Assouline football roots: the spirit of the game

For “Football Roots: The Spirit of the Game,” photographer Sam Robles traveled for a decade through eighteen countries, from Brazil and Ghana to Morocco, Nepal, and beyond, to document the most authentic expression of this sport. Robles gained the trust of children in hidden and sometimes dangerous communities, often without speaking their language, letting football speak for itself. The result is a work of rare tenderness and universality, capturing the joy, determination, and pure love for the game in its most elemental form.