⚽ Soccer, MinecraftGrade 7Reading: grades 5-6IntegersPercentagesOrder of operationsExponentsTwo-step equations

The Cup of the Netherite Soccer Ball

The grand championship match of the Blocky Soccer League was about to begin when someone griefed the main pitch! The legendary Netherite Soccer Ball has been stolen from its bedrock pedestal. A mysterious figure was spotted fleeing into a portal, leaving behind a trail of blocks and grass turf. We must use our math skills to solve the clues and catch the thief!

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	Griefing Skill	Soccer Signature Move	Dominant Foot	Helmet Choice	Critical Weakness
Erling Haaland	Redstone Wiring	Power Header	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Milk Bucket
Luka Modric	Lava Pouring	Super Speed Dribble	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Mohamed Salah	Creeper Spawning	Super Speed Dribble	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Tamed Wolf
Bukayo Saka	TNT Launching	Bicycle Kick Blast	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Cristiano Ronaldo	Creeper Spawning	Curved Free Kick	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Water Potion
Phil Foden	Bedrock Blocking	Curved Free Kick	Right Footed	Diamond Helmet	Water Potion
Robert Lewandowski	Redstone Wiring	Curved Free Kick	Right Footed	Netherite Helmet	Water Potion
Kevin De Bruyne	Lava Pouring	Power Header	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Tamed Wolf
Declan Rice	TNT Launching	Bicycle Kick Blast	Right Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Alex Morgan	Lava Pouring	Phantom Slide Tackle	Right Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Kylian Mbappe	Redstone Wiring	Power Header	Right Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Virgil van Dijk	TNT Launching	Power Header	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Marcus Rashford	TNT Launching	Curved Free Kick	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Tamed Wolf
Lionel Messi	Creeper Spawning	Curved Free Kick	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Sam Kerr	Bedrock Blocking	Power Header	Right Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Jude Bellingham	TNT Launching	Super Speed Dribble	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Neymar Jr	Lava Pouring	Phantom Slide Tackle	Left Footed	Diamond Helmet	Milk Bucket
Bruno Fernandes	Creeper Spawning	Bicycle Kick Blast	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Harry Kane	Lava Pouring	Power Header	Left Footed	Golden Helmet	Water Potion
Antoine Griezmann	TNT Launching	Phantom Slide Tackle	Right Footed	Golden Helmet	Tamed Wolf
Zlatan Ibrahimovic	Redstone Wiring	Bicycle Kick Blast	Right Footed	Netherite Helmet	Water Potion

Clue 1

Integers

The stadium temperature sensor recorded a sudden drop in degrees below zero when the griefing happened. Let us track the deep subterranean depths of the intruder's tunnel to decode the 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.

(-8) + 29 =T

13 - (-13) =D

(-14) + 31 =S

(-9) + 19 =V

(-5) + 10 =H

6 - (-10) =O

(-6) + 9 =E

(-4) + 34 =U

18 - (-4) =K

(-8) + 14 =C

(-14) + 33 =L

22 - (-2) =I

(-4) + 11 =A

15 - (-5) =N

(-15) + 29 =Y

27 - (-2) =B

0/16 letters found

Clue 2

Percentages

The goalkeeper checked his diamond armor durability bar, which lost a precise percentage of its total strength during the blast. Use this percentage calculation to reveal another 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.

10% of 330 =T

5% of 640 =B

50% of 58 =K

25% of 232 =H

20% of 70 =D

10% of 70 =F

50% of 108 =R

25% of 168 =C

5% of 360 =L

25% of 120 =E

5% of 780 =I

50% of 26 =O

50% of 56 =W

50% of 92 =A

0/14 letters found

Clue 3

Order of operations

To fix the stadium lights, we must calculate the total redstone energy using a strict order of operations on the main circuit board.

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

116

29 + 2 × 7 =T

5 × 7 - 24 =K

10 + 4 × 7 =F

54 + 2 × 5 =R

12 × 7 - 19 =H

5 × 8 - 3 =E

30 + 6 × 7 =M

3 × 11 - 4 =B

12 × 8 - 10 =U

10 × 10 - 16 =I

1 + 3 × 7 =C

21 + 6 × 8 =O

15 + 4 × 4 =W

33 + 6 × 5 =A

10 × 6 - 3 =L

11 × 6 - 21 =N

11 × 12 - 16 =Y

0/17 letters found

Clue 4

Exponents

The villain threw down cloning potions that multiplied at an exponential rate across the pitch. Solve the power of these numbers to find where the suspect dropped their helmet.

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

196

169

144

100

324

400

343

324

169

343

361

343

169

324

169

14^2 =W

12^2 =F

10^2 =U

18^2 =N

19^2 =R

2^6 =H

2^5 =S

7^2 =T

4^2 =C

2^3 =L

7^3 =A

20^2 =I

5^2 =D

13^2 =E

6^2 =M

3^3 =O

0/16 letters found

Clue 5

Two-step equations — the last clue

We found a crafting recipe for speed potions that requires solving a balance of ingredients. Work out this two-step mystery to find the villain's final weakness.

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

6x + 6 = 36, x = ?

6x + 3 = 9, x = ?

2x + 4 = 10, x = ?

3x + 8 = 32, x = ?

4x + 9 = 17, x = ?

4x + 1 = 29, x = ?

6x + 12 = 36, x = ?

2x + 2 = 14, x = ?

4x + 2 = 38, x = ?

3x + 1 = 34, x = ?

4x + 12 = 60, x = ?

Step 2 — cross out the sentence with each answer

1.The villain spilled glowing hot orange lava, then slide tackled the referee into a water pool.

2.The villain launched a sparkling red primed TNT block, then curved a glowing ball around the goalie.

3.The villain launched a sparkling red primed TNT block, then scored a powerful header past the golems.

4.The villain summoned a green explosive creeper, then did an amazing bicycle kick.

5.The villain launched a sparkling red primed TNT block, then dribbled through three defenders at once.

6.The villain built a giant solid bedrock wall, then curved a glowing ball around the goalie.

7.The villain rewired the stadium scoreboard, then dribbled through three defenders at once.

8.The villain summoned a green explosive creeper, then dribbled through three defenders at once.

9.The villain spilled glowing hot orange lava, then curved a glowing ball around the goalie.

10.The villain summoned a green explosive creeper, then curved a glowing ball around the goalie.

11.The villain built a giant solid bedrock wall, then did an amazing bicycle kick.

12.The villain rewired the stadium scoreboard, then did an amazing bicycle kick.

Solve it

Name the culprit

Choose the one suspect left standing.

Answer Key — The Cup of the Netherite Soccer Ball

Culprit: Lionel Messi (Creeper Spawning · Curved Free Kick · Left Footed · Diamond Helmet · Milk Bucket)

Clue 1 (Integers): "THE VILLAIN DOES NOT USE BICYCLE KICK BLAST"
(-8) + 29 = 21 (T) · 13 - (-13) = 26 (D) · (-14) + 31 = 17 (S) · (-9) + 19 = 10 (V) · (-5) + 10 = 5 (H) · 6 - (-10) = 16 (O) · (-6) + 9 = 3 (E) · (-4) + 34 = 30 (U) · 18 - (-4) = 22 (K) · (-8) + 14 = 6 (C) · (-14) + 33 = 19 (L) · 22 - (-2) = 24 (I) · (-4) + 11 = 7 (A) · 15 - (-5) = 20 (N) · (-15) + 29 = 14 (Y) · 27 - (-2) = 29 (B)
Clue 2 (Percentages): "THE CROOK KICKED THE BALL WITH THEIR LEFT FOOT"
10% of 330 = 33 (T) · 5% of 640 = 32 (B) · 50% of 58 = 29 (K) · 25% of 232 = 58 (H) · 20% of 70 = 14 (D) · 10% of 70 = 7 (F) · 50% of 108 = 54 (R) · 25% of 168 = 42 (C) · 5% of 360 = 18 (L) · 25% of 120 = 30 (E) · 5% of 780 = 39 (I) · 50% of 26 = 13 (O) · 50% of 56 = 28 (W) · 50% of 92 = 46 (A)
Clue 3 (Order of operations): "THE THIEF RAN AWAY FROM A MILK BUCKET"
29 + 2 × 7 = 43 (T) · 5 × 7 - 24 = 11 (K) · 10 + 4 × 7 = 38 (F) · 54 + 2 × 5 = 64 (R) · 12 × 7 - 19 = 65 (H) · 5 × 8 - 3 = 37 (E) · 30 + 6 × 7 = 72 (M) · 3 × 11 - 4 = 29 (B) · 12 × 8 - 10 = 86 (U) · 10 × 10 - 16 = 84 (I) · 1 + 3 × 7 = 22 (C) · 21 + 6 × 8 = 69 (O) · 15 + 4 × 4 = 31 (W) · 33 + 6 × 5 = 63 (A) · 10 × 6 - 3 = 57 (L) · 11 × 6 - 21 = 45 (N) · 11 × 12 - 16 = 116 (Y)
Clue 4 (Exponents): "WE FOUND DIAMOND HELMET SHARDS AT THE SCENE"
14^2 = 196 (W) · 12^2 = 144 (F) · 10^2 = 100 (U) · 18^2 = 324 (N) · 19^2 = 361 (R) · 2^6 = 64 (H) · 2^5 = 32 (S) · 7^2 = 49 (T) · 4^2 = 16 (C) · 2^3 = 8 (L) · 7^3 = 343 (A) · 20^2 = 400 (I) · 5^2 = 25 (D) · 13^2 = 169 (E) · 6^2 = 36 (M) · 3^3 = 27 (O)
Clue 5 (Two-step equations): surviving statement (box 10) → Lionel Messi
6x + 6 = 36, x = 5 · 6x + 3 = 9, x = 1 · 2x + 4 = 10, x = 3 · 3x + 8 = 32, x = 8 · 4x + 9 = 17, x = 2 · 4x + 1 = 29, x = 7 · 6x + 12 = 36, x = 4 · 2x + 2 = 14, x = 6 · 4x + 2 = 38, x = 9 · 3x + 1 = 34, x = 11 · 4x + 12 = 60, x = 12

About this mystery

Grade level: Grade 7 math
Math topics: Integers, Percentages, Order of operations, Exponents, Two-step equations
Reading level: grades 5-6
Theme: The Cup of the Netherite Soccer Ball — set in The Blocky Stadium in the Overworld
Format: Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
Solution: One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects

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