The Goals That Changed Australia: Stories from the biggest stage on earth

When young fans think of football, names like Messi, Ronaldo, Bellingham, Salah, Haaland, and Mbappé often come to mind. But there's an incredible story right here in our own backyard.

The Goals That Changed Australia by David Weiner isn’t a tale of fantasy, conjured up in imagination or played out on a PlayStation screen. This real-life adventure shares the incredible journey of Australia’s national teams, blending the stories of our Matildas and the Socceroos and their biggest stars into one compelling narrative.

Designed for readers from upper primary to teenage years – and maybe even their parents, it offers a fresh and engaging perspective on our football heritage.

With moments like Cortnee Vine’s and John Aloisi’s iconic penalties as its cornerstone, the book takes young fans on an exhilarating ride through the highs and lows of Australian football from 2006 to 2023, culminating in the home FIFA Women's World Cup that stopped a nation. It’s a celebration of our unique identity on the world stage—not just as a men’s or women’s team, but as a united football family.

This is Australian football's story, told for the first time in a way that young fans can connect with—a tale of resilience, pride, and the love of the game that runs deep in our veins, that aims to inspire the next generation to cheer for the green and gold with the same enthusiasm as they do for the world's biggest stars.

Suitable for readers from upper primary school.

© 2025 Fair Play Publishing (Lydbog): 9781923236264

Release date

Lydbog: 17. marts 2025