The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy
Angela Cervantes
Henry Holt & Co.
Published May 5, 2026
Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads
About The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy
From Pura Belpré Honor recipient Angela Cervantes and perfectly timed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Mystery of the Stolen World Cup Trophy follows 12-year-old sleuth Diez Espada on a high-stakes case as he tracks down the tournament’s stolen trophy in time for the championship match.
“Humor, heart, and fútbol… everything a middle grade mystery should be.” –Chris Grabenstein, New York Times-bestselling author of the Lemoncello series
Diez Espada—named after the jersey number of his soccer-obsessed father’s favorite player, Lionel Messi—would rather be chasing clues than soccer balls. When the World Cup trophy disappears at a glitzy party in Miami, he’s suddenly at the center of the most thrilling match of his life—a race to find the trophy before it’s gone for good.
Teaming up with his crush, Rio, and the world-famous Detective Enzo, Diez dives headfirst into a one-night whirlwind of secret tunnels and a squad of suspicious a spoiled son of a Miami tycoon, a famous sportscaster, and even Rio’s two prankster younger brothers.
The clock is ticking, the suspects are slippery, and the stadium lights are ready to shine. Will Diez find the trophy in time for the World Cup championship match?
My Review
This book was definitely a joy to read. The upbeat, engaging tone and young sleuth narrator kept me turning one page after the next. I liked the way that all the elements of the story (past and present) connected together in the mystery’s solution.
I also enjoyed the balance between adult character involvement and kid character activity. This is always tricky in a mystery, as it’s hard to keep the story realistic without sidelining younger characters in favor of adults with the authority to solve problems. I thought Cervantes balanced it well and kept Diez and Rio at the center of the mystery-solving.
The blending of a sports theme in a mystery is also really nicely done. I could see that drawing a lot of readers who might not often be interested in the same book. I think this will be a great book for summer reading lists.
Content Notes
Recommended for Ages 8 to 12.
Profanity/Crude Language Content
None.
Romance/Sexual Content
A couple of adults refer to a girl Diez likes as his girlfriend, which embarrasses him.
Spiritual Content
None.
Violent Content
None.
Drug Content
None.
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