The story of the two football players, Lionel Andrés Messis (b. 1987) and Cristiano Ronaldo (b. 1985). Their differences seem to tap into something fundamental about football and indeed life

A Financial Times Sports Books of the Year. Cristiano and Leo is the fascinating account of the lives and rivalry between two of the best footballers to ever play the game, Ronaldo and Messi, by Jimmy Burns the bestselling author of Maradona: The Hand of God. The rivalry between Ronaldo and Messi has defined football to a generation of fans – everyone has an opinion on who is the greatest. Do you prefer Ronaldo whose work ethic and physique have been honed for one purpose – scoring goals. Or Messi, whose superhuman natural talent means he can do the seemingly impossible with a football. Between them they have scored over 1300 goals, won the Ballon d’Or ten times, and taken the beautiful game to even greater heights. But statistics alone cannot do justice to their skill, athleticism and dedication to stay at the top for so long of one of the most competitive sports in the world. Cristiano and Leo tells their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to facing each other in the epic clash El Clásico, between Real Madrid and Barcelona. This is the essential book to understand one the most compelling rivalries in sporting history.

For the best part of the last decade soccer has seen a personal rivalry unlike any seen before: Cristiano and Leo. This is their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to their era-defining rivalry. One the preening Adonis, a precision physical machine who blows teams away with his pace and power. The other a shuffling genius, able to do things with a soccer ball that seem other-worldly. Their differences seem to tap into something fundamental about sports and indeed life. Between them they have scored over a thousand goals, won the Ballon d'Or nine times and redefined modern soccer. For the past eight seasons they have shared the accolade of best player in the world and arguments rage over which one deserves the title of greatest player of all time.

"Ask any football fan who's better, Ronaldo or Messi and they'll have an opinion. Football is a team game. It's virtually unheard of to have the sort of focused, one on one rivalries that dominate individual sports. But for the best part of the last decade football has seen a personal rivalry unlike any seen before. Cristiano and Leo. This is their definitive story, from children kicking a ball halfway around the world from each other to their era-defining rivalry. One the preening adonis, a precision physical machine who blows teams away with his pace and power. The other a shuffling genius, able to do things with a football that seem other-worldly. Their differences seem to tap into something fundamental about football and indeed life. Between them they have scored over a thousand goals, won the Ballon d'Or nine times and redefined modern football. For the past eight seasons they have shared the accolade of best footballer in the world and arguments rage over which one deserves the title of greatest player of all time."--Publisher's description.

Cristiano Ronaldo - The Rise of a Winner is the gripping life story of a boy who rose from the streets of Madeira to become one of the greatest soccer players ever. A heartfelt, startling tale of his journey to glory and what made him the man he is.

FROM THE BESTSELLING AUTHOR OF MBAPP É AND MESSI, NEYMAR, RONALDO For years, a personal battle has defined top-level European football – Messi vs Ronaldo. A rivalry like no other. Since they were first pitted against each other in 2007, the two men's domination of the record books has been unparalleled. They continue to divide opinion but one thing is beyond doubt: this is football's greatest ever head-to-head. Luca Caioli draws on the exclusive testimonies of managers, teammates, friends and family to tell the inside story of this momentous rivalry. Includes all the action from the 2017/18 season and the 2018 World Cup

The captivating story of soccer legend Lionel Messi, from his first touch at age five in the streets of Rosario, Argentina, to his first goal on the Camp Nou pitch in Barcelona, Spain. The Flea tells the amazing story of a boy who was born to play the beautiful game and destined to become the world's greatest soccer player.