What happens when you’ve coached Little League and written a whole lineup of children’s books? In Caroline L. Perry’s case, you don’t just play the field — you score big. Right on time for the 2025 FIFA World Cup, she’s kicked off a brand-new book celebrating her love for Lionel Messi: Messi’s Magic: How Lionel Messi Became the G.O.A.T. Packed with goal-worthy facts, bite-sized lessons, and dazzling illustrations by Luciano Lozano, we subbed in for a quick chat about the artwork, which animal might make the cut as Messi’s spirit mascot, and plenty more extra time.
While doing some totally professional Instagram reconnaissance, we discovered you once interviewed Ozzy Osbourne. With his recent passing, would you be open to sharing what that experience meant to you—and was it as rock-and-roll as it sounds?
I was lucky to meet Ozzy several times, and he was always riotously funny and incredibly kind. Behind the ‘Prince of Darkness’ persona, Ozzy reveled in his role as a doting grandpa, once showing me a stash of gifts he’d picked out for his granddaughters while on tour. Later in life, Ozzy’s major weakness was British candy: he was a regular at my local U.K. import store! He was a true one-off, and he’ll be greatly missed.
You’re a regular on the school-visit circuit and even moonlight as an elementary writing instructor. Out of all those pint-sized storytellers, what’s been the moment that’s made your heart do the biggest happy dance?
One of my favorite moments came during a session with a student who had once declared that writing was “boring” and “pointless.” I asked about his favorite sports, and as he recounted a weekend game, I could sense something shifting—it was as if he’d been waiting for a subject he could wax lyrical about. Before long, he transformed into one of my most enthusiastic storytellers! It’s pure joy to watch kids’ creativity bloom.
Messi’s Magic just landed a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection—major congrats! Does it feel like you’ve just scored the winning goal in extra time?
Absolutely. When the email from my editor landed in my inbox, I felt as though I’d just smashed a match-deciding penalty into the back of the net! I’m so very grateful for this honor, especially knowing it will help Messi’s Magic find its way into more readers’ hands (and hearts).
You’re an unabashed animal enthusiast—and on your website, you mention blending that love with your writing. So… if Lionel Messi had a spirit animal, who’s trotting, prowling, or flapping alongside him?
I’d say Messi reminds me of a jaguar: compact, powerful, and unpredictable. Jaguars can slip through the smallest gaps, pivot in an instant, and outwit prey (in Messi’s case, any back line of defenders!) all while moving with elegance and stealthy precision.
Every soccer fan has an origin story. Where did yours kick off?
I grew up in England, where liking football (as we call it) wasn’t really optional! The whole country comes to a standstill when the national team plays in a major tournament, and almost everyone pledges allegiance to a Premier League team. The sport is woven into the cultural DNA, and even though they’re being raised in the USA, my kids are die-hard football devotees!
You’ve coached kids’ soccer—so did hearing their sideline zingers and seeing their gameplay up close give you an insider’s edge when writing for that audience?
Definitely. As a coach, you see it all: the elation, the heartache, the half-time banter, and most importantly, the growth. Each player leaves the season with something, whether it’s sharper skills, new friends, and a boost of confidence, or maybe a whole new outlet, a passion, or even a fresh perspective. Soccer is about so much more than the final score… It’s called ‘the beautiful game’ for a reason!
Your book is bursting with Messi trivia. What’s the one fact you uncovered that made you say, “Okay, that’s going in—no question?”
Yes! Messi was a picky eater when he was a kid—something many young readers can relate to—so when I learned that one of Messi’s coaches encouraged him with chocolate cookies, offering a sweet treat for every goal he scored, I knew that fact was too delicious to overlook!
The illustrations by Luciano Lozano are pure magic. How much back-and-forth was there between you two, and is there one page that, for you, perfectly captures the heart of the story?
We did a lot of research on everything from shirt logos to tattoo placement, and I requested some ‘Easter eggs’ in the art, like nods to Messi’s hero Diego Maradona and cameo appearances by his former teammates Ronaldinho and Eto’o. Luciano nailed them all, and he was wonderful to work with! My favorite spread might be the one that depicts Messi about to step onto the field with F.C. Barcelona’s first team—the energy on those pages is electric. I also love the image of a teenage Leo injecting himself with medicine at the La Masia soccer academy, as this kind of representation is rare in children’s books. It’s also a powerful reminder of the struggles Leo overcame on his path to becoming the G.O.A.T.
You open the book with Messi as a kid—right in the age bracket of your readers—before walking them through some heavier chapters, like grief. Was it important for you to have Messi feel like a mentor in tough times rather than tossing readers straight into a high-stakes World Cup match?
Absolutely. Messi’s story isn’t just about trophies, though he has plenty of those! At its heart, it’s about dedication and resilience. I wanted young readers to see Messi as someone who’s faced significant challenges and come out stronger, and my hope is that the book inspires them to persevere in pursuit of their own dreams.
You’ve got more books on the horizon—so what’s your game plan for finishing the year strong?
I have a funny book called I AM NOT HAPPY! coming out on October 7th. It’s about a quokka who’s determined to set the record straight: he’s not the “happiest animal on Earth,” he’s just a misunderstood marsupial whose frown is sometimes upside down! Sydney Hanson’s illustrations are some of the cutest I’ve ever seen, and I can’t wait for this one to hop onto shelves.
What’s your favorite Messi fact? Caroline’s new book is out now — ready for you to dribble through the pages and see if yours made the lineup. If it did, don’t just keep it on the bench — pass it on to us over on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
