Journalist Abbot provides a fascinating glimpse into the world of soccer scouts through the story of Football Dreams, a program started in 2007 by Josep Colomer (former youth director, FC Barcelona), who helped launch superstar Lionel Messi's career. Funded by the oil-rich nation of Qatar seeking to raise its status in the international soccer world, the program selects and trains the top players among prospective young athletes in several African countries. Abbot expertly weaves the stories of some of the trials and triumphs of young boys in the program into the larger picture of the difficulties of scouting potential professional soccer players at a young age. He also broaches larger, philosophical questions, such as where is the line between the project being a "humanitarian" mission to help impoverished youth and it being exploitative? Abbot does not attempt to answer the questions, leaving it to readers to decide. VERDICT Recommended for soccer fans, especially those who wonder why their favorite team doesn't have a Messi of its own.
展开▼
