También conocido como "soccer" en los Estados Unidos, el fútbol es el deporte más popular del mundo. Aunque los juegos de patear pelotas pueden datar de hasta la antigua Grecia y China, el fútbol moderno se originó en la Inglaterra del siglo 19. La Asociación de Fútbol escribió las primeras reglas en 1863 y la primera liga organizada fue establecida en 1888. El fútbol se convirtió en un deporte olímpico en los juegos de 1908. En 1930, la FIFA organizó la Copa del Mundo, un torneo llevado a cabo cada cuatro años para determinar la supremacía internacional del fútbol. El fútbol se juega de acuerdo a unas reglas básicas universales. Este libro es una guía ilustrada de las reglas del fútbol, sus regulaciones, y la historia de este emocionante deporte.

Cuauhtémoc Blanco loves to play soccer, and it shows on the field. Blanco has been part of Mexican professional soccer since 1992, and has since become one of the most famous players around. Cuau has been a part of Club América in Mexico, Valladolid in Spain, and the Chicago Fire in the United States, not to mention the Mexican national team. Discover how Blanco became such a great player--and where his skills have taken him. Wherever he goes, Blanco plays his best and earns fans' attention and admiration!

En la historia del fútbol internacional, Ronaldo es uno de los nombres más grandes. Tres veces la FIFA lo honró con el título de mejor jugador del mundo. Además, el brasileño es el máximo goleador en la historia de la Copa del Mundo. Es un verdadero héroe nacional--y un favorito de aficionados de todas partes.

Mario Yepes is a familiar name, not just inside his native Colombia but throughout the soccer-playing world. The current captain of Colombia's National Team has enjoyed a distinguished career with some of the best teams in Latin America and Europe. He dazzled fans in Argentina while playing for the Club Atlético River Plate, then went on to become the highest-paid player in France. Since 2010 Yepes has been a standout for the powerhouse A.C. Milan club. He's been dubbed El Rey for his exceptional ability on the soccer pitch, but off the field this king is humble and down-to-earth--one more reason Mario Yepes is a perennial fan favorite.

The year 2004 marked the hundredth anniversary of the founding of FIFA, soccer's international governing body. To celebrate the milestone, the legendary Brazilian star Pelé was asked to compile a list of the greatest living players. There was only one Colombian on Pelé's 125-player list: Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama. Few knowledgeable fans would take issue with Valderrama's inclusion. The midfielder is widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of Colombian soccer. He played in a record 111 games for the Colombian National Team. He also shone in leagues in South America, Europe, and the United States. El Pibe retired in 2004 after a sparkling 25-year professional career.

Striker Radamel Falcao García, who has played soccer professionally since the age of 13, is one of the greats of the game. Falcao's extraordinary discipline and quiet strength have proved key to his early and consistent success in major leagues--first in his native Colombia; then in Argentina; and, more recently, in Spain's La Liga, where he has dazzled as a scorer. In 2011, Atlético Madrid purchased Falcao's contract from F.C. Porto for $57 million. The Colombian star quickly justified that staggering price tag, scoring a team-high 24 goals in his first season with Atlético Madrid. Quick, strong, and equally dangerous with both feet, Falcao has earned his Spanish nickname El Tigre: he is a true tiger on the soccer pitch.