One of the biggest sports in the world, soccer is played at various levels, from bumblebee soccer to the National Teams. If you enjoy watching your country play in the World Cup or your favorite club play in the Premier League, you’ll love these ten best soccer documentaries that dive deeper into this worldwide sport.
10. LFG (2021)
Dive into the world and struggles of the U.S. Women’s Soccer team as they fight for equal pay in LFG. Three months before the 2019 World Cup, the players filed a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit against the U.S. Soccer Federation. The documentary follows players like Rapinoe, McDonald, Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, and Mewis, as they stand in the center of the biggest fight for women’s rights since Title IX.
–IMDb score: 5.6
9. Neymar: The Perfect Chaos (2022)
Both cherished worldwide and a lightning rod for criticism, Brazilian player Neymar da Silva Santos takes the stage in his documentary Neymar: The Perfect Chaos. Neymar talks about the highs and lows of his personal life and successful soccer career over three episodes.
–IMDb score: 6.6
8. Messi (2022)
If you’ve ever watched soccer, you probably recognize the name Lionel Messi. A subject of several documentaries and news articles, the 2022 Messi continues to show the legacy of this Argentinian player. The documentary includes incredible footage and provides a more detailed understanding of the real Lionel Messi that no one sees.
–IMDb score: 7.4
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7. The Phenomenon (2022)
Destined to become an all-time great in 1997, just a year after Ronaldo Nazario’s life was turned upside down. Nazario was first blamed for Brazil’s World Cup final defeat to France and then suffered back-to-back injuries that put his future career in jeopardy. But two new knees and a World Cup later, The Phenomenon was back in the world’s graces. Watch Ronaldo’s redemption story in the documentary The Phenomenon.
–IMDb score: 7.6
6. Lionesses: How Football Came Home (2022)
Featuring another women’s team is the documentary Lionesses: How Football Came Home, looking at England’s team. It chronicles the summer of 2022 as the squad steadily progressed through the UEFA competition and snagged the title. Best of all? Alessia Russo’s back-heeled goal against Sweden and Chloe Kelly’s heroics in the final game.
–IMDb score: 7.7
5. Diego Maradona (2019)
Diego Maradona was one of the most celebrated and controversial soccer players in the world and played for S.S.C. Napoli in the 1980s. His documentary, Diego Maradona, is constructed from over 500 hours of never-before-seen footage of the Argentine that led Napoli to its first league title. It recounts the miracles he performed on the field and the darker days ahead.
–IMDb score: 7.7
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4. Beckham (2023)
Beckham also delves into the life of a soccer superstar, this one being David Beckham. The docuseries charts Beckham’s roots from working-class London to gaining soccer stardom. It also reveals the battle to find a balance between ambition, love, and family as Beckham’s drive to win grew along with his presence on the field.
–IMDb score: 8.1
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3. Sunderland ‘Til I Die (2018)
While the players are great, some could say they are nothing without their fans. In Sunderland ‘Til I Die, we glimpse this unwavering devotion, specifically for the Sunderland football club. The documentary shows viewers the highs and lows of SAFC’s 2017-18 season in the Championship following its relegation the previous year.
–IMDb score: 8.1
2. Welcome to Wrexham (2022)
Buying and managing a soccer club is not an easy task, but Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney took the chance when they bought Wrexham AFC, one of the oldest professional soccer clubs. The documentary Welcome to Wrexham chronicles the takeover of the Red Dragons and their subsequent records in the following two seasons showing the genuine love for the game between owners, players, and fans.
–IMDb score: 8.3
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1. All or Nothing Series (2018-Present)
Our last soccer documentary is a series provided through Amazon Prime Video called All or Nothing. The series chronicles the daily lives and struggles of different professional teams, including soccer, football, rugby, and hockey. The seasons you’ll want to watch for soccer center around Manchester City, Brazil’s National Team, Tottenham Hotspur, Juventus, Arsenal, and the German National Team in Qatar.
–IMDb score: 7.0-8.5
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