Soccer in Sun and Shadow

"Sport's answer to One Hundred Years of Solitude."—Financial Times

"Stands out like Pele on a field of second-stringers."
 —New Yorker

"Between poetic descriptions of scores by famous players, Galeano provides political context and commentary...Over all, the book is a winning celebration of the beautiful game."
 —New York Times Book Review

"It's all here. Everything you should know about soccer, the world's game."—Los Angeles Times

"[A] beautiful ode to the beautiful game."

—Grant Wahl, Sports Illustrated

"Soccer in Sun and Shadow is the most lyrical sports book ever written... In soccer, Galeano finds both a reflection and extension of everything he loves and finds maddening about the part of the world that has been the central focus of his writing for decades."—Dave Zirin

"The Pele of [soccer] writing....a marvelous book."
—Richard Williams, The Guardian

"A poetic history [of soccer] that sets the book apart from others. Galeano's Catholic upbringing, socialist politics, and the injustice he's seen as a journalist seeps into his commentary, and gives his narrative a refreshing perspective that captures soccer's spiritual roots, corruption by greed, and role as a global equalizer that puts royals and dictators at the mercy of minorities and slum kids."
—Publishers Weekly

"This updated edition serves as a reminder that this is not just a classic sports book. On virtually every page, Galeano uses a phrase or sentence that will leave readers in awe of his gifts. A welcome update of a classic. Galeano's gift to the game he loves."
—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

"Since its first publication in 1995 (as Football in Sun and Shadow), this book has been relentlessly quoted, and for good reason. The author who pleads, 'A pretty move, for the love of God' has an eye for beauty, a feel for the game, a sense of proportion-and a gift for putting it all into words. Those seeking a history of soccer or a fan's memoir won't find it here... Above all, he reminds us of 'a simple truth that tends to escape the scientists of the ball: soccer is a game, and those who really play it feel happy and make us happy too.' An indispensible addition to soccer collections."—Booklist, (starred review)