Showing results by author "Matt Oldfield" in All Categories

Cristiano Ronaldo overcame poverty and childhood illness to become one of the best football players ever. Escaping the hot streets of Madeira, Ronaldo first proved himself as a wonder-kid at Manchester United under Sir Alex Ferguson, before becoming a legend for Real Madrid and Portugal. This is the story of how the gifted boy became a man, a team player and a legend.

Lionel Messi is a legend - Barcelona's star player and the world's best footballer. But when he was young, he was so small that his friends called him 'Little Leo' and coaches worried he wasn't big enough. Yet through bravery, talent and hard work, he proved them wrong. Messi tells the magical story of how the tiniest boy in South America grew up to become the greatest player on earth.

Hailing from a footballing family, Jude Bellingham started his football career as an under-8 at Birmingham City before going on to make history as the club's youngest ever first-team player when he made his senior debut at the age of 16. His natural talent caught the eye of the scouts at Borussia Dortmund. Joining the German team in 2020, Bellingham became the club's youngest ever goalscorer in his first competitive match. Discover how this midfielder from the West Midlands balanced school and a burgeoning football career to hone his skills.

Norwegian international Erling Haaland is the rising star of Europe. Having already smashed Messi, Ronaldo and Harry Kane's record of quickest player to twenty Champions League goals, 'The Terminator' is proving to be a ruthless, efficient goalscoring machine. At such a young age, the world is his playground. Discover how he's caught the eye of the footballing world and whether he'll pip Mbappe to a Ballon d'Or!

Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior is the boy who carries the hopes of Brazil on his shoulders. Although he now faces a new challenge at Paris Saint-Germain, it was his years playing for Barcelona, in a fearsome attacking trident alongside Messi and Suarez, that made him a legend across the world. This is the heart-warming true story of Neymar's road to glory.

Florian Wirtz is the rising superstar football player who became the youngest scorer in Bundesliga history, earning the player of the season title. In 2025 he transferred to Liverpool following their glorious victory in the Premier League for a club-record fee of approximately £100 million. This transfer made him one of the most expensive footballers of all time. On the international stage, he became Germany's youngest goalscorer in the European Championships at the age of 21. He is now known as one of the best attacking midfielders in the world.

Blessed with a natural talent and unwavering determination, Cole Palmer proved himself a footballing prodigy from a young age. Quickly rising through the youth ranks at Manchester City and later joining their main squad as part of the winning team who took home victories for the Premier League, FA cup and UEFA Championship all in the same year, he then signed with Chelsea FC in 2023. Known for his composure, this attacking midfielder is one of the best young footballers in the world.

Kylian Mbappe has the world at his feet. The young French striker's goals, skills and fearless attacking spirit earned him a £166 million transfer to French champions Paris Saint-Germain, to take on the best teams in Europe with new teammate Neymar. And at the 2018 World Cup, Kylian was the star player, his goals firing France to victory in the final. Now as a world champion, he has just one goal left - to become the best player ever.

The story of Marcus Rashford is nothing short of extraordinary - one of the brightest young stars on the Manchester United team, future England goal-scoring legend and shining example of philanthropy off the pitch. From tough beginnings in Manchester, Rashford has proven to be one of the Premier League's shining stars. Harry Kane used all his self-belief to prove that he could make it as a footballer. Now a superstar striker for Tottenham Hotspur and England, his hard work and determination have paid off.

Bukayo Saka has the world at his feet. Since breaking through the ranks at Arsenal, the young forward has gone from strength to strength, helping his team lift the FA cup for a record 14th time. His versatile style of play means he can help his team all over the pitch. Discover how the boy born in Ealing, went on to represent England at Wembley in the Euro 2020 final, achieved his dream of representing his country at such a young age and overcame adversity to become the ultimate football hero.

Hailing from a poor family, Vini Jr saw football very much as a hobby rather than a career opportunity. But there was no denying that the young boy from São Gonçalo had bags of talent. Moving quickly through the ranks at Flamengo, he immediately caught the eye of the most successful European football club ever and soon joined Real Madrid. Discover how this winger honed his superior close control dribbling ability, added trickery, flair and flamboyance to his playing style and scored the winning goal in a UEFA Champions League final at only 21 years of age!

Meet Harry Kane - Ultimate Football Hero. When Harry Kane was released by Arsenal at nine years old for being too small, he had to use all his self-belief to prove that he could make it as a footballer. Now a superstar striker for Tottenham Hotspur and England, his hard work and determination have paid off. Kane is the amazing story of how the boy from North London became the Premier League's most lethal goalscorer.

When Declan Rice was released by Chelsea's youth academy at the age of 14, he was devastated. But he wasn't going to let that get in the way of his Premier League dreams. He worked harder than ever, and by the time he was 20, he was the captain and star of top-flight West Ham. Discover how the two-footed, high-energy, combative midfielder established himself as an irreplaceable member of the England national team and Arsenal's new record signing.

Masour Ousmane Dembélé proved himself as a superstar player from a young age when he was named Player of the Year in his first professional signing with French team Rennes. He transferred to Dortmund where a goal in the final helped them win the DFB-Pokal. Dembélé transferred to Barcelona for a fee of €105 million where the team won seven titles. In 2023 he returned to France and signed with Paris Saint-Germain.

In 2002, during the final moments of injury time, David Beckham scored an incredible free-kick, securing England a place in the World Cup. It was this moment that ensured that Beckham would become one of the most loved English footballers, as well as a Manchester United and Real Madrid hero. During a career which spanned twenty years, Beckham won an impressive nineteen major trophies. This is the story of a true sportsman, who earned respect and loyalty from his fans around the world.

DREAM BIG. PLAY THE SPORT YOU LOVE. LET THEM HEAR US ROAR The debut children's audiobook from star player and Golden Boot winner of the groundbreaking Euro 2022 England women's team, Beth Mead. Drawing on her amazing trajectory from playing with the boys' team on the pitches of North Yorkshire...

Proving a gifted footballer from the age of four, Lamine Yamal overcame adversity to sign with La Masia at the age of seven. A talented right winger, Yamal's pace and powerful long-range shots have propelled him in his career to become one of the best young footballers in the world. Follow the story of Lamine Yamal, ultimate football hero, from humble beginnings in Catalonia all the way to being named as UEFA Euro 2024's Young Player of the Tournament.

This is the story of Marcus Rashford - one of the brightest young stars on the Manchester United books and future England goal-scoring legend. From tough beginnings in Manchester, Rashford has proven to be one of the Premier League's shining stars, scoring twice in his senior debut, scoring in his first Premier League match and scoring in his England debut in 2016. The future can only get better!

Sadio Mané is one of Liverpool FC's 'Fab Four'. Along with Mo Salah, Roberto Firmino and Xherdan Shakiri, Sadio's goals have helped make Liverpool the deadliest attacking team in the Premier League. Since he moved to the Premier League, Sadio has been setting the bar to new heights - from scoring the fastest hat-trick in history to becoming the most expensive African footballer ever. There is no stopping the Fab Four, and the sky is the limit for Sadio Mané.

Born and bred Brummie, Jack Grealish became captain of his boyhood club Aston Villa at just 23 years old. In this gripping story, discover how Jack battled through many ups and downs, like suffering relegation, and overcame these obstacles at each turn. Through his dribbling prowess and ability to get back up when knocked down, Jack became not only the most expensive English player ever when he signed for Man City, but England's poster boy at Euro 2020.