The Case of the Missing Golden Boot
Just before the big World Cup final, someone snuck into the locker room and snatched the famous Golden Boot trophy! The Head Referee is in a panic. The match cannot start without the prize! You must look at the clues, trace the soccer stars, and find out who took it before kickoff.
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Signature Move | Super Gear | Shooting Foot | Headband Color | Silly Fear |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trinity Rodman | Knuckleball Shot | Gold Medal | Left-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Loud Horns |
| Mary Earps | Header Smash | Smart Watch | Left-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Loud Horns |
| Jude Bellingham | Rainbow Flick | Mega Whistle | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Sophia Smith | Dribble Slalom | Neon Cleats | Right-Footed | Blue Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Aitana Bonmati | Knuckleball Shot | Smart Watch | Right-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Son Heungmin | Dribble Slalom | Grip Gloves | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Bukayo Saka | Header Smash | Grip Gloves | Left-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Loud Horns |
| Lionel Messi | Rainbow Flick | Gold Medal | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Kylian Mbappe | Dribble Slalom | Smart Watch | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Sam Kerr | Knuckleball Shot | Neon Cleats | Right-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | Rainbow Flick | Grip Gloves | Left-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Soggy Grass |
| Kevin De Bruyne | Dribble Slalom | Gold Medal | Right-Footed | Blue Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Lucy Bronze | Dribble Slalom | Neon Cleats | Left-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Neymar | Header Smash | Gold Medal | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Soggy Grass |
| Luka Modric | Knuckleball Shot | Mega Whistle | Right-Footed | Blue Headband | Fear of Soggy Grass |
| Megan Rapinoe | Bicycle Kick | Gold Medal | Left-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Soggy Grass |
| Harry Kane | Bicycle Kick | Grip Gloves | Right-Footed | Green Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Alex Morgan | Header Smash | Grip Gloves | Left-Footed | Blue Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Bunny Shaw | Dribble Slalom | Gold Medal | Right-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Loud Horns |
| Wendie Renard | Dribble Slalom | Smart Watch | Right-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Flat Balls |
| Erling Haaland | Knuckleball Shot | Neon Cleats | Right-Footed | Red Headband | Fear of Soggy Grass |
Rounding
The stadium scanner counted the fans entering the VIP gate. The scoreboard only showed the total rounded to the nearest ten to save space. This estimate helps us narrow down the suspect.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Addition
The coach tallied all the practice balls left on the training pitches. By adding up the soccer balls from both fields, we found a secret note taped to the gear bag.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Subtraction
We checked the locker room water bottles. We took the total number of bottles we started with and subtracted the ones still left to see exactly how much water the thief drank.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Multiplication facts (1-12)
The stadium crew lined up rows of training cones. There were equal groups of cones in each row, and multiplying them gave us the combination to the referee's private locker.
Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.
Division facts (1-12) — the last clue
The team divided the post game orange slices equally among all the players. Sharing them out evenly left behind a muddy jersey containing our final clue.
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!
Name the culprit
Choose the one suspect left standing.
Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Golden Boot
- Clue 1 (Rounding): "THE THIEF DOES NOT WEAR A SMART WATCH"Round 8,489 to the nearest thousand = 8000 (T) · Round 2,617 to the nearest thousand = 3000 (H) · Round 79 to the nearest ten = 80 (I) · Round 166 to the nearest hundred = 200 (S) · Round 840 to the nearest hundred = 800 (D) · Round 465 to the nearest hundred = 500 (W) · Round 4,361 to the nearest thousand = 4000 (N) · Round 8,640 to the nearest thousand = 9000 (O) · Round 16 to the nearest ten = 20 (C) · Round 876 to the nearest hundred = 900 (M) · Round 697 to the nearest hundred = 700 (R) · Round 68 to the nearest ten = 70 (A) · Round 604 to the nearest hundred = 600 (F) · Round 52 to the nearest ten = 50 (E)
- Clue 2 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN SHOOTS WITH THE RIGHT FOOT"388 + 172 = 560 (T) · 268 + 137 = 405 (W) · 315 + 665 = 980 (R) · 269 + 207 = 476 (H) · 142 + 328 = 470 (N) · 268 + 487 = 755 (O) · 265 + 344 = 609 (E) · 310 + 298 = 608 (I) · 199 + 125 = 324 (F) · 172 + 94 = 266 (A) · 276 + 283 = 559 (V) · 373 + 458 = 831 (L) · 565 + 369 = 934 (G) · 286 + 242 = 528 (S)
- Clue 3 (Subtraction): "THEY PANIC IF THE SOCCER BALL IS FLAT"147 - 20 = 127 (T) · 862 - 345 = 517 (A) · 243 - 134 = 109 (I) · 430 - 83 = 347 (Y) · 696 - 174 = 522 (B) · 1075 - 240 = 835 (E) · 952 - 311 = 641 (H) · 222 - 41 = 181 (S) · 591 - 385 = 206 (F) · 947 - 351 = 596 (P) · 671 - 15 = 656 (R) · 630 - 173 = 457 (L) · 1261 - 391 = 870 (N) · 1253 - 397 = 856 (C) · 617 - 259 = 358 (O)
- Clue 4 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THEY DROPPED A GREEN HEADBAND IN THE MUD"11 × 9 = 99 (T) · 10 × 8 = 80 (B) · 9 × 10 = 90 (H) · 5 × 9 = 45 (Y) · 2 × 11 = 22 (I) · 7 × 4 = 28 (O) · 11 × 11 = 121 (D) · 8 × 11 = 88 (G) · 10 × 11 = 110 (A) · 7 × 5 = 35 (U) · 7 × 12 = 84 (M) · 7 × 2 = 14 (P) · 10 × 7 = 70 (R) · 10 × 10 = 100 (E) · 11 × 5 = 55 (N)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 2) → Son Heungmin12 ÷ 12 = 1 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 8 ÷ 2 = 4 · 24 ÷ 2 = 12 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 9 ÷ 1 = 9 · 33 ÷ 3 = 11 · 8 ÷ 1 = 8 · 60 ÷ 6 = 10 · 15 ÷ 5 = 3
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 3 math
- Math topics
- Rounding, Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Case of the Missing Golden Boot — set in The Championship Stadium
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects