THE SOCCER GOAT

The great soccer debate rages on in the second installment of this honest and unbiased (well, a little biased) series for footy fans.

Oldfield and Burkett go head to head again while defending their picks for GOATs, backing Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé, respectively. Breaking down the stars’ careers into four categories—character, skills, stats, and contributions—each author attempts to sway readers to his side. Though the slim, quick French Mbappé and hulking Norwegian Haaland don’t appear to have much in common, they were both raised in soccer families—Mbappé’s father coached and his older brother played professionally; Haaland’s father played in the Premier League—which puts them on even footing, and both men had a “grindset mindset” from a young age. The spirited banter between Oldfield and Burkett doesn’t take away from what is truly an edge-of-the-seat matchup from beginning to end, with the authors delivering clutch play-by-plays of each athlete’s highlight reel to demonstrate their leadership abilities and jaw-dropping technical prowess. But hey, soccer’s a game, right, and games should be fun! Aptly, a “Halftime” break with quizzes, greatest goals, and quotes from the subjects gives readers a breather from the fierce competition. In the end, the authors don’t make a definitive call, so this is one match that should rage on in classrooms, libraries, and at dinner tables for years to come.

GOATs face off, and readers are rewarded with insights into the beautiful game.