Welcome to our football library. Each guide explains one part of the sport in clear language, from the first rules written in 1863 to the 2026 World Cup, from the Super Eagles to the money behind the game. Every guide has an original illustration, a short list of key takeaways and answers to common questions.
The history of the game
How football began, how its rules work and how the World Cup grew.
How football began, who wrote the first rules, and how a pastime of English villages and schools grew into the most popular sport on earth.
Who writes the rules of football, how they have changed since 1863, and what offside, handball, cards and VAR really mean in plain language.
The full story of the FIFA World Cup, from the first tournament in Montevideo to Spain's win over Argentina in 2026, with the champions, milestones and moments that defined each era.
The story of football's most famous individual prize, from Stanley Matthews in 1956 to Harry Kane in 2026, with the rules, the records, the controversies and the other trophies awarded at the ceremony.
Africa and Nigeria
The African game, the Super Eagles and how young players make it.
How football grew across Africa, how CAF and the Africa Cup of Nations began, who has won the continent's biggest trophy, and where the African game stands today.
The history of the Nigerian national team, from the Green Eagles to the Super Eagles, with its Africa Cup of Nations titles, Olympic gold, World Cup moments and the stars who made them.
How academies like Ajax, La Masia and Clairefontaine work, what young players learn, how African academies fit in, and what parents should check before choosing one.
A practical, honest guide for young Nigerian players and parents, covering training, clubs and academies, trials, documents, agents, scams to avoid and career options beyond playing.
The business of football
How money, transfers, television and kits drive the industry.
Why the top English clubs broke away in 1992, how television money changed football, and what the Premier League's success means for fans, players and the industry.
A clear guide to where football clubs get their income, what they spend it on, how financial rules work and why so many clubs struggle even when football is booming.
A plain-English guide to football transfers, from the first record fee in 1905 to modern transfer windows, release clauses, loans, agents and the rules that protect young players.
How football shirts evolved from plain cotton to a billion-dollar industry, with the stories behind numbers, club colours, shirt sponsors, Brazil's yellow and Nigeria's iconic jerseys.
Tactics, technology and the women's game
How teams play, how technology helps and how women's football grew.
A guide to formations and tactics, from the early pyramid and Herbert Chapman's WM to catenaccio, Total Football, tiki-taka and gegenpressing, with simple tips for reading a match like an analyst.
How technology changed football, from goal-line sensors and VAR to semi-automated offside, player tracking and data analysis, and what it means for referees, coaches and fans.
The full story of women's football, from the Dick, Kerr Ladies and the English ban to the first Women's World Cup, the Super Falcons and record-breaking crowds today.
About these guides. Written by the Blessed Records Exclusive Entertainment editorial team from published football history and official records. If you spot a mistake, please contact us.