Teen champion named in football world record book

Isabel Wilkins, 18, obtained all four of her world records in a single day

A teenager who has twice been crowned world champion of freestyle football is now featuring in a new book of Guinness World Records.

Isabel Wilkins, from Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire, stars in the new Football Edition 2026 - the first ever book dedicated to the top 100 greatest football records.

She was also asked to write the foreword, inviting fans to get hands-on with their own record-breaking and setting them a personal challenge with step-by-step tips.

At just 18, she already holds four Guinness World Record titles - obtaining all four in a single day on 8 January 2024, and achieving each record on her first attempt.

Ms Wilkins features in the book alongside some of the sport's most iconic names, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Jude Bellingham, Harry Kane and Erling Haaland

Freestyle football consists of creatively juggling a ball using any part of your body, showcasing individual skill, control and style through tricks and routines.

Ms Wilkins titles include most 'Abbas around the world' tricks in 30 seconds, most 'hop the world' tricks in 30 seconds, most 'clipper' tricks in one minute, and most half beck 'around the world' tricks in one minute.

"The past few years have been incredible," she said. "It's been amazing, what freestyling has given me. It's pretty crazy to think."

At just 15, Ms Wilkins became the youngest female freestyle football world champion in history when she won the Super Ball World Open in Prague, Czechia, in August 2023.

She successfully defended her title the following year in Liberec, Czech Republic.

Ms Wilkins said she had "some new tricks" up her sleeve for the upcoming world championships

Ms Wilkins is currently training in the Netherlands alongside the men's world champion, in preparation for the World Freestyle Football Championship in Sopot, Poland, on 13 December.

"I'm hoping for the world championship title again but it will be hard, the level is increasing year after year," she said. "I'm going to give it my best shot.

"Last year at the world championships there was a record number of female participants, so it's definitely increasing a lot which is really great to see.

"I'm trying to inspire as many young people, especially young girls, to show them that football and freestyle can be something amazing."