⚽ SoccerGrade 5Reading: grades 5-6MultiplicationFractions of a numberAdditionSubtractionDivision

The Case of the Missing Match Ball

An hour before the big final match, someone snuck onto the pitch and snatched the golden game ball! The Head Groundskeeper is in a panic. We need to analyze the clues left behind on the turf to catch the culprit 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	Special Gear	Dominant Foot	Sweatband Color	Greatest Fear
Kevin	Rabona Pass	Golden Boots	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Bukayo	Rabona Pass	Golden Boots	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Sam	Bicycle Kick	Super Grip Socks	Right Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Luka	Rainbow Flick	Magnetic Shin Guards	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Erling	Stepover Dribble	Magnetic Shin Guards	Left Footed	Red Sweatband	Referee Whistles
Kylian	Knuckleball Shot	Golden Boots	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Harry	Rainbow Flick	GPS Tracker Watch	Left Footed	Red Sweatband	Squeaky Turf
Chloe	Rainbow Flick	GPS Tracker Watch	Left Footed	Neon Yellow Band	Bright Floodlights
Jack	Stepover Dribble	GPS Tracker Watch	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Antoine	Stepover Dribble	Super Grip Socks	Right Footed	Red Sweatband	Bright Floodlights
Neymar	Knuckleball Shot	Golden Boots	Right Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Virgil	Bicycle Kick	Magnetic Shin Guards	Right Footed	Red Sweatband	Squeaky Turf
Cristiano	Stepover Dribble	Super Grip Socks	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Rose	Bicycle Kick	Super Grip Socks	Left Footed	Red Sweatband	Referee Whistles
Bruno	Rainbow Flick	Golden Boots	Right Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Lucy	Rabona Pass	Magnetic Shin Guards	Left Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Wendie	Rainbow Flick	Magnetic Shin Guards	Right Footed	Red Sweatband	Squeaky Turf
Alex	Knuckleball Shot	Magnetic Shin Guards	Right Footed	Red Sweatband	Squeaky Turf
Sonny	Rabona Pass	GPS Tracker Watch	Right Footed	Blue Headband	Squeaky Turf
Mohamed	Rabona Pass	Laser Visor	Right Footed	Blue Headband	Referee Whistles
Marcus	Rainbow Flick	Super Grip Socks	Left Footed	Red Sweatband	Squeaky Turf

Clue 1

Multiplication facts (1-12)

The ground crew left training cones out in equal rows on the practice field. Let's multiply the rows by the columns to count how many cones we have to clear to find our first clue.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

108

5 × 11 =T

1 × 3 =D

1 × 1 =U

12 × 7 =I

5 × 9 =A

12 × 9 =R

8 × 8 =N

10 × 7 =M

9 × 10 =H

12 × 8 =S

8 × 11 =O

3 × 2 =G

11 × 9 =E

4 × 12 =C

6 × 9 =P

0/15 letters found

Clue 2

Fractions of a number

We found a shredded diagram of the team playbook in the grass. If we can calculate the exact fraction of the pages that are still intact, we will unlock a crucial hint.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

2/5 of 35 =T

5/10 of 54 =K

1/4 of 92 =H

3/6 of 60 =L

2/6 of 111 =C

1/8 of 136 =U

1/6 of 78 =I

1/5 of 125 =S

4/8 of 42 =P

2/8 of 160 =O

5/10 of 52 =E

1/6 of 174 =B

2/6 of 105 =W

1/5 of 140 =F

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Addition

The thief dropped several empty energy gel packets during their getaway. Adding up all the packets found along the touchlines will reveal where the suspect went.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

7731

2806

6234

5596

9703

4847

2521

9703

3762

5422

2806

2389

3762

5422

7615

2389

6234

2521

3893

4185

7731

2389

4134

2994

2529 + 5202 =T

1896 + 910 =H

2546 + 1216 =N

1671 + 3176 =L

4026 + 2208 =E

1818 + 2075 =K

2569 + 1616 =Y

5096 + 4607 =I

3157 + 2439 =V

1760 + 1234 =F

2440 + 5175 =Q

1654 + 735 =U

1394 + 1127 =A

1620 + 2514 =R

1884 + 3538 =S

0/15 letters found

Clue 4

Subtraction

A locker room inventory sheet shows some missing equipment. Subtracting the remaining training bibs from our original total will help us crack this next lead.

Solve each problem to learn its letter. Then write that letter in every box that shows the same number, and read the secret clue.

3582

6955

3415

5792

3552

3415

6831

3415

6955

7609

7052

1009

8130

3277

3415

6955

3415

7609

7052

1009

7609

6831

7052

8256

3562

1009

3415

2584

5792

4830 - 1248 =T

4114 - 837 =U

11843 - 4888 =H

4311 - 3302 =B

7400 - 348 =D

8341 - 211 =L

6113 - 321 =S

9250 - 2419 =N

11369 - 3760 =A

4679 - 2095 =R

4578 - 1016 =I

6732 - 3317 =E

7655 - 4103 =C

10938 - 2682 =F

0/14 letters found

Clue 5

Division facts (1-12) — the last clue

The coach wants to distribute the spare soccer socks evenly among the substitute players. Dividing the socks equally will give us the final digit to solve the mystery.

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

90 ÷ 10 = ?

8 ÷ 8 = ?

12 ÷ 3 = ?

32 ÷ 4 = ?

36 ÷ 12 = ?

56 ÷ 8 = ?

55 ÷ 5 = ?

100 ÷ 10 = ?

30 ÷ 6 = ?

96 ÷ 8 = ?

4 ÷ 2 = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain scrambles the scoreboard controller, then sprints past the corner flag.

2.The villain swipes the gold championship trophy, then leaps over the stadium fence.

3.The villain locks the lockers shut, then leaps over the stadium fence.

4.The villain hides the team mascot uniform, then sprints past the corner flag.

5.The villain swipes the gold championship trophy, then escapes into the gear van.

6.The villain locks the lockers shut, then escapes into the gear van.

7.The villain scrambles the scoreboard controller, then trips over a training cone.

8.The villain swipes the gold championship trophy, then sprints past the corner flag.

9.The villain locks the lockers shut, then trips over a training cone.

10.The villain scrambles the scoreboard controller, then dashes into the team dugouts.

11.The villain swipes the gold championship trophy, then trips over a training cone.

12.The villain hides the team mascot uniform, then escapes into the gear van.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Case of the Missing Match Ball

Culprit: Cristiano (Stepover Dribble · Super Grip Socks · Left Footed · Blue Headband · Squeaky Turf)

Clue 1 (Multiplication facts (1-12)): "THE SUSPECT HAS NO MAGNETIC SHIN GUARDS"
5 × 11 = 55 (T) · 1 × 3 = 3 (D) · 1 × 1 = 1 (U) · 12 × 7 = 84 (I) · 5 × 9 = 45 (A) · 12 × 9 = 108 (R) · 8 × 8 = 64 (N) · 10 × 7 = 70 (M) · 9 × 10 = 90 (H) · 12 × 8 = 96 (S) · 8 × 11 = 88 (O) · 3 × 2 = 6 (G) · 11 × 9 = 99 (E) · 4 × 12 = 48 (C) · 6 × 9 = 54 (P)
Clue 2 (Fractions of a number): "THE SUSPECT KICKS BEST WITH THE LEFT FOOT"
2/5 of 35 = 14 (T) · 5/10 of 54 = 27 (K) · 1/4 of 92 = 23 (H) · 3/6 of 60 = 30 (L) · 2/6 of 111 = 37 (C) · 1/8 of 136 = 17 (U) · 1/6 of 78 = 13 (I) · 1/5 of 125 = 25 (S) · 4/8 of 42 = 21 (P) · 2/8 of 160 = 40 (O) · 5/10 of 52 = 26 (E) · 1/6 of 174 = 29 (B) · 2/6 of 105 = 35 (W) · 1/5 of 140 = 28 (F)
Clue 3 (Addition): "THE VILLAIN SHUNS SQUEAKY TURF"
2529 + 5202 = 7731 (T) · 1896 + 910 = 2806 (H) · 2546 + 1216 = 3762 (N) · 1671 + 3176 = 4847 (L) · 4026 + 2208 = 6234 (E) · 1818 + 2075 = 3893 (K) · 2569 + 1616 = 4185 (Y) · 5096 + 4607 = 9703 (I) · 3157 + 2439 = 5596 (V) · 1760 + 1234 = 2994 (F) · 2440 + 5175 = 7615 (Q) · 1654 + 735 = 2389 (U) · 1394 + 1127 = 2521 (A) · 1620 + 2514 = 4134 (R) · 1884 + 3538 = 5422 (S)
Clue 4 (Subtraction): "THE SCENE HAD BLUE HEADBAND FIBERS"
4830 - 1248 = 3582 (T) · 4114 - 837 = 3277 (U) · 11843 - 4888 = 6955 (H) · 4311 - 3302 = 1009 (B) · 7400 - 348 = 7052 (D) · 8341 - 211 = 8130 (L) · 6113 - 321 = 5792 (S) · 9250 - 2419 = 6831 (N) · 11369 - 3760 = 7609 (A) · 4679 - 2095 = 2584 (R) · 4578 - 1016 = 3562 (I) · 6732 - 3317 = 3415 (E) · 7655 - 4103 = 3552 (C) · 10938 - 2682 = 8256 (F)
Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 6) → Cristiano
90 ÷ 10 = 9 · 8 ÷ 8 = 1 · 12 ÷ 3 = 4 · 32 ÷ 4 = 8 · 36 ÷ 12 = 3 · 56 ÷ 8 = 7 · 55 ÷ 5 = 11 · 100 ÷ 10 = 10 · 30 ÷ 6 = 5 · 96 ÷ 8 = 12 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 5 math
Math topics: Multiplication, Fractions of a number, Addition, Subtraction, Division
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Case of the Missing Match Ball — set in The Grand Championship Stadium
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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