Max’s Goal That Wasn’t
Max scores a goal that no one saw was wrong. What would you do?
It was the last minute of the semi-final. The score was 1-1. The Blue Comets and the Sky Wolves had both played brilliantly, and everyone on the sideline was holding their breath.
Ravi sent a long, curling pass high into the air. Max jumped as high as he could. The ball bounced off his arm, rolled onto his foot and flew into the net. GOAL!
Half the crowd cheered. The other half groaned. But the referee, Danny the deer, had been looking the other way. Danny pointed to the middle of the pitch. The goal counted!
The Blue Comets ran to Max, shouting with joy. But Max wasn’t smiling. His tummy felt like it was full of stones. He knew the ball had touched his arm.
If Max stayed quiet, the Blue Comets would reach the final. If he spoke up, the goal would be taken away. Max looked at Lola, who looked so sad. Max took a big breath.
‘Referee,’ said Max, walking over. ‘It hit my arm. It wasn’t a fair goal.’ The whole pitch went silent. Danny blinked. ‘Thank you for telling me,’ Danny said. ‘No goal.’
The Blue Comets lost that day, 1-1, and then the Sky Wolves won the shoot-out. But as Max walked off, the crowd rose to clap. Even the Sky Wolves cheered. Lola hugged him.
At the end of the season, Max was given the Good Sport Medal. ‘I didn’t win the match,’ he said, holding it up. ‘But I won something even better. I feel proud of myself.’
The little lesson
Telling the truth when it is hard shows real strength.
Let’s talk about it
- Why was it hard for Max to tell the truth?
- How did the others feel about Max afterwards?
Finish stories to collect Max as a sticker in your Sticker Book.
More Football stories
Ruby’s Football That Glowed
Ruby finds a football that glows, and every pass builds a bridge of rainbow light.
Maya’s Boots with a Story
In the attic, Maya finds a pair of dusty old boots with a name inside.
Tariq’s Great Forest Cup
The forest animals hold a football cup, but nobody can agree on the rules!
You might also like
Tracks in the Mud: Yusuf’s Walk
Yusuf goes for a walk with Grandpa and learns to see what the forest is saying.
Percy and the Great Storm
A ferocious storm hits the pirate ship. Only teamwork can bring the crew safely home.
Flo’s Planet That Forgot to Laugh
The crew of the rocket Starlight find a planet where nobody remembers how to laugh.