A brilliant, kaleidoscopic exploration of soccer--and the passion,
hopes, rivalries, superstitions, and global solidarity it inspires--from
Juan Villoro, "Mexico's top fútbol expert" (NBC News).
On a planet where FIFA has more members than the United Nations and the
World Cup is watched by more than three billion people, football is more
than just a game. As revered author Juan Villoro argues in this
passionate and compulsively readable tribute to the world's favorite
sport, football may be the most effective catalyst for panglobal unity
at the time when we need it most. (Following global consensus, Villoro
uses "football" rather than "soccer" in the book.)
What was the greatest goal of all time? Why do the Hungarians have a
more philosophical sense of defeat than the Mexicans? Do the dead play
football? In essays ranging from incisive and irreverent portraits of
Maradona, Messi, Ronaldo, Pelé, Zidane, and many more giants of the game
to entertaining explorations of left-footedness and the number 10, Juan
Villoro dissects the pleasure and pain of football fandom. God Is
Round is a book for both fanatics and neophytes who long to feel the
delirium of the faithful.