The art, the players, the myths, the legends, the teams, the history, the fans, the highs and lows: in Futebol Alex Bellos reaches deep into the heart of Brazilian Football. The Brazilian team is one of the modern wonders in the world. At it's best it radiates skill and beauty and has a romantic lure that can not be found with any other sports team. Football symbolises Brazil's racial harmony, but at the same time football is a microcosmos of Brazilian society with all its contrasts.

Alex Bellos writes for The Guardian and The Observer from his Rio de Janeiro base. But he took a year off to write and research this book. The book shows how Brazil changed football, and football changed Brazil. His story of great players like Pel? and Garrincha, great teams and famous matches is full of detail. At the same time he doesn't forget to tell the story of the millions of players in the favelas and on backcountry pitches who form the real secret of Brazil's seemingly everlasting football reign.