The Mystery of the Missing Cup
The legendary Champion Cup has vanished from Golden Goal Arena right before the big tournament! A mysterious phantom player snuck onto the pitch under the cover of night. We must find the culprit who stole the trophy before kickoff!
Possible suspects
Cross off a row as each clue rules it out. On screen, tap a row.
| Name | Signature Move | Special Gear | Cleat Lace Style | Team Headband | Field Trap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bukayo Saka | lightning sprint | sonic whistle | double lace knot | neon green band | sprinkler blast |
| Erling Haaland | lightning sprint | super grip gloves | single lace knot | neon green band | sprinkler blast |
| Son Heung Min | lightning sprint | golden cleats | double lace knot | neon green band | giant practice net |
| Sam Kerr | cannonball shot | sonic whistle | double lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Kylian Mbappe | super bicycle kick | glow in dark ball | double lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Jude Bellingham | diving header | golden cleats | single lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | lightning sprint | glow in dark ball | single lace knot | neon green band | giant practice net |
| Neymar Jr | super bicycle kick | golden cleats | double lace knot | electric blue band | giant practice net |
| Virgil van Dijk | lightning sprint | super grip gloves | double lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Alex Morgan | diving header | sonic whistle | single lace knot | bright orange band | giant practice net |
| Kevin De Bruyne | lightning sprint | golden cleats | double lace knot | neon green band | sprinkler blast |
| Marcus Rashford | diving header | golden cleats | single lace knot | bright orange band | sticky mud patch |
| Lucy Bronze | diving header | glow in dark ball | single lace knot | neon green band | sticky mud patch |
| Luka Modric | lightning sprint | super grip gloves | single lace knot | bright orange band | sticky mud patch |
| Megan Rapinoe | curving free kick | golden cleats | double lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Harry Kane | cannonball shot | super grip gloves | double lace knot | electric blue band | sticky mud patch |
| Robert Lewandowski | diving header | glow in dark ball | double lace knot | bright orange band | sticky mud patch |
| Antoine Griezmann | super bicycle kick | sonic whistle | single lace knot | bright orange band | sticky mud patch |
| Alisson Becker | diving header | sonic whistle | double lace knot | electric blue band | sprinkler blast |
| Marta | super bicycle kick | radar headband | single lace knot | bright orange band | sticky mud patch |
| Bruno Fernandes | lightning sprint | glow in dark ball | double lace knot | electric blue band | sprinkler blast |
Addition
We counted the training cones left on the pitch. Adding up the blue and yellow cones reveals 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.
Subtraction
The thief dropped a box of practice balls. Subtracting the flat ones from the total gives us our next 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.
Fractions of a number
Look at the team rosters! Finding a fraction of the total player count points us to the next 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.
Order of operations
The scoreboards flashed a strange sequence of drills. Solving the operations in the correct order unlocks this file.
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 coach has a bag of goalie gloves to share equally among the teams. Dividing them up uncovers the 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 Mystery of the Missing Cup
- Clue 1 (Addition): "THE THIEF DOES NOT USE THE SONIC WHISTLE"2675 + 2169 = 4844 (T) · 4098 + 3654 = 7752 (N) · 2532 + 4482 = 7014 (E) · 5989 + 3834 = 9823 (F) · 1761 + 1044 = 2805 (C) · 3450 + 1613 = 5063 (S) · 2574 + 4127 = 6701 (U) · 3115 + 6599 = 9714 (O) · 1762 + 1878 = 3640 (W) · 3411 + 3450 = 6861 (D) · 3156 + 1643 = 4799 (L) · 4580 + 4589 = 9169 (I) · 2479 + 1075 = 3554 (H)
- Clue 2 (Subtraction): "THE TRACKS SHOW A DOUBLE KNOT PATTERN"8459 - 1701 = 6758 (T) · 12579 - 4549 = 8030 (S) · 12931 - 4737 = 8194 (L) · 8984 - 2632 = 6352 (O) · 12310 - 4811 = 7499 (C) · 11965 - 4125 = 7840 (H) · 6660 - 555 = 6105 (E) · 5490 - 1457 = 4033 (A) · 5181 - 3861 = 1320 (B) · 10000 - 3417 = 6583 (D) · 3649 - 1360 = 2289 (W) · 7566 - 2795 = 4771 (K) · 7774 - 4774 = 3000 (P) · 6193 - 2603 = 3590 (N) · 3650 - 1574 = 2076 (R) · 12464 - 3669 = 8795 (U)
- Clue 3 (Fractions of a number): "THE SNEAKY SUSPECT SLIPPED IN WET MUD"2/8 of 136 = 34 (T) · 2/6 of 117 = 39 (E) · 2/3 of 6 = 4 (H) · 2/6 of 66 = 22 (Y) · 1/4 of 92 = 23 (C) · 1/4 of 148 = 37 (W) · 2/4 of 40 = 20 (K) · 2/8 of 76 = 19 (P) · 1/5 of 65 = 13 (M) · 4/10 of 70 = 28 (L) · 4/10 of 100 = 40 (N) · 2/8 of 36 = 9 (A) · 1/4 of 120 = 30 (S) · 7/10 of 20 = 14 (D) · 3/8 of 96 = 36 (I) · 2/4 of 58 = 29 (U)
- Clue 4 (Order of operations): "A PIECE OF BLUE BAND WAS SPOTTED NEAR THE NET"6 + 3 × 7 = 27 (A) · 10 × 9 - 15 = 75 (H) · 10 × 9 - 29 = 61 (P) · 4 + 2 × 3 = 10 (U) · 9 × 8 - 26 = 46 (T) · 10 × 2 - 9 = 11 (F) · 8 × 10 - 4 = 76 (B) · 19 + 5 × 2 = 29 (N) · 10 × 6 - 17 = 43 (D) · 11 × 7 - 24 = 53 (O) · 20 + 4 × 4 = 36 (R) · 37 + 2 × 2 = 41 (L) · 3 + 2 × 2 = 7 (S) · 9 × 7 - 9 = 54 (E) · 10 × 9 - 13 = 77 (W) · 2 + 2 × 2 = 6 (I) · 3 + 4 × 3 = 15 (C)
- Clue 5 (Division facts (1-12)): surviving statement (box 4) → Virgil van Dijk96 ÷ 12 = 8 · 44 ÷ 4 = 11 · 36 ÷ 6 = 6 · 4 ÷ 4 = 1 · 4 ÷ 2 = 2 · 30 ÷ 10 = 3 · 120 ÷ 12 = 10 · 55 ÷ 11 = 5 · 42 ÷ 6 = 7 · 48 ÷ 4 = 12 · 45 ÷ 5 = 9
About this mystery
- Grade level
- Grade 5 math
- Math topics
- Addition, Subtraction, Fractions of a number, Order of operations, Division
- Reading level
- grades 3-4
- Theme
- The Mystery of the Missing Cup — set in Golden Goal Arena
- Format
- Interactive online & printable worksheet with answer key
- Solution
- One unique, verified culprit among 21 suspects
