Football: The Impossible Collection

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: three-quarter view of the slipcase; the dark forest green leather cover features a three-dimensional full-round black-and-white soccer ball mounted at center; FOOTBALL in large bold white condensed type on the spine; THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION and ASSOULINE in smaller white type on the spine; ASSOULINE embossed at lower right of the face; white background

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: three-quarter view of the plain back of the green leather slipcase; the dark forest green surface is completely unadorned; the spine at right reads FOOTBALL in bold white type, THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION and ASSOULINE in smaller white type below; white background

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: angled overhead close-up of the slipcase lying flat; the three-dimensional black-and-white soccer ball rests on the dark forest green cover photographed from above; the lower spine shows ...BALL, THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION, ASSOULINE in white; ASSOULINE embossed on the cover face at right; the green slipcase base and lid are visible

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: angled view of the dark green slipcase open with the inner book being extracted; the book cover shows a dramatic Baroque-style classical painting of multiple figures playing football amid blue sky, clouds, and classical architecture; FOOTBALL THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION on the spine in white; the inside of the dark green lid shows a quote in small white text

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: angled view of the open black hinged box with the book partially extracted; the book cover shows a full-color Baroque-style classical painting featuring footballers playing among clouds and classical columns; the inside of the matte black box lid shows a quote in white text; a white ribbon bookmark trails from the book

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: angled overhead view of the open companion black box with matte black velvet interior; a standalone black-and-white soccer ball rests in a circular foam recess at center; FOOTBALL THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION in white type on the front face of the exterior; the box lid is open at left

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: three-quarter view of the closed matte black outer presentation box; the face reads FOOTBALL in bold white type, THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION below, and 100 Moments from the Beautiful Game in italic; ASSOULINE in small white at the base; a subtle soccer ball pattern is embossed on the black surface; spine reads FOOTBALL THE IMPOSSIBLE COLLECTION vertically; white background

Football: The Impossible Collection by Assouline: flat front-facing view of the green leather slipcase; the dark forest green surface features a three-dimensional black-and-white soccer ball mounted at center; ASSOULINE in small embossed type at the lower center; no title text on the face; white background

Football. Fußball. Fútbol. The Beautiful Game. No sport has ever captured the human imagination quite so completely, or united so many millions across borders, languages, and generations.

Football: The Impossible Collection distills the sport into 100 defining moments, not simply the greatest, but the most culturally seismic. Guided by the authoritative voice of Rory Smith, longtime football correspondent for The New York Times, the collection moves chronologically through the sport's extraordinary arc: from Pelé's arrival on American soil to Messi's long-awaited coronation at the 2022 World Cup, from the birth of the Premier League to Zinedine Zidane's infamous fury on the world's grandest stage. Across borders, genders, and leagues, these are the flashpoints that didn't just define football. They defined us.

True to Assouline's commitment to the object as art form, the volume arrives in a sculptural rubber-like clamshell case, its hardcover rendered in a bold field-green that makes the iconic black-and-white ball leap from the surface. The three-dimensional football at its center is not decoration; it is a declaration. With the 2026 World Cup on the horizon, there has never been a more electric moment to hold this book in your hands. For those who have ever felt the pull of the beautiful game, it is nothing less than essential.

Product Details

Hardcover. 236 pages with over 150 illustrations. Released May 2026. Text by Rory Smith. Handcrafted in a luxury rubber-like clamshell case with a three-dimensional football sculpture.

Care Instructions

Keep in a cool, dry place. Dust gently with a soft cloth and avoid prolonged exposure to direct sunlight or moisture.

Size & Fit

16" W × 19" L × 4" D

Shipping Details

Please allow 5-7 days for standard delivery.

Return Policy

This item is final sale and not available for return.

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