⚽ SoccerGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6AdditionWord problemsBar modelsIntegersTwo-step equations
The Case of the Missing Golden Boot
Just hours before the championship final, the pristine Golden Boot trophy vanished from the display case! Detective Coach Sam needs your math skills to narrow down the suspects before kickoff.
Suspects
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
21 of 21 still in play
| Name | Signature Move | Gear Piece | Dominant Foot | Hairstyle | Distraction |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Marta Vieira | curve shot | captain armband | left footed | spiky hair | squeaky whistle |
| Bruno Fernandes | slide tackle | captain armband | left footed | curly hair | yellow card |
| Vinicius Jr | slide tackle | neon cleats | left footed | curly hair | yellow card |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | slide tackle | captain armband | left footed | spiky hair | yellow card |
| Harry Kane | power header | captain armband | left footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Sam Kerr | power header | neon cleats | left footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Antoine Griezmann | curve shot | padded gloves | left footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Mohamed Salah | curve shot | neon cleats | right footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Alphonso Davies | power header | neon cleats | right footed | buzzed hair | yellow card |
| Bukayo Saka | curve shot | neon cleats | left footed | curly hair | orange slices |
| Jude Bellingham | slide tackle | neon cleats | right footed | spiky hair | yellow card |
| Luka Modric | slide tackle | whistle lanyard | left footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Alex Morgan | slide tackle | striped socks | left footed | curly hair | yellow card |
| Megan Rapinoe | slide tackle | whistle lanyard | left footed | spiky hair | yellow card |
| Marcus Rashford | curve shot | captain armband | left footed | buzzed hair | squeaky whistle |
| Kevin De Bruyne | bicycle kick | whistle lanyard | left footed | spiky hair | yellow card |
| Erling Haaland | slide tackle | whistle lanyard | right footed | spiky hair | squeaky whistle |
| Lionel Messi | bicycle kick | padded gloves | left footed | curly hair | squeaky whistle |
| Neymar Jr | bicycle kick | neon cleats | left footed | curly hair | yellow card |
| Kylian Mbappe | diving save | whistle lanyard | right footed | curly hair | yellow card |
| Pedri Gonzalez | curve shot | captain armband | left footed | spiky hair | orange slices |
Clue 1
Addition
The equipment manager counted all the soccer balls gathered on the pitch to verify the game day total.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
T
4095
3671
9752
3556
6533
3064
3064
5423
6533
4889
7898
6722
9752
2987
4889
6722
T
4095
8786
9752
5423
8520
5423
8786
3671
6533
2987
T
4095
3064
9752
3064
5423
4889
9672
5423
8520
7898
1603 + 2492 =T
3446 + 3087 =I
5767 + 3905 =Y
2204 + 4518 =O
1659 + 3764 =A
1900 + 1087 =S
6262 + 3490 =E
3352 + 1537 =N
1366 + 2305 =H
4018 + 3880 =D
1762 + 1794 =V
5479 + 3041 =R
3841 + 4945 =W
1949 + 1115 =L
0/14 letters found
Clue 2
Word problems
Detective Coach Sam listened as players shared their training routines and gear counts from the bench.
Solve each problem to learn its letter, then write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Awitnesssawthevillainwas.
L
118
89
45
113
45
47
47
113
89
64
Coach Sam found 80 shin guards yesterday and 38 more today. How many shin guards in all?L
Coach Sam found 43 water bottles yesterday and 4 more today. How many water bottles in all?O
There were 87 scouting charts. 23 were used up. How many scouting charts are left?D
Coach Sam found 19 pylon cones yesterday and 26 more today. How many pylon cones in all?F
Coach Sam found 10 soccer balls yesterday and 79 more today. How many soccer balls in all?E
Coach Sam found 25 shin guards yesterday and 88 more today. How many shin guards in all?T
0/6 letters found
Clue 3
Bar model word problems
The stadium analyst drew comparison bars to compare team stats and track down movement around the locker rooms.
Draw a bar model to solve each word problem. Its answer reveals a letter — write the letters in the boxes to fill in the missing word.
Someonescaredthevillainoffwith .
S
49
64
50
43
122
40
110
W
H
I
S
49
T
L
43
Coach Sam has 196 soccer balls, packed 4 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→S
Coach Sam has 80 scouting charts, packed 2 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→K
Coach Sam shares 172 soccer balls equally among 4 teams. How many soccer balls does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→E
Coach Sam used 1/2 of the shin guards on the first day. The other 55 shin guards were used the next day. How many shin guards were there in all?
draw a bar model
Answer:→Y
There were 161 pylon cones in all. 39 pylon cones were used. How many pylon cones are left?
draw a bar model
Answer:→A
Coach Sam shares 200 water bottles equally among 4 teams. How many water bottles does each team get?
draw a bar model
Answer:→U
Coach Sam has 192 soccer balls, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled?
draw a bar model
Answer:→Q
0/7 letters found
Clue 4
Integers
The assistant referee checked thermal sensors that recorded freezing temperatures and heat spikes in the tunnel.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
C
16
8
30
25
28
2
18
15
30
12
22
30
18
26
5
12
21
17
30
17
25
17
24
22
26
17
18
30
22
2
17
25
7
C
16
23
17
30
(-2) + 18 =C
13 - (-15) =Y
9 - (-13) =T
(-15) + 23 =U
(-13) + 15 =H
18 - (-5) =K
18 - (-12) =R
(-9) + 27 =A
(-13) + 18 =D
(-11) + 18 =O
(-9) + 26 =E
(-5) + 30 =L
14 - (-1) =I
(-14) + 26 =S
15 - (-11) =N
(-15) + 39 =F
(-2) + 23 =W
0/17 letters found
Clue 5
Two-step equations — the last clue
The security guard calculated missing security badges using a formula based on double shifts and bonus hours.
First solve each problem. Then find each answer in the list below and cross that sentence out. One sentence will be left — that's exactly what the villain did!
Step 1 — solve these
3x + 3 = 30, x = ?
3x + 8 = 23, x = ?
4x + 2 = 14, x = ?
2x + 12 = 14, x = ?
3x + 4 = 10, x = ?
2x + 2 = 26, x = ?
5x + 5 = 35, x = ?
5x + 6 = 61, x = ?
3x + 9 = 33, x = ?
4x + 1 = 29, x = ?
2x + 3 = 11, x = ?
Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer
1.The villain executed a curve shot, then flashed a captain armband.
2.The villain executed a curve shot, then adjusted neon cleats.
3.The villain executed a curve shot, then strapped on padded gloves.
4.The villain made a slide tackle, then flashed a captain armband.
5.The villain landed a power header, then flashed a captain armband.
6.The villain scored a bicycle kick, then adjusted neon cleats.
7.The villain made a slide tackle, then pulled up striped socks.
8.The villain made a slide tackle, then swung a whistle lanyard.
9.The villain landed a power header, then adjusted neon cleats.
10.The villain scored a bicycle kick, then strapped on padded gloves.
11.The villain executed a curve shot, then swung a whistle lanyard.
12.The villain pulled off a diving save, then flashed a captain armband.
Solve it
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Boot
Culprit: Lionel Messi (bicycle kick · padded gloves · left footed · curly hair · squeaky whistle)
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT WEAR A WHISTLE LANYARD"1603 + 2492 = 4095 (T) · 3446 + 3087 = 6533 (I) · 5767 + 3905 = 9672 (Y) · 2204 + 4518 = 6722 (O) · 1659 + 3764 = 5423 (A) · 1900 + 1087 = 2987 (S) · 6262 + 3490 = 9752 (E) · 3352 + 1537 = 4889 (N) · 1366 + 2305 = 3671 (H) · 4018 + 3880 = 7898 (D) · 1762 + 1794 = 3556 (V) · 5479 + 3041 = 8520 (R) · 3841 + 4945 = 8786 (W) · 1949 + 1115 = 3064 (L)
- Clue 2 (Word problems): "LEFT FOOTED"Coach Sam found 80 shin guards yesterday and 38 more today. How many shin guards in all? = 118 (L) · Coach Sam found 43 water bottles yesterday and 4 more today. How many water bottles in all? = 47 (O) · There were 87 scouting charts. 23 were used up. How many scouting charts are left? = 64 (D) · Coach Sam found 19 pylon cones yesterday and 26 more today. How many pylon cones in all? = 45 (F) · Coach Sam found 10 soccer balls yesterday and 79 more today. How many soccer balls in all? = 89 (E) · Coach Sam found 25 shin guards yesterday and 88 more today. How many shin guards in all? = 113 (T)
- Clue 3 (Bar model word problems): "SQUEAKY WHISTLE"Coach Sam has 196 soccer balls, packed 4 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 49 (S) · Coach Sam has 80 scouting charts, packed 2 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 40 (K) · Coach Sam shares 172 soccer balls equally among 4 teams. How many soccer balls does each team get? = 43 (E) · Coach Sam used 1/2 of the shin guards on the first day. The other 55 shin guards were used the next day. How many shin guards were there in all? = 110 (Y) · There were 161 pylon cones in all. 39 pylon cones were used. How many pylon cones are left? = 122 (A) · Coach Sam shares 200 water bottles equally among 4 teams. How many water bottles does each team get? = 50 (U) · Coach Sam has 192 soccer balls, packed 3 to a bag. How many bags can be filled? = 64 (Q)
- Clue 4 (Integers): "CURLY HAIR STRANDS WERE LEFT NEAR THE LOCKER"(-2) + 18 = 16 (C) · 13 - (-15) = 28 (Y) · 9 - (-13) = 22 (T) · (-15) + 23 = 8 (U) · (-13) + 15 = 2 (H) · 18 - (-5) = 23 (K) · 18 - (-12) = 30 (R) · (-9) + 27 = 18 (A) · (-13) + 18 = 5 (D) · (-11) + 18 = 7 (O) · (-9) + 26 = 17 (E) · (-5) + 30 = 25 (L) · 14 - (-1) = 15 (I) · (-14) + 26 = 12 (S) · 15 - (-11) = 26 (N) · (-15) + 39 = 24 (F) · (-2) + 23 = 21 (W)
- Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Lionel Messi3x + 3 = 30, x = 9 · 3x + 8 = 23, x = 5 · 4x + 2 = 14, x = 3 · 2x + 12 = 14, x = 1 · 3x + 4 = 10, x = 2 · 2x + 2 = 26, x = 12 · 5x + 5 = 35, x = 6 · 5x + 6 = 61, x = 11 · 3x + 9 = 33, x = 8 · 4x + 1 = 29, x = 7 · 2x + 3 = 11, x = 4
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 7 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Word problems, Bar models, Integers, Two-step equations
- Reading level
- grades 5-6
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Boot — set in Metropolitan Soccer Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects