Dutch national team to the 1974 World Cup final that lost to West Germany.
In this soccer book, he shares his journey from Amsterdam streets to becoming legendary player and coach. The book provides insights into Cruyff’s playing career, including his time at Ajax and Barcelona. He shares his experiences winning three consecutive European Cups with Ajax.
He also shares his role in developing “Total Football” with coach Rinus Michels. Total Football is a style of play in which every player can play in any position on the pitch.
He further talks about his coaching career and his time at Barcelona. The book is full of insights into tactics and management style, which made Barcelona one of the most successful European clubs.
Football is not just about legends. The game itself is bigger than legends as it has turned countries into global household names, just like players. These football books have everything, from history, passion, rivalries, and heartache to politics. Let’s discuss some of the best soccer books for the love of the game.
Argentina is another South American country with three FIFA World Cup titles, the latest in 2022. How did it get to this stage? Well, Argentinian football has a rich and somewhat complex history. Angels With Dirty Faces is one of the best football books that covers the introduction of football by British railway workers to its global status.
Jonathan Wilson also discusses the careers of iconic Argentinian players like Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, and Alfredo Di Stéfano. He examines how these legends have shaped the country’s football identity and influenced the game worldwide.
However, it’s the socio-political history of Argentinian football that makes this one of the best football books. He explores how football intertwines with national politics, economic struggles, and cultural identity.
Angels With Dirty Faces also covers Argentinian football tactics, from la nuestra style to modern approaches. After all, without these tactical innovations, Argentina wouldn’t be where it is today.
As for the socio-political history of Argentina, I recently wrote about it in the best Argentinian movies. You can order Angels With Dirty Faces on Amazon.
Fear and Loathing in La Liga is one of the best books on soccer. It unearths the intense rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Sid Lowe traces the historical, political, and cultural contexts that have shaped this rivalry between two of Spain’s most iconic soccer clubs.
The origins of these clubs date back more than a century. It all started with Barcelona symbolising Catalan nationalism and Real Madrid being associated with Spanish centralism. Since then, these cultural and political tensions have played out on and off the pitch.
There’s also a history of key matches, players, and moments defining the rivalry. How legendary players like Alfredo Di Stéfano, Johan Cruyff, Messi, and Ronaldo have played for the clubs and intensified the rivalry.
What makes these rivalries exciting is how they have impacted Spanish politics and the global football scene. Also, the rivalry has driven innovation in tactics, training methods, and club management. So, if you follow European football, this is one of the best books about football to read.
When Friday Comes is quite a unique soccer book in our best soccer books list. It doesn’t talk about South America or Europe but the Middle East, and that, too, from an interesting perspective. The book discusses the intersection of soccer, politics, and culture in the Middle East. James Montague travelled through the Middle East, documenting how the sport reflects the region’s complex social and political landscape.
Montague provides firsthand accounts of attending matches in various countries. It provides a unique perspective on how football is an escape and a catalyst for change in troubled regions. He interviews players, fans, and officials, revealing the passion for the game despite conflict and instability.
The book delves into specific stories highlighting soccer’s power in the Middle East. Montague examines how the sport has been used as a tool for political propaganda, a means of resistance, and national identity formation in countries like Palestine and Kurdistan.
It was pretty interesting that when you looked at the Middle East as a troubled region, a different situation was happening in football. The ownership stakes in European Clubs by rich Gulf countries and Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup as the first Middle Eastern country. It’s quite a compelling and the best soccer book if you are looking for a fascinating read.
Football Against the Enemy, just like the above one, is a firsthand account of a journalist-travelling book. This time, however, it’s not about the Middle East but 22 countries. Simon Kuper travelled across the globe to investigate how the sport influences social and political life.
The book contains intriguing stories never before heard stories, such as how soccer played a role in the breakup of Yugoslavia and its significance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Kuper examines how football is both a unifying force and a source of division in different societies.
He also explores the business side of soccer, exploring corruption in various football associations and the sport’s economic impact. He provides insights into how soccer is used as a tool for political gain and national identity.
Throughout the book, Kuper combines journalistic reporting with personal anecdotes, which makes this one of the best books about football. It is, indeed, a great read if you want to see how football shapes the societies in which it’s played.
Any mention of best football books would be incomplete without the mention of German. After all, Germany won four FIFA World Cups, the most in the history of any European country. How does a country achieve such a remarkable feat? It must have some history, culture, and passion for the game. And there is no better way to learn about it than reading Tor! (Goal!)
Tor! traces football’s development in Germany from its early days to its emergence as a powerhouse. Hesse-Lichtenberger explores key moments in German football history, including the 4 World Cup victories and the rise of the Bundesliga. He examines how political events, such as the division and reunification of Germany, impacted the sport.
The book delves into the stories of legendary German players like Franz Beckenbauer, Gerd Müller, and Lothar Matthäus, among many others. It also analyses the tactical innovations and playing styles that have characterised German football.
Tor! goes beyond just recounting events; it provides cultural context and shows how football has shaped German identity. If you are looking for an inspirational read, Tor! is one of the best books about football.
The Dutch are excellent but just unlucky when it comes to football. I mean, it’s the only country to have played 3 World Cup finals and lost each time. It’s quite a different story in hockey though. The Netherlands have won 3 Hockey World Cups alongside Australia and Germany, with Pakistan winning the most 4 World Cups.
The unlucky factor is very similar to South Africa. South Africa has won 4 Rugby World Cups, most by any nation, yet it hasn’t won any Cricket World Cup. I talked about this exciting aspect in the best South African books.
Does being unlucky also mean the Dutch are not innovative and distinctive in football? I tend to think otherwise, and Brilliant Orange is one of the football books that say so.
David Winner explores the unique relationship between Dutch culture and its distinctive soccer style. He discusses how the Netherlands’ geography, art, and social structures have influenced the country’s approach to the game.
The book examines the development of “Total Football,” the revolutionary tactical system that defined Dutch soccer in the 1970s. How legendary players like Rinus Michels and Johan Cruyff emphasised versatility, spatial awareness, and fluid positioning.
Winner also investigates the paradoxical nature of Dutch soccer: despite producing some of the most talented players and innovative tactics, they have often fallen short in major tournaments. He explores the psychological and cultural factors that might contribute to this phenomenon. Overall, it is one of the best soccer books to read if you want to go beyond soccer.
It’s quite funny that whenever there’s a problem, the Italians often blame “la malasorte, ” meaning “bad luck”. That ‘la malasorte’ doesn’t apply to winning FIFA World Cups, anyway. After all, Itlay is another European country, alongside Germany, to have won 4 FIFA World Cups.
I will not talk more about Italy winning World Cups here. Instead, I mention a unique soccer book that brings an entirely different angle to Italian soccer. Ultra is one of the best soccer books that tackles the controversial world of Italian soccer fan culture. The book focuses on the “ultras,” the most passionate and sometimes violent supporters of Italian football.
Jones provides an in-depth look at the origins and evolution of ultra groups across Italy. He explores their organisational structures, rituals, and the deep-rooted rivalries between different factions.
The author doesn’t shy away from the darker aspects of ultra culture, discussing incidents of violence, racism, and criminal connections. However, Jones also highlights these groups’ sense of community and identity for many supporters.
Ultra examines the complex relationship between ultras, clubs, and Italian society through extensive research and firsthand accounts. Overall, it is one of the best books on soccer if you are looking for an exciting and unique read.
Letter to My Younger Self is not a book, but worth sharing!
The “Letter to My Younger Self” series on The Players’ Tribune features personal letters from athletes to their younger selves, reflecting on their journeys and the lessons learned. There are many football legends whose letters you can read for inspiration.
These letters offer heartfelt advice, recount significant moments, and provide insights into the struggles and triumphs faced by athletes across various sports. Each letter provides an intimate glimpse into their experiences and the wisdom they’ve gained. The series is a powerful collection of stories highlighting the resilience, growth, and personal reflections of the most prominent sports world figures.
These best soccer books deep-dive into the culture and history of football. If you’re interested in player biographies, tactical analyses, or the social impact of football, these best books about football provide valuable insights.
These best books on soccer are also excellent choices if you simply want to enjoy compelling sports literature. From historical accounts to contemporary issues, these football books cover various topics, making them essential read for die-hard fans of the world’s most popular sport.
In 2014, I rediscovered the love of reading and set a personal goal to read more books. Now, after 10 years, I have read 250
Ann Morgan is an author, speaker & editor. She has written four books and started two blogs, ayearofreadingwomen and ayearofreadingtheworld. She is also a Literary
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