The Formula

“Deep and intelligent…a portrait of football greatness.” — Arsène Wenger on Messi vs. Ronaldo“A comprehensive primer into the entwined histories of the two titans and the commercial forces that have molded their careers and, by extension, the sport.” — New York Times on Messi vs. Ronaldo“While these two soaring greats are known for their transcendent wonder on the field, this rollicking narrative plunges into the complex backstories and entire ecosystems that propelled their colliding trajectories. With a pair of epic hero stories like The Last Dance or Homer’s Odyssey in cleats, this book traces the journey from aspirational prodigies to global commercial billboards, explaining how these two juggernauts and their rivalry shaped the most popular, and lucrative, era of the world’s most beloved sport.” — Roger Bennett, founder, Men in Blazers Media Network, on Messi vs. Ronaldo“This rigorously researched book avoids becoming hagiography. The result is an ambitious and valuable study for all those who want to understand the modern world of football that Mr. Messi and Mr. Ronaldo have helped forge.” — The Economist on Messi vs. Ronaldo“This book explains the brilliant backstory behind how each player became a start and how that stardom changed the footballing landscape not just in Spain but in the wider world as well…I read it in a day.” — Rebecca Lowe, NBC Sports, on Messi vs. Ronaldo

Joshua Robinson is the European sports correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, and has written for The New York Times, The Washington Post and Sports Illustrated.

Jonathan Clegg is an editor for The Wall Street Journal, his work has also appeared in The Daily Telegraph, The Independent (U.K.), and FourFourTwo magazine.