The Argentinean soccer player Diego Maradona playing against Belgium during the World Cup, Barcelona, 1982.

*Top,* Ian Wright playing for Arsenal in a Premier League match against Blackburn Rovers, London, 1997; *above,* Nery Pumpido playing for Argentina in a World Cup match against Italy, Puebla, Mexico, 1986.

Edson Arantes do Nascimento, better known as Pelé, playing for Brazil in a World Cup match against Bulgaria, Liverpool, 1966.

Lionel Messi and Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho, during an F.C. Barcelona match against Real Madrid, Barcelona, 2007.

*Top,* a match between Liverpool and Manchester during the F.A. Cup, Liverpool, 1985; *above,* Maradona playing against Peru at the World Cup, Lima, 1985.

David Beckham playing for Real Madrid in a Champions League match against the Olympique de Marseille, Madrid, 2003.

*Top,* Roberto Carlos playing for Brazil in a World Cup match against France, Paris, 1998; *above,* Slovenia playing against Algeria during the World Cup, Polokwane, South Africa, 2010.

Johan Cruyff playing for the New York Cosmos in a match against the World All-Stars, New Jersey, 1978.

*Top,* Brandi Chastain playing for the United States in a World Cup match against China, Pasadena, 1999; *above,* Ellie Carpenter, playing for Australia, and Alex Greenwood, for England, during the World Cup, Sydney, 2023.

Ronaldo Luís Nazário playing for Inter Milan in a match against A.C. Milan at the Derby della Madonnina, Milan, 1999.

*Top,* a World Cup match between Brazil and Italy, Pasadena, 1994; *above,* Manuel Bento playing for Portugal in a match against the U.S.S.R. to qualify for the 1984 European Championship, Lisbon, 1983.

The French Guiana–born player Cyrille Regis during a photo shoot in West Bromwich, England, 1984.

*Top,* goalposts in Villa Hayes, Paraguay, 1998; *above,* Arthur Antunes Coimbra, better known as Zico, playing for Brazil in a World Cup match against New Zealand, Seville, 1982.

Michael Laudrup playing for Juventus F.C. in a match against the Argentinos Juniors at the Intercontinental Cup, Tokyo, 1985.

*Top,* Ronaldo, playing for Brazil, and Sol Campbell, for England, during the Tournoi de France, Paris, 1997; *above,* Wembley Stadium during the F.A. Cup, London, 1995.

Denílson de Oliveira, playing for Real Betis, and Claude Makélélé, for Real Madrid, in a game organized by La Liga, Madrid, 2002.

*Top,* a World Cup match between West Germany and Colombia, Milan, 1990; *above,* Ian Wright, Paul Merson, and Patrick Vieira playing for Arsenal in a Premier League match against A.F.C. Wimbledon, London, 1996.

Allan “Snifferˮ Clarke playing for Leeds United in a match against Queens Park Rangers, London, 1974.

The Sport of All Sports

“A game of the people, by the people”: as the World Cup comes to a close, a coffee-table book—and a devoted fan—pays tribute to the elegance and grandeur of soccer

It’s almost over. Tomorrow at three P.M., at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey, Spain will play Argentina in the World Cup final, the crowning game in soccer, the climax of hundreds of matches across six continents going back three years to 2023.

A year or so from now, the run-up will begin again, aiming for the 2030 final, which will take place in either Madrid or Casablanca. The teams for the earliest games are typically drawn from the lowest ranked Asian nations, the likes of Macau, Guam, Hong Kong, Cambodia, Afghanistan, and Nepal, and it’s possible in theory that one or two of them could make it to the 2030 final.