Harry Coninx – författare

Quick, composed and physically dominant - Virgil van Dijk is the defender who has it all. But from washing dishes while he tried to secure his first professional contract to facing rejection and serious illness, it didn''t always seem as if Virgil was going to make it to the top.

This is the inspiring story of how a boy from Breda used his determination and self-belief to become one of the greatest defenders in the world.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.

As a teenager, Kylian Mbappé was one of the best footballers on the planet. Now - he just keeps on getting better. Kylian''s skill, pace and sensational finishing have fired his clubs and his country to incredible victories, whilst he has established himself firmly in the record books.

Follow the whirlwind journey of this football-mad boy from Paris, who never let the weight of the world''s expectations slow his journey to becoming a legend.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.

Robert Lewandowski is one of the best strikers of his generation - but his journey to the top wasn''t always easy. Finding himself without a club at the age of 17, Robert had no choice but to claw his way up through the ranks of Polish football. It led him to the top of one of the world''s toughest leagues, the German Bundesliga. Join Robert on his unwavering mission to become one of the greatest players of all time.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.

At the age of ten, Serge Gnabry was wanted by some of the biggest football clubs in the world. His route to superstardom looked clear. But after struggling to break into first teams, potentially career-ending injuries and an infamously disastrous loan spell, Serge had to fight to become Bayern Munich''s deadliest weapon and Germany''s brightest light. Follow him on his extraordinary journey to the top.

Sometimes, when that journey isn''t smooth, the result only makes it all the more worthwhile.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.

Coaches always thought that N''Golo Kanté was too small and too shy to make it in the world of football.

But with hard work, natural talent and a true love for the game, N''Golo is now the superstar midfielder who brings victory to every team he''s a part of.

Discover his journey - from picking up bottles in the streets of Paris to winning trophies on the world stage - proving that no one is ever too small to make it big.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.

Now a lethal striker for his boyhood club - and an international superstar - Marcus Rashford is living his dream. But from navigating a ruthless academy to playing under one of the fiercest managers in the game, Marcus''s meteoric rise to the top of Manchester United wasn''t always easy. This is the story of how a boy from Manchester used his passion and his talent to steer himself on a path to greatness.

This biography is one of the titles in Ransom''s Tales from the Pitch series. These books offers a fresh take on the familiar football biography format

Each of these fast-moving reads focuses on one football superstar, some players who are still to reach the summit of their career, and others who are the already at the top of their game. These are exhilarating reads about players from all walks of life. Many have faced failure, injury and rejection, to ultimately make their dreams come true and have inspirational stories.

So meet the footballers behind the iconic tackles and goals, and find out what makes each of these players so special.