Soccer documentaries have become some of the most powerful ways to experience the sport aside from the match highlights. In Take the Ball, Pass the Ball, we see Pep Guardiola transform Barcelona into a footballing masterpiece.
Welcome to Wrexham shows how a small Welsh club found new hope through Hollywood ownership, while George Best: All By Himself reveals the brilliance and tragedy of a legend. That said, in this guide, we’ve put together the 12 best soccer documentaries of all time, along with where you can currently watch them.
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12 Best Soccer Documentaries Of All Time
Rank | Title | Year | Where to Watch (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
1 | Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos | 2006 | Apple TV, Amazon Prime Video, DVD |
2 | Welcome to Wrexham | 2022– | Disney+, Hulu / FX on Hulu |
3 | Beckham | 2023 | Netflix |
4 | Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In | 2021 | Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV; some regions via Roku/Paramount+ |
5 | Sunderland ’Til I Die | 2018–2020 | Netflix |
6 | Zidane: A 21st-Century Portrait | 2006 | Apple TV, niche services, DVD |
7 | Hillsborough | 2016 | ESPN+, Disney+ |
8 | Diego Maradona | 2019 | Max (HBO), Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV |
9 | Graham Taylor: An Impossible Job | 1994 | Channel 4 archives, YouTube uploads, DVD |
10 | George Best: All By Himself | 2016 | Apple TV, Disney+, DVD |
11 | All or Nothing: Manchester City | 2018 | Amazon Prime Video |
12 | Take the Ball, Pass the Ball | 2018 | Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Apple TV |
Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos
Released in 2006, Once in a Lifetime tells the story of the New York Cosmos, the American club that brought soccer into the spotlight during the 1970s and early 1980s. The film mixes narration by actor Matt Dillon with interviews from famous players who were instrumental in the team’s success.
Archival footage from the North American Soccer League shows the glamour, excitement, and rapid rise of the Cosmos. Interestingly, Pelé, the club’s most famous star, declined to be interviewed after asking for a huge appearance fee.
The documentary was also tied to a book of the same name by Gavin Newsham, published the same year. Critics welcomed the film for capturing both the thrill and chaos of soccer’s short-lived boom in the United States. On Rotten Tomatoes, it holds an 81% approval rating, making it one of the best soccer documentaries ever made.
Welcome to Wrexham
Welcome to Wrexham is a hit sports documentary that began in 2022 and follows the story of Welsh club Wrexham A.F.C. after Hollywood stars Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney bought the team.
It is one of the most inspiring soccer documentaries ever made. Their goal was to save one of the world’s oldest professional football clubs, founded in 1864, and bring it back to success.
The series shows the ups and downs of life in lower-league football: big wins, tough losses, and the emotional rollercoaster of chasing promotion. Viewers also see how the new owners connect with the local community, support the women’s team, and face personal challenges with humor and honesty. The film has won multiple Emmy Awards and by 2025 has reached its fourth season, with a fifth on the way.
Beckham
Beckham is a four-part documentary series released in 2023 on Netflix. Directed by Fisher Stevens, it tells the story of David Beckham, one of the most famous footballers in the world, and his wife Victoria, a singer and fashion designer.
The series shows Beckham’s journey from his early life in East London to his years at Manchester United, Real Madrid, and beyond. It also highlights the pressures of fame, the challenges in his personal life, and the couple’s resilience in facing media attention.
All episodes became available worldwide on October 4, 2023. The movie was well received by critics, earning high scores on review sites and praise for its balance of football moments with family insights. It was even nominated for several Emmy Awards. For anyone interested in football, celebrity culture, or inspiring life stories, Beckham is a must-watch.
Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In
Sir Alex Ferguson: Never Give In (2021) presents an intimate portrait of one of football’s most decorated managers. Directed by his son Jason, the film combines personal stories, archival footage, and candid interviews to trace Ferguson’s journey from humble beginnings in Govan to global success with Aberdeen and Manchester United.
Aside from his achievements on the pitch, the documentary provides a deeply human angle, revisiting Ferguson’s brush with mortality after a brain hemorrhage in 2018.
Viewers also see moments of reconciliation, such as his long-awaited reunion with former player Gordon Strachan. First screened at the Glasgow Film Festival, it later reached a wider audience through cinema releases and streaming on Prime Video, making it accessible to fans worldwide.
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Sunderland ’Til I Die
Sunderland ’Til I Die is a powerful sports documentary that follows the ups and downs of Sunderland A.F.C., one of England’s most passionate football clubs. Produced by Fulwell 73, the series gives fans a behind-the-scenes look at life inside the club during some of its most difficult years.
The first season, released in December 2018, captured Sunderland’s 2017–18 campaign in the Championship after relegation from the Premier League. Its raw storytelling and emotional honesty won praise, leading to a second season in 2020. This covered the 2018–19 season under new owner Stewart Donald.
After a break, a third and final season arrived in February 2024, showcasing Sunderland’s dramatic promotion back to the Championship through the 2022 League One play-offs..
Zidane: A 21st-Century Portrait
Zidane: A 21st-Century Portrait is one of the best soccer documentaries of all time. Released in 2006, it focuses entirely on French legend Zinedine Zidane during a single Real Madrid match against Villarreal in April 2005.
Seventeen synchronized cameras captured Zidane in real time, showing every gesture, touch, and reaction as if the viewer were following him alone on the pitch. There are no interviews or typical commentary, just Zidane’s movements, sounds from the stadium, and carefully crafted visuals.
The documentary even ends dramatically, as Zidane is sent off late in the game after a heated incident. This style was inspired by earlier experimental sports films, such as the 1970 documentary about George Best, and later influenced Spike Lee’s Kobe Doin’ Work.
Hillsborough
Hillsborough (2014) is a two-hour documentary directed by Daniel Gordon about the 1989 Hillsborough disaster, where 96 Liverpool fans tragically lost their lives. Produced by ESPN and the BBC, it first aired in the U.S. as part of ESPN’s 30 for 30: Soccer Stories.
The film uses newly released evidence from the Hillsborough Independent Panel and combines it with eyewitness accounts, survivors’ testimonies, and interviews with families, police officers, and investigators.
It explains how overcrowding at Sheffield Wednesday’s Hillsborough Stadium led to fatal crushes in the stands, and how police failures, delayed emergency responses, and misinformation worsened the tragedy.
The documentary also touches on the long struggle for truth and justice, including media cover-ups and years of campaigning by victims’ families. When it aired on the BBC in 2016, after the inquest concluded, it became a defining account of one of football’s darkest days.
Diego Maradona
If you want to understand why Diego Maradona is still called one of the greatest players of all time, this documentary is the perfect place to start. The film focuses on the legendary Argentine player’s move from Barcelona to Napoli in 1984, a turning point that saw him lift two Serie A titles and the UEFA Cup, while also becoming a cultural icon in Italy.
Unlike most football films, this one draws heavily on never-before-released recordings that bring a new perspective to the legend’s life. The director chose Naples as the heart of the story, showing both the glory and chaos that defined Maradona’s years there.
The film shows his brilliance on the pitch as well as the darker sides of fame, pressure, and controversy. Premiering at Cannes in 2019, the film was praised worldwide, with Rotten Tomatoes giving it a 90% approval rating.
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Graham Taylor: An Impossible Job
Graham Taylor: An Impossible Job is one of the most famous football documentaries ever made. Released in 1994 on Channel 4, it gives a raw, behind-the-scenes look at England’s failed attempt to qualify for the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
The cameras followed Taylor for 18 months, showing the intense pressure of managing England. At first, Taylor hoped the film would show the challenges of international football compared to club management. Instead, as results worsened, the focus changed to his growing frustration and the criticism he faced.
The documentary includes unforgettable moments, like Taylor’s emotional touchline quotes — “Do I not like that” and “Can we not knock it?”, which became part of English football culture. It also shows his clashes with journalists, players, and referees during key matches.
George Best: All By Himself
George Best: All By Himself is a 2016 documentary that delves into the life of one of football’s most gifted yet troubled players. Born in Northern Ireland, George Best rose to fame at Manchester United in the 1960s, where his skill, speed, and charisma made him a global superstar.
Pelé once called him the greatest player in the world. The film not only celebrates his talent on the pitch but also looks at the personal struggles that cut his career short. Best’s battles with fame, alcohol, and the pressures of modern celebrity life are shown through rare footage and personal interviews.
The documentary presents his contribution to United’s revival after Munich and their European success in 1968, while also revealing the toll that fame took on his personal life.
All or Nothing: Manchester City
All or Nothing: Manchester City is one of the most exciting soccer documentaries of all time. Released in 2018 as an Amazon Original, the series takes fans inside Manchester City’s record-breaking 2017/18 season under Pep Guardiola.
With full behind-the-scenes access, it shows everything from tactical talks in the dressing room to intense matchday moments, and even the personal struggles of players like David Silva.
Narrated by Academy Award winner Sir Ben Kingsley, the eight-episode series captures City’s incredible Premier League title run, where they became the first English team to hit 100 points in a season. It also reveals their heartbreak in the Champions League and domestic cups.
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Take the Ball, Pass the Ball
Take the Ball, Pass the Ball tells the story of FC Barcelona during Pep Guardiola’s time as manager from 2008 to 2012. In those four years, the team won 14 trophies and changed the way the world saw football.
The film includes interviews with players, coaches, and journalists, giving fans a rare inside look at one of the greatest teams ever. It shows Barcelona’s famous 2011 Champions League victory, the fierce battles with José Mourinho’s Real Madrid, and the emotional return of Eric Abidal after cancer.
The documentary also explores Johan Cruyff’s influence, Lionel Messi’s rise, and Guardiola’s final season before leaving the club.
Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.