The Story
An all-star picture book biography about how Lionel "Leo" Messi went from the smallest kid on the pitch to the greatest soccer player of all time.
Right now, on any soccer field, in any town--small or large, rural or suburban--you will see a kid wearing the iconic #10 jersey.
A household name who has sold out stadiums across the world, Leo Messi, is thought of as the best soccer player of all time. But how did he get here? Born into a soccer family, Leo lived and breathed soccer, but he was always the smallest kid on the pitch. Could Leo in his biggest little-kid dreams have imagined what life had in store for him?
Inspiring and heartfelt, Leo's story is the perfect collectible for every soccer-loving kid wearing the #10 jersey--and a reminder that you can be small and still do big things.
Author: Erica Wainer
Publisher: Harperpop
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 10.21h x 8.17w x 0.33d
ISBN: 9780063494886
Audience: Ages 4-8
Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
School Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 88
About the Author
Wainer, Erica: -
Erica Wainer is a children's librarian, an editor, and a pop culture enthusiast. She lives outside of Boston with her family and her two dogs.
Marianno, Claudia: -Claudia Marianno is a freelance illustrator based in Brazil. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture and urbanism and loves using a lot of details and creating urban scenes, specializing in artwork of children for picture books, nonfiction books, and educational books.
Description
An all-star picture book biography about how Lionel "Leo" Messi went from the smallest kid on the pitch to the greatest soccer player of all time.
Right now, on any soccer field, in any town--small or large, rural or suburban--you will see a kid wearing the iconic #10 jersey.
A household name who has sold out stadiums across the world, Leo Messi, is thought of as the best soccer player of all time. But how did he get here? Born into a soccer family, Leo lived and breathed soccer, but he was always the smallest kid on the pitch. Could Leo in his biggest little-kid dreams have imagined what life had in store for him?
Inspiring and heartfelt, Leo's story is the perfect collectible for every soccer-loving kid wearing the #10 jersey--and a reminder that you can be small and still do big things.
Author: Erica Wainer
Publisher: Harperpop
Published: 04/28/2026
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.74lbs
Size: 10.21h x 8.17w x 0.33d
ISBN: 9780063494886
Audience: Ages 4-8
Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Kirkus Reviews 01/15/2026
School Library Journal 04/01/2026 pg. 88
About the Author
Wainer, Erica: -
Erica Wainer is a children's librarian, an editor, and a pop culture enthusiast. She lives outside of Boston with her family and her two dogs.
Marianno, Claudia: -Claudia Marianno is a freelance illustrator based in Brazil. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in architecture and urbanism and loves using a lot of details and creating urban scenes, specializing in artwork of children for picture books, nonfiction books, and educational books.
