Soccer is the world's most popular sport but it hasn't spawned as many
movies as other sports like baseball, boxing or motor racing. While billions
tune into soccer matches around the world and many bet on the sport at sites
like 22Bet, soccer
has rarely graced cinema screens. There are however a few worthwhile footy
flicks. Here we take a look at four of the best.
Bend It Like Beckham
This 2202 drama is credited with getting many young women interested in the
sport. It tells the story of Jess, a British-Indian teenager who defies her
parents wishes and joins a local amateur women's football team. Along with
highlighting women ins port, the film deals with cultural issues as Jess
convinces her family to allow her enjoy the sport she loves. The film made a
star of a young Keira Knightley, who plays Jess's teammate.
The Damned United
Michael Sheen gives a career best performance in the lead role of this
biopic of legendary English football manager Brian Clough. The film focusses
not on the highs of Clough's career but on its lowest point, his disastrous
tenure as manger of Leeds United in 1974.
Escape to Victory
This 1981 film is a rare combo of sports drama and war movie. Set in a WWII
POW camp, the film sees a group of Allied prisoners prepare to take on their
German guards in a football match. The cast sees actors like Sylvester
Stallone, Michael Caine and Max von Sydow share the screen with real life
soccer legends like Pele, Ossie Ardilles and Bobby Moore.
Next Goal Wins
This documentary highlights the national team of the small island nation of
American Samoa, who were ranked as the worst team in international football
at the time. When Dutch coach Thomas Rongen takes over the team, he faces an uphill task to get them to
even score a goal, let alone win a match. The documentary was remade as a
narrative feature starring Michael Fassbender in 2023.