Photo courtesy of publisher
The author of a book about soccer star Lionel Messi will discuss and sign his book next month in Alexandria,
A soccer writer with local roots is returning to the Alexandria area this month to talk about the biggest name in American soccer.
Paul Tenorio, a senior writer for The Athletic, will visit Old Town Books on Friday, Aug. 14, to discuss his new book, "The Messi Effect," which chronicles Lionel Messi's arrival in Major League Soccer and the ripple effects it set off across the sport in America. The event runs from 7 to 8 p.m. at the bookstore, 130 S. Royal St., and pairs a discussion with a book signing.
Published in June by St. Martin's Press, "The Messi Effect: How the Global Legend Changed the Future of American Soccer" takes readers behind the scenes of Messi's move to Inter Miami — a signing that helped turn a last-place club into a global draw — and into the MLS boardroom, where league owners weighed how to build on his arrival to grow the game. Tenorio plans to talk about what inspired the book and his writing process and sign copies of his book.
The subject arrives at a fitting moment, with soccer riding an unusual wave of attention in the United States this year. Tenorio has covered the American and global game since 2007, and his work has also appeared in The Washington Post, the Orlando Sentinel, FourFourTwo and ESPN.
Photo courtesy of author
Author Paul Tenorio
For Tenorio, the appearance is something of a homecoming. A proud Costa Rican American, he grew up in Mount Vernon, just south of Alexandria, before graduating from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. He now lives in Chicago with his wife and two children.
Old Town Books, an independent shop at the corner of Royal and Prince streets, regularly hosts author talks, book clubs and community events. Registration for the Tenorio event is through the bookstore's Eventbrite page, with two options: a $33.54 ticket that includes a hardcover copy of "The Messi Effect," or a $10 ticket (plus a $1.49 fee) that comes back as store credit.
