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‘The Two Escobars’ (2010) -

This documentary film weaves together the story of Andrés Escobar, the soccer player, and Pablo Escobar, the drug kingpin. The movie looks at the links between crime, sport, and politics.

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‘The Damned United’ (2009) -

Michael Sheen stars as Brian Clough (1935-2004), the coach who led Leeds United for only 44 days. He was a very controversial manager, but is now known as a legend.

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‘Victory’ (1981) -

In this brilliant film set during WWII, a group of prisoners of war in Paris are preparing to play the German National Team. Meanwhile, the British and French resistance are trying to get them out of Nazi-occupied France.

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‘Diego Maradona’ (2019) -

Diego Maradona (1960-2020) is regarded as one of the best players in soccer history. In this documentary film, the makers have compiled never-before-seen footage of his rise to soccer stardom.

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‘Bend It Like Beckham’ (2002) -

This is a great feel-good soccer film. Starring Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, it tells the story of two girls who want to play professional soccer even though the odds are stacked against them.

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'The Miracle of Bern' (2003) -

In this heartwarming film, a little boy Matthias (Louis Klamroth) is trying to live a normal life in post-war Germany. His friend plays for the German national soccer team at the 1954 FIFA World Cup and brings him hope.

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‘Becoming Zlatan’ (2015) -

This film is all about the rise of Zlatan Ibrahimović. Originally from Sweden, he is known as one of the best strikers of his era.

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‘Green Street Hooligans’ (2005) -

Charlie Hunnam and Elijah Wood star in this great film. Matt Buckner is a student at Harvard but gets wrongfully expelled. He travels to London, only to get sucked into the world of soccer hooliganism.

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‘She’s the Man’ (2006) -

Amanda Bynes is great in this comedy. Viola (Bynes) and her twin brother (James Kirk) swap places, so she goes to boarding school dressed as a boy. There she pursues her dream of playing soccer while also leading a different kind of life. The film was inspired by Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night.'

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‘Ronaldo’ (2015) -

As the name suggests, this documentary film is all about the life of famed soccer player Cristiano Ronaldo. It gives the viewer an exclusive look into his life behind the soccer pitch, and his journey to stardom.

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‘Goal! The Dream Begins’ (2005) -

This soccer film tells a very familiar story. It is about the fictional Santiago Muñez (Kuno Becker). He is spotted by a scout for the Newcastle soccer team in England, and so has a shot at a professional soccer career. He will have to keep it together to succeed. The film has spawned several sequels.

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‘Kicking and Screaming’ (2005) -

Will Ferrell and Robert Duvall star in this hilarious comedy. The story is about an extremely competitive man who becomes the coach of his son's soccer team, much to the latter's dismay.

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‘Johan Cruijff: En un momento dado’ (2004) -

Johan Cruijff (1947–2016) is known as one of the most important figures in the history of the sport of soccer. This documentary film follows the key milestones of his career with great editing and narration. The film is in Spanish and Catalan, but is available with subtitles.  

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‘Fever Pitch’ (1997) -

This might be the only film in which you see Colin Firth with a big shock of hair. In this film, Paul (Firth) has to balance his obsession with soccer and his love for Sarah (Ruth Gemmell).

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‘Mean Machine’ (2001) -

Former player Vinnie Jones stars in this excellent crime comedy. Danny Meehan (Jones) is an ex-soccer coach who gets sent to jail. Inside, he is asked to train the guards' soccer team against a team of convicts. It's a fun and entertaining watch.

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‘Gascoigne’ (2015) -

If you are curious about the mind of a professional soccer player, their fears, and their triumphs, then ‘Gascoigne’ is a suitable pick. It is all about the life of the brilliant player Paul Gascoigne, told in his own words.

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‘Playing for Keeps’ (2012) -

This movie has a cracking cast with Gerard Butler, Jessica Biel, Dennis Quaid, Uma Thurman, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. Butler plays a retired sports star who tries to get his life together by running his son's soccer team. However, he is met by the dangers of attractive soccer moms at every corner.

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‘Early Man’ (2018) -

At first, you might forget that this Nick Park animation is actually all about soccer. But unless they learn how to play, the future of these characters is bleak. Starring the voices of Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, and Maisie Williams.

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‘Once in a Lifetime: The Extraordinary Story of the New York Cosmos’ (2006) -

The title may be long, but do not be put off: this film is exceptionally interesting. It's all about the rise and fall of the soccer team the New York Cosmos. This is the team that brought the sporting legend Pelé to the US.

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‘Hermano’ (2010) -

In a slum in Venezuela, two boys have grown up like brothers. They see soccer as their way of getting out of their difficult life, however, when a scout comes to see them, things may not go as planned.

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‘Garpastum’ (2005) -

This is a heartwarming story set in 1914 in St. Petersburg. Two brothers are determined to play soccer and so try to buy land for a soccer pitch. However, as WWI dawns, their dreams seem further and further away. 

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‘We Must Go’ (2014) -

In the midst of political turmoil, the Egyptian national men's soccer team are trying to unite in order to compete in the FIFA World Cup. This documentary film follows their trials and successes on the way up.

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‘Purely Belter’ (2000) -

This film is less about the soccer players and more about the fans. In particular, two young boys who can't quite afford season tickets for their local soccer team. They try all kinds of things to get the money so they can fulfill their dream.

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‘The Arsenal Stadium Mystery’ (1939) -

This movie is a wonderful murder mystery. In a match between the professional team Arsenal and the amateur team the Trojans, the latter's star player collapses. It takes all of Scotland Yard's brains to solve the mystery.

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‘Rise & Shine: The Jay DeMerit Story’ (2011) -

As the title suggests, this film is all about the career of famed American soccer player Jay DeMerity (right). He struggled at the beginning of his career in the US and so moved to the UK. It was there that he first made a name for himself.

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‘Another Sunday and Sweet FA’ (1972) -

In this television play, the spirit of Sunday League Football is fully captured. It is all about the comedic yet dramatic side of small-town soccer.

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‘Offside’ (2006) -

This groundbreaking film follows the story of a group of Iranian women in Tehran during the Bahrain vs. Iran match in 2005. Women are banned from entering the stadium and so some take their fate into their own hands by dressing up as male soccer fans.

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‘The Bromley Boys’ (2018) -

If you're looking for a quirky British comedy about soccer, you've found it. 'The Bromley Boys' is all about a boy (Brennock O'Connor) who decides to become a devoted fan of his terrible local soccer team Bromley.

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‘Next Goal Wins’ (2014) -

In this documentary film, the worst soccer team in the world from American Samoa is rigorously trained by Thomas Rongen. In the face of adversity, they rise up to try and win a game.

Sources: (BFI) (Verdict) (MLS)

See also: Unexpected celebrity soccer fans

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