Soccer is one of the most popular sports in the world. It has millions of fans and each year it generates massive amounts of money in revenue. Some of its most celebrated contests are the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA European Championship, the Copa América, the Africa Cup of Nations, the FA Cup, and more.
Over the years, several directors have created many fascinating documentaries about the sport. However, Netflix is responsible for releasing some of the most iconic ones. Reports suggest that there are more than 3 billion viewers of the sport worldwide. Furthermore, there are 250 million players across 200 countries. Some of the most famous soccer players are Lionel Messi, Pele, Diego Maradona, Cristiano Ronaldo, Johan Cruyff, and more.
Here are some unmissable soccer documentaries on Netflix.
BECKHAM
The 2023 Netflix docuseries titled BECKHAM delves into the English soccer player’s legendary rise from humble beginnings. David Beckham, who is now retired from the sport, was known for his crossing ability, passing, and free kicks. He played in teams such as Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, PSG and more. Furthermore, he is the co-owner of Inter Miami CF. Throughout his career, he has won more than 15 trophies, including the Premier League, La Liga, the UEFA Champions League, and more.
According to IMDb, the synopsis of BECKHAM reads, “With never-before-seen footage, this docuseries follows David Beckham’s meteoric rise from humble beginnings to global football stardom.”
The creators of BECKHAM are Fisher Stevens and John Battsek.
Sunderland ’Til I Die
Netflix’s Sunderland ’Til I Die narrates the bittersweet story of the English soccer club, Sunderland AFC. They initially played in the top division of English soccer, the Premier League. However, due to poor performances, they now compete in the Championship, the second division. This project focuses on its loyal supporters, the team’s struggles, and many other things. Sunderland ’Til I Die is often considered one of the best documentaries Netflix has ever made.
According to Rotten Tomatoes, the synopsis of Sunderland ’Til I Die goes like this: “The English city of Sunderland has seen its main industries of shipbuilding and mining fall by the wayside, which means the Sunderland Association Football Club — SAFC — has become an increasingly more important part of the lifeblood of the unique city.”
It further reads, “The club’s fans are some of the most passionate and loyal in sports, but their passion is tested following SAFC’s relegation. This docuseries follows SAFC and its fans in the club’s first season in the Championship after the relegation. The stakes have never been higher as SAFC is in a downturn.”
The executive producers of Sunderland ’Til I Die are Leo Pearlman and Ben Turner.
Pelé
The documentary Pelé showcases the life and career of Brazilian soccer icon, Edson Arantes do Nascimento aka. Pelé. According to Tudum by Netflix, he has scored 1,279 goals in the 1,363 games of his career. Furthermore, he is the only player who has won three World Cups. Interestingly, this documentary takes a turn when it focuses on this icon’s political neutrality.
According to IMDb, the synopsis of Pelé reads, “Looks back at the extraordinary 12-year period in which Pelé, the only man to win three World Cup titles, went from young superstar in 1958 to national hero in 1970; a radical yet turbulent era in Brazil’s history.”
The directors of this documentary are Ben Nicholas and David Tryhorn.
