Soccer documentaries have exploded as a genre, providing us with unprecedented access behind the scenes of the beautiful game. Fans are being granted unprecedented access to the teams they support to learn more about how they train, why that one signing was made and even learn new tales.
As much as we love to see cinematic portrayals of our favorite players and managers, nothing beats the real deal. Fortunately, filmmakers have now managed to document one of the world most popular sport and in the process, bring us some very special footage to savor.
With that said, we have brought together the best soccer documentaries available for you to watch now.
Whether you want to hone your behind-the-scenes knowledge, have an escape for the weekend or just binge-watch something, there’s something for you.
1. The Two Escobars
The Two Escobars tells one such story of a drug kingpin in Colombia who fatally hurt a footballer with the same surname.
It had been Pablo Escobar’s drug money that had bought Colombia its place in what had become one of the best football teams on the planet when it went into the 1994 World Cup, but it was Andres Escobar’s own goal that had sent it spiraling out.
Andres was killed soon after the tournament, presumed to be revenge for his error in the World Cup. The Two Escobars shows us just how intertwined politics and sports and, in parts of our world, crime are.
Where to watch: Disney+
2. Diego Maradona
There are few bigger characters in all of soccer history than Diego Maradona, so a film dedicated to the mercurial Argentinian was always on the cards.
The film-makers were able to get their hands on hundreds of hours of unseen footage of Maradona, which they honed into one of the most visceral and absorbing sporting documentaries ever made.
One of the most riveting soccer documentaries you’ll ever see, it does a good job outlining Diego Maradona’s genius on the pitch, but it doesn’t shy away from his complicated lifestyle when he’s off of it either.
In the realm of football, the documentary is largely about Maradona’s legendary spell at Napoli during the 1980s.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
CHECK OUT | Are Cheerleaders a Thing in Soccer? Unpacking the Myth
3. Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016)
This biographical film follows Edson Arantes do Nascimento, whom you might know as Pelé, from his early days in Brazil through his ascent to one of the greatest players of all time. It is a tale of endurance, skill, and the strength of lofty goals.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
4. Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In
One thing most people can agree on is that Sir Alex Ferguson is the greatest soccer manager of all time. He has written a couple of autobiographies but to see his footage of his life and career on the screen is simply a spectacle.
Ferguson is also shown on screen with a number of players who played a pivotal role in his success at United while taking a trip down memory lane.
The documentary isn’t solely concerned with Ferguson’s career. It’s all set against the back story of the brain hemorrhage he suffered in 2018, when the surgeon who conducted emergency surgery had said he had an 80 percent chance of dying.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime
5. Sunderland ‘Til I Die
And Sunderland ’Til I Die was the first and best of its kind. For reasons known only to Sunderland, they decided it would be a good idea to grant a Netflix camera crew full access to the club at all levels, from the dressing room to the boardroom, and where it would have been all too easy to sanitize the club for such projects, nothing was watered down in the name of the club’s PR.
Season One tracks Sunderland during their maiden campaign back in the Championship after they were relegated from the Premier League in 2017.
Simon Grayson begins the series as manager discussing bouncing straight back to the big time, while Chris Coleman ends it as manager discussing how for Sunderland life will now be in League One after back-to-back relegations.
Season Two does even better somehow, with the club’s new Executive Director Charlie Methven stealing the show as a real-life David Brent.
Where to watch: Netflix
CHECK OUT | The Best Soccer Stadium Seats for a Better View
6. The Class of ’92 (2013)
The Class of ’92 is one of the greatest soccer documentaries in recent memory, recounting the story of Manchester United’s fabled ‘class of ’92’
That documentary follows six future Manchester United superstars: David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes on their rise.
Set between Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup victory in 1992 and their Champions League win in 1999, the doc chronicles a significant time period for both the club and Britain as a country.
Those who were there for this golden age of Man Utd success will relish the nostalgia but will find more to enjoy as thousands of hours of access to the players and interviews with the likes of Giggs and Eric Cantona serves up different memories for fans of all builds.
If you like the doc, there’s a follow-up series, Out of Their League.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
7. The Phenomenon: Ronaldo (2022)
One of the biggest icons the game has ever known is Brazilian legend Ronaldo. Having been a terrifying talent, a star and a CV to match, the original Ronaldo was once the face of world football, the darling of all football fans the world over.
And the 2022 documentary “The Phenomenon” is appropriately entitled about Ronaldo himself, chronicling his career, including the devastating injuries he had, World Cup heartache and road to redemption to return to his place as one of the game’s greatest players.
Including exclusive interviews with Ronaldo and his family, and fellow legend Roberto Carlos, audiences can take a look behind the man and learn what the Brazil hotel room really revealed in the overnight hours leading up to the 1998 World cup Final.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
8. Welcome to Wrexham (2022 — Present)
More than a decade later, in a tale the movie business could not dream up itself, the storied but non-league Welsh soccer club Wrexham was bought by two Hollywood actors, setting off a transformative moment for both the club and the town.
This is a documentary series that follows the fortunes of one of the most talked-about stories in football right now.
The doc has also put Wrexham’s story on the world stage and chronicles not just the on-field success under new owners Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney but also how the duo have sought to affect real change on the local Wrexham community.
It’s a great story, and there’s a second season on the way if you want to keep following the fortunes of one of the game’s oldest clubs under its glamorous new management.
Where to watch: Disney+
CHECK OUT | Best Stores to Buy Soccer Jerseys in New York
9. Series: All or Nothing (2018 – Present)
In recent years, one of the most popular soccer documentaries available has been the Amazon Prime series All or Nothing Each season centers on a different club, and so far Manchester City, Arsenal and Tottenham have been given the treatment.
All or Nothing has turned its camera on clubs outside the football world, but Man City was the first Premier League side to be captured as the camera followed their remorseless = march through the record-breaking 2017-18 season.
Forthcoming seasons are also treated to top-notch narration.
For instance, Man City’s doc was narrated by Sir Ben Kingsley the legend himself (Mancunian), whilst Tottenham’s doc was narrated by Hollywood star Tom Hardy, and Arsenal’s documentary was narrated by Academy Award Winner Daniel Kaluuya.
If you are a fan of any of these clubs or simply enjoy a decent football documentary, this series is definitely worth watching.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
10. Gazza (2022)
Few have garnered as much media attention, received as many documentaries and had as many books written about them as Paul Gascoigne but that does not take away from how much interest the public have in one of soccer’s most colourful characters.
Gazza traces the trailblazing player from his heyday amid “Gazzamania” to his battles with alcoholism and mental health.
Using archival footage, it is an extensive portrait of the man, and has been noted for transcending the sport itself.
Gascoigne’s story isn’t the happiest of tales, but if you are seeking out a documentary about one of England’s greatest gifted former players, then this is a good option.
Where to watch: BBC iPlayer
11. Bobby Robson: More Than a Manager (2018)
More Than a Manager has been hailed as one of the best sports documentaries you will see, let alone in soccer.
This acclaimed film takes a look at Bobby Robson, the former England manager widely considered to be among the greatest club managers in history.
It is a compelling watch, with illuminating interviews with Ronaldo as well as Jose Mourinho, Gary Lineker and Pep Guardiola.
There is brilliant archival footage, too, from across his career when he managed the likes of Barcelona, Newcastle United, Ipswich Town and England.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
CHECK OUT | Body Types: What Build Works Best For Soccer?
12. Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football ( 2018)
This quirky documentary chronicles the outrageous story of Carlos Kaiser, a Brazilian soccer player whose career was built on an incredible bluff — he never actually played much soccer. It’s a funny and compelling story of deception and allure.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
13. Matildas: The World At Our Feet
The pressures of being in a home World Cup are there for all to see in Matildas.
In creating a documentary on the Australian women’s national team leading into the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand, the press was on the backs of the documentary’s subjects after a disappointing tapping at the Asia Cup.
Sam Kerr, the Chelsea forward, is viewed as one of the best players in the world and stars in the documentary as she races against time to get fit for the tournament.
Where to watch: Disney+
14. Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos (2006)
This doc details the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos, the 1970s team that brought soccer to America.
Containing such legends as Pelé and Beckenbauer on its roster, it’s a fascinating glimpse at a crucial turning point in soccer history.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
CHECK OUT | How Much Should You Charge for Private Soccer Coaching?
15. The Brighton Miracle (2019)
It follows the Australian national soccer team, the Socceroos, on their improbable journey to the round of 16 during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. It’s a story of grit, camaraderie and World Cup magic.
Where to watch: Amazon Prime Video
16. The Four Year Plan (2011)
Ever curious about what happens behind the scenes at a soccer club? This documentary brings you inside Queens Park Rangers (QPR) at a fraught moment of ownership and management. It’s an intriguing glimpse into the business end of soccer and the intricacies of keeping a club running.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
17. Bob Marley Legacy — Rhythm Of The Game (2020)
Rhythm Of The Game is the latest in a series of films on the Bob Marley YouTube channel celebrating the Reggae icon’s passion for the beautiful game.
It is a slice of the joy soccer can deliver and a fine tribute to an age-old passion of musicians, as well as the rest of us.
18. Women’s Football In India (2018)
Watch the inspiring story of women’s football in India in this heartwarming documentary from Deutsche Welle.
It follows three women in North Goa who break societal barriers to follow their love for the sport. Aired on DW’s YouTube channel, it’s a celebration of the global power of soccer.
Where to watch: Yard on YouTube
19. Take Us Home: Leeds United (2020)
Take Us Home is the prequel to Leeds United’s title-winning year of 2019/20.
The documentary chronicles Marcelo Bielsa’s extraordinary evolution of the team on the way back to the Premier League after 15 years away, it’s a story of rebirth and resolve.
Where to Watch: Amazon Prime Video
20. Footeuses (2020)
Footeuses informs about women’s football in France after the 2019 Women’s World Cup. This documentary takes a look at the struggles and biases female football players endure in chase of their dreams.
Where to watch: Yard on YouTube
