There have been many interesting stories about soccer throughout its rich history. There have been many documentaries about soccer, from players and teams. But only a handful of them have stood out as the best.
These 14 documentaries are the best to watchNo matter what soccer team a person follows on a daily basis, they are all equally important. They tell fascinating stories and draw the viewers in in unique ways.
1. Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait
The story of Zinadine Zidane is not done yet, but he’s playing days are well past him. A documentary that only covered one match in his career was created by the filmmakers in 2006.
Zidane was playing for Real Madrid and 17 cameras followed each move. It’s a unique documentary that is well-received for being different and innovative.
At one time, the New York Cosmos looked like the most important thing in sports.. They had players of international fame on their team, they were playing soccer for the greater good, and were willing to play against any team.
Unfortunately, the team collapsed just as fast as it was becoming a force. The team didn’t take over North America as they hoped, due to financial difficulties. Although it would take a while before soccer gets a legitimate chance again in North America, this is a glimpse at what the team could do in New York City.
3. Hillsborough
Most soccer fans know about the day that 96 Liverpool supporters died on the Leppings Lane Terraces. However, they might not be familiar with the entire story.. The ESPN 30 for 30, documentaries are a great way to tell the story. They capture the emotions and raw emotion of that day.
It is amazing how many people they interview for the documentary, helping people to relive a terrible day in the history. It’s a well-done documentary that will be enjoyed by many people.
4. Sunderland ‘Til I Die
After a terrible 2017 season, it was a hard fall from grace for Sunderland.. Netflix captured their second campaign in an effort to rebound to the Champions League.
Sunderland was not the lucky one. Instead, the cameras captured a football team that was in serious trouble in many ways. The team was not living upto expectations, and this was impacting on all of their supporters from the northeast. This documentary is a fantastic effort and should be seen by anyone who loves the Premier League.
5. Pelada
A few people think this is the best soccer documentary.. This story is about two former college soccer stars who couldn’t make it as professionals. They try to continue playing the game that they love while traveling the globe and meeting so many different people.
Many people find the documentary inspiring them to go out and play again. Even if they’re not the professional players they aspire to be, they still pursue what they love.
6. Manchester City: All or Nothing
Manchester City became the top club team of England during the 2017-2018 season. This video shows the level of success and allows you to live that amazing year again.
It can sometimes be difficult to access all the information from a Premier League team. Manchester City was the perfect season for this candid view.
7. George Best, All by Himself
George Best’s life is perfect for documentary.. There have been many attempts to address what he brings to this table. But, no one does it more well than this film. His role was exceptional, but his battle with alcoholism will be the most important.
He is an all-time great, and there are too many Manchester United supporters. Even though he was gone more than 15 years ago the Northern Irishman is still well-respected. ESPN did a wonderful job of ending his story by allowing us to dive deep into his personal life.
8. Next Goal Wins
Nothing is more satisfying than trying to get an undermanned soccer team to the top of the soccer league for the ultimate underdog story. American Samoa did exactly that for the 2014 World Cup. They tried their best to qualify.
This documentary shows both the highs and the lows of that run. It was impossible to predict what would happen, but it is fascinating to see how limited their resources were. It’s not enough to look at the haves. It’s more fun to see what the haves have.
9. Pass the ball, take the ball
The Barcelona team, led by Pep Guardiola, was one of the most entertaining teams I’ve ever seen.. They showed that they could dominate like few other teams in the game’s history, but they did so with a type of flair that is hard to match.
Their ability to move the ball with such skill and agility that it was impossible for them to stop is what makes them so unique. This gives people a chance to see the dominant team and some of their all-time greats, like Lionel Messi.
10. Graham Taylor: An Impossible Job
Being the boss of England’s national team can be one of the toughest jobs in all sport. Success is a pressured task. If a person doesn’t meet expectations, they are immediately vilified as being incapable of delivering when it matters most.
The documentary was made following Graham Taylor and his team in 1982. Viewers have the opportunity to see meetings with players, media interactions, and much more. It’s a great documentary. This film inspired Mike Bassett: English manager, one of the greatest soccer films ever made.
11. Diego Maradona
It is now that Argentina’s star player Diego Maradona has died. Let us take a look at the best documentaries featuring the legendary athlete.. In 2019, HBO released Diego Maradona as the best of the best.
HBO was able obtain much of the footage that is not normally seen. This allowed HBO to show people what they are most passionate about. They could see the star’s brilliance in the field. But they also had to know some background information like drugs and gangsters.
Anyone who wants to make sure that they know quite a bit about one of the game’s true superstars should give this a legitimate try before any of the others bearing his name.
12. The Referees
It’s easy to be a hater on referees at every level of soccer. They are the ones who take all the blame when things go wrong. It would seem that a documentary about a single referee would not be worthwhile.
It is however, anything but that as Martin Hansson stars in the role of referee, making it all the way to 2010 FIFA World Cup. Hansson ends up calling the Thierry Henry handball, as luck would have it. It’s an extraordinary, unique type of soccer documentary.
13. Becoming Zlatan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iMH1tiQ0so
Zlatan Ibrahimovic might be the most intriguing player right now. Although the Swedish soccer star is still playing professionally, this Netflix documentary looks back at his early years.
Like many other superstars, he didn’t grow up in the best of circumstances. He was the son of immigrants and had to work hard in order to be the star he is today. It is worth looking at the other side of the superstar.
14. Istanbul United
There is a fierce rivalry between the three largest soccer clubs in Istanbul.. While it has been ongoing for years, recent years have seen it at the forefront. It seems that things are not improving with political unrest in Turkey.
This documentary examines the joys and sorrows of being a supporter of all three clubs. It’s a fascinating view for those who don’t know much about Turkish soccer fans and their passion for their favorite teams.