The football season may be underway, but for fans craving a constant fix, there is no shortage of brilliant documentaries to binge
The Two Escobars is an acclaimed 2010 sports documentary directed by Jeff and Michael Zimbalist as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series. It traces the intertwined stories of Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar and national team defender Andrés Escobar, exploring how football in Colombia during the 1980s and 90s was influenced nd at times destabilised by organised crime
Diego Maradona is a 2019 British documentary directed by Asif Kapadia that focuses on Argentine football legend Diego Maradona, using never-before-seen archival footage to chart his rise and turbulent life. The film was screened out of competition at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival and was produced by On The Corner Film in association with Film4, with Altitude Film handling distribution
Sunderland ‘Til I Die is a sports documentary series produced by Fulwell 73 that follows English football club Sunderland A.F.C. through the highs and lows of its day-to-day reality. Released on 14 December 2018, the first season focuses on Sunderland’s 2017–18 campaign in the EFL Championship, a season they played after being relegated from the Premier League the year before
Pelé is a 2021 biographical documentary that chronicles the life and career of Brazilian football icon Pelé. Directed by Ben Nicholas and David Tryhorn, the film was produced and distributed by Netflix, with Kevin Macdonald, Jon Owen and Jonathan Rogers serving as executive producers. Released on February 23, 2021, the documentary traces Pelé’s journey from his humble beginnings in Brazil to his rise as a global football superstar, highlighting his FIFA World Cup wins and concluding with his spell at the New York Cosmos
The Class of ’92 is a 2013 British documentary that chronicles the rise of six Manchester United academy graduates, David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes. Released on December 1, 2013, the film follows their journey from Manchester United’s FA Youth Cup win in 1992 to the club’s historic UEFA Champions League win in 1999, which completed the famous Treble, winning the 1998–99 season
Ronaldo is a 2015 British documentary directed by Anthony Wonke that offers an intimate look at the life and career of Portuguese football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo. Released worldwide on November 9, 2015, the film was shot over 14 months and provides unprecedented access to Ronaldo’s private life, including his relationships with family, friends and teammates
Gazza is an award-winning two-part British documentary that examines the life and career of legendary English footballer Paul Gascoigne. Directed by Sampson Collins and produced by Western Edge Pictures, Haviland Digital and Mark Stewart Productions, the series first aired on BBC Two in April 2022. It went on to win the Royal Television Society Award for Best Documentary Series in 2023 and was also nominated for Best Sports Documentary while being shortlisted for Best Series at the 2022 Grierson Documentary Awards
All or Nothing: Arsenal is an Amazon Original sports docuseries that forms part of the acclaimed All or Nothing franchise. The series follows Arsenal throughout the 2021–22 Premier League season, offering behind-the-scenes access as the club navigates a campaign with the youngest team in the league. Produced by 72 Films, the documentary was executive-produced by Mark Raphael, Clare Cameron and BAFTA-winning filmmaker John Douglas, providing an intimate look at the challenges, ambitions and inner workings of one of English football’s most storied clubs
Les Bleus, Une Autre Histoire de France is a 2016 French documentary directed by David Dietz, Sonia Dauger and Pascal Blanchard. The film explores the history of the France national football team and its role in reflecting France’s social, cultural and political evolution. Written in French and released via video-on-demand platforms, the documentary examines how Les Bleus became a symbol of diversity, identity and national unity through different eras of French football
One Night in Turin is a 2010 British documentary directed by James Erskine and written by Erskine and Pete Davies. The film revisits England’s national football team’s memorable run at the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which ended in heartbreak with a penalty shootout loss to West Germany in the semi-finals. Beyond the action on the field, the documentary explores the social and political backdrop of England at the time and examines how the tournament helped transform public attitudes towards football and the national team
George Best: All by Himself is a feature-length documentary directed by Daniel Gordon that examines the life and career of legendary Northern Irish footballer George Best. The film traces Best’s journey from a gifted youngster in Belfast to one of football’s first global superstars, while also exploring the personal struggles that overshadowed his brilliance on the field
Hillsborough is a powerful television drama written by Jimmy McGovern and starring Annabelle Apsion, Christopher Eccleston and Ricky Tomlinson. Set between 1989 and 1991, the film dramatises the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster, in which 97 football supporters lost their lives at Hillsborough Stadium in Sheffield
