18 Best Football Documentaries Every Fan Should See
When it comes to football, there are a lot of different stories and players who make the sport even better. It's sometimes the narrative, what the audience understands even outside the pitch, that makes certain matches and moments even more impressive and joyous to witness. In that regard, that is why there are so many football documentaries that deserve a lot more attention.
There are so many football documentaries that we decided to make a selection of 18 of the best ones here. As one can imagine, this list is entirely subjective and it is a matter of personal taste, so take that into account. Note that we have not made a ranking of the documentaries here, we have listed them in a random order.
All or Nothing (2018)
This documentary series began in 2016 with a season about the NFL's Arizona Cardinals; however, due to its success, it expanded to other sports. In football, it started in 2018 with All or Nothing: Manchester City, which followed the Citizens team during the 2017-18 season.Later came seasons about clubs like Tottenham, Arsenal, and Juventus, and also national teams such as Brazil and Germany. The idea behind All or Nothing is to showcase the various events that occur within a team throughout an entire season, providing a unique look at the inner workings of football.
Welcome to Wrexham (2022)
In February 2021, actors Rob McElhenney and Ryan Reynolds completed their purchase of Wrexham AFC, a Welsh club that plays within the English football system and was then in the National League (fifth tier). The documentary shows how the actors manage the club, something they have no prior experience with, as well as their adaptation to elements of Welsh culture. Welcome to Wrexham is a documentary that blends serious and lighthearted moments and includes scenes that reveal the actors' mistakes as they navigate the world of English football.
Beckham (2023)
This is a four-episode documentary series released in 2023 on Netflix. The project reviews David Beckham's professional and personal life, from his beginnings to his rise to global fame.The series offers a glimpse into the Englishman's personal life and provides firsthand accounts of several key moments in his career. The balance between the good and bad moments is quite good, and this leads to knowing the more human side of the man who, at the time, was the most important football icon in the world.
Save the Crew: The Fans vs. The System (2017)
MLS is a relatively young league, having started its first season in 1996 with ten teams, one of which was the Columbus Crew. The Crew remains part of the league to this day and is one of only five teams that have maintained their name and city. When franchise owner Anthony Precourt announced his intention to relocate the Crew to Austin, Texas, the team's loyal fans launched the SaveTheCrew campaign. An interesting aspect of the documentary is that it presents both the fans' perspective and Precourt's own arguments for moving the team.Puskas Hungary (2009)
Several of the star footballers from that great Hungarian team nicknamed the Mighty Magyars had complicated lives due to the situation in the country, which had fallen under Soviet communism. This is why these stories are, to a certain extent, so "cinematic," as they depict many situations that go beyond football, some of which could even be considered life-or-death situations.Puskas Hungary serves as a kind of tribute to the country's greatest football star, and it does so through the voices of many extremely important figures in the world of football, such as Pelé, Di Stéfano, and Beckenbauer, to name a few. The emotional content of the material is quite high, making it captivating and sure to pleasantly surprise those unfamiliar with Puskas's story.
Diego Maradona (2019)
Maradona, as a player and public figure, never left anyone indifferent, both for what he did on the field and for everything he said and did off it. The documentary is directed by the Englishman (ironically) Asif Kapadia, who also did a great job with Senna. This documentary focuses on the Argentine's playing career, specifically the period when he moved from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984. While it has a very classic sports documentary style, the unfolding events and Maradona's presence in Napoli manage to capture the viewer's attention and captivate them.I Believe in Miracles (2015)
One of the most incredible stories in English and European football is captured in this documentary, which contains a wealth of unique footage from that era of Nottingham Forest and, above all, from the story's main protagonist, Brian Clough. Indeed, experiencing the story firsthand through the eyes of those who lived it and hearing the anecdotes surrounding Clough is simply a must-see.Take Us Home: Leeds United (2019)
It might seem like just another documentary about an English team, but it's not. It's about Leeds United's attempt to return to the Premier League after 16 years outside the top tier, with Marcelo Bielsa as manager and Russell Crowe narrating. It covers two seasons, with the second season focusing on 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted football for a few months, though the season ultimately ended with the long-awaited promotion. The cinematic aspects are particularly noteworthy, including the use of lighting, footage, and other elements.
The Figo Affair: The Transfer That Changed Football (2022)
It's one of the most controversial transfers (perhaps the most controversial) in football history: Luis Figo's move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000. The documentary reviews all the details of the transfer through Figo himself and several of the original protagonists, such as Florentino Pérez. The documentary is very interesting even knowing how things turned out, and it explores not only the sporting aspect but also the business side of the story.Sunderland 'Til I Die (2018)
It's one of the most popular football documentaries of recent years, and deservedly so, since the original idea behind the project was to film Sunderland's return to the Premier League, just one year after their relegation, something that was widely expected. Well, not only did they fail to gain promotion, but they finished last in the Championship and were relegated to League One. In the process, there were four manager changes and all sorts of situations filmed in a somewhat "raw" but fitting way. There's also a perspective from the Black Cats fans that's particularly noteworthy, showing how they experienced the whole situation and what it meant to them to wear the Sunderland colors.
Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006)
The documentary proposes an idea that at first glance might seem simple, even basic; however, the way it was developed clearly changes the perception of the project. Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait follows the great French star during an entire match, a La Liga game between Real Madrid and Villarreal at the Santiago Bernabéu on April 23, 2005. Seventeen cameras were used to follow Zinedine Zidane throughout the match from multiple angles. Interestingly, the Frenchman was sent off in the 90th minute, which, unintentionally, helps to capture Zidane's personality and playing style in a single audiovisual project.The Crazy Gang (2014)
It's another one of those incredible stories that English football has produced in its rich history. While the icing on the cake was winning the 1988 FA Cup against a Liverpool side that had won the First Division that year and had been European champions just a few years earlier, the story of that Wimbledon team is worthy of Hollywood. The multiple promotions the club enjoyed in the ten years leading up to the final, and above all, the team's unique style of play, make the documentary a very compelling project. Hearing the members of the Crazy Gang talk about their lives is a real treat.No Place for Football (2024)
Playing football at the highest national level in Greenland is quite challenging, given the country's climate and geography. The final stage of the tournament is played over a week, although regional qualifying rounds are also held. In this context, No Place for Football takes us inside a club in Nuuk and explores the difficulties they face in their quest to win the national championship. The story really takes you to a team with very little professionalism and many vicissitudes whose sole motivation is glory.30 for 30: Hillsborough (2014)
ESPN's 30 for 30 series covers many sports, mostly those most popular in the United States. However, some, like the Hillsborough disaster, are particularly noteworthy. This particular documentary examines what is perhaps the greatest tragedy in English football, delving into the details of what happened, what led to the tragedy, and what could have been done to prevent it.It also focuses on how the authorities attempted to cover up their responsibility for the tragedy. The documentary effectively utilizes interviews with the victims' families and others directly involved in the events.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021)
Following the traumatic brain hemorrhage suffered by the legendary Scottish manager in May 2018, this audiovisual project was conceived to review his career as both a player and manager, even covering some personal topics through a rather intimate interview with Sir Alex Ferguson.This journey reveals the personality and mentality of a man who completely changed English and European football. The footage used is excellent and helps to better illustrate each stage of the Scotsman's career.
Ronaldinho: The Happiest Man in the World (2020)
Ronaldinho is one of the most iconic players to ever grace the sport. His playing style, his achievements, the way he goes about things, all of that have made him one of the faces of football and one of the most beloved footballers all over the planet, thus making this documentary even more valuable to a lot of people.This documentary focuses on Ronaldinho's prime years when he was at Barcelona and the many different experiences he went through over from the moment he signed for the club. It shares some insights regarding his mentality, his motivation, the challenges he had to go through, and how he achieved some of the highest possible accolades in the sport.
Furthermore, it is also a celebration of the Brazilian's peak, when he was widely regarded as the best player in the world and became the inspiration for kids all over the world. In that regard, this documentary provides something quite special to a generation of football fans who probably grew up watching Ronaldinho when he was delivering time and time again at the Camp Nou.
Two Escobars (2010)
This 2010 documentary focuses on Colombian football and the story of Andres Escobar, a footballer who was a prominent player for the national team in the early 90s, and Pablo Escobar, the notorious drug lord who ruled the country in the shadows during that time as well.It focuses on explaining the intertwined fate of the two men since Pablo Escobar's influence was felt on Colombian football throughout the 80s and early 90s, with Andres being murdered under mysterious circumstances after scoring an own goal during the 1994 World Cup in the United States. It is a documentary focusing on the darkest side of the sport and a chilling story regarding these tragic events.
balón - English
Now, this is a bit of an odd choice, but one that deserves recognition. Balón is a YouTuber who makes highly detailed and informative documentaries about some of the most interesting players and topics in the sport.This can include documentaries regarding the likes of Lionel Messi, Marco van Basten, Diego Armando Maradona, and many more. He also covers teams, such as the rise of Manchester United with Sir Alex Ferguson, the many challenges Bayern Munich went through in the 90s and 2000s, Inter Milan's road to the 2010 UEFA Champions League title, and many more. It is a wonderful channel that is appreciated by most football fan.