Top 10 documentaries you should watch before start of 2022 FIFA World Cup

Watching these shows/movies will give you goosebumps like never before.

Football documentaries are one of the biggest beautiful gifts to football geeks in the modern era. Not only do they help fans connect with their players and teams more deeply, they also give them a better understanding of their lives. There have been a number of brilliant web series and movies released in recent years, including 'All or Nothing: Arsenal (2022)', 'Goal (2005)', and 'The Class of '92'. Netflix has also recently released a web series named 'FIFA uncovered', which shows how the host for the World Cup is selected and the corruption in the institution.

However, if you want to steam up your engine before the World Cup 2022 starts, there are a few hidden gems you should binge-watch first. These documentaries and movies will provide you with an insight into what it means to represent your country at this competition - the biggest spectacle in sports.

10. Gazza (2022)

Gazza is a documentary based on Paul Gascoigne who is a famous and controversial English footballer. Gascoigne was touted for greatness at the beginning of his career, but his drinking and disciplinary issues threw him from the sky to the ground. This documentary discusses how Gascoigne's career started to decline after the 1994 World Cup, and how he never recovered from that.

9. Bobby (2016)

The captain of the 1966 World Cup-winning team, Bobby Moore was a symbol of English football. On the 50th anniversary of England's World Cup triumph, a documentary based on his experiences was released. While Moore passed away in 1993, his documentary was narrated by his two wives and teammates, who reveal the extent of his greatness on and off the field. 

8. Rooney (2022)

Wayne Rooney is a legendary footballer in English football and a name that cannot be forgotten. Recently, Netflix released a documentary about his life based after his retirement in 2021. He is England's all-time top scorer. Rooney's recently released documentary provides a glimpse into the star-studded English national squad of the 2000s and how they failed to form a cohesive team. 

7. The Chosen Few- Captains (2022)

The Chosen Few is a recently released FIFA Original documentary that is a must-watch for every football fan. The documentary covers the journey of six captains - Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Gabon), Luka Modric (Croatia), Thiago Silva (Brazil), Hassan Maatouk (Lebanon), Brian Kaltack (Vanuatu), and Andre Blake (Jamaica). The story uncovers their journeys during World Cup qualifiers and how they deal with leading their nation and expectations.

6. Baggio: The Divine Ponytail (2021)

An Italian legend and the Ballon d'Or winner of 1993, Roberto Baggio had an extravagant career. He was always surrounded by new controversies and headlines. Last year, Netflix released a film based on Baggio's life with Andrea Arcangeli playing the lead role. Baggio's entire career is covered in the movie. The famous 1994 World Cup final in which Italy lost to Brazil has also been covered.

5. One Night in Turin (2010)

There is a long history of England and penalties during World Cups. The 1990 World Cup semifinal is a major chapter of this curse. In 2010, a documentary was released on England's dream run in 1990. Which ended in penalties against West Germany in the semifinal. This documentary shows the team's entire outlook and how they broke down after losing in the semifinals.

4. Champions of America (2022)

Among the most recent football documentaries, none come close to the recently released series based on Argentina's Copa America triumph before the World Cup 2022. With only one look, the documentary has set the internet world on fire. The show describes how Argentina overcame their nightmares of the Copa America 2019 and World Cup 2018 to start a new era before jetting off to the 2022 World Cup.

3. Becoming Champions (2018)

Becoming Champions was a television show that aired during the 2018 World Cup. The show tells the story of each World Cup winner, starting with Uruguay in the inaugural tournament and ending with France in 2018. It received good reviews and is a perfect way to experience the atmosphere from the first World Cup to the most recent one.

2. Maradona: Blessed Dream (2021)

Argentine magician Diego Maradona passed away in 2020, leaving everyone shocked. In honor of his greatness, Amazon Prime Video released a 10-part web show devoted to him in 2021. In the series, Juan Palomino played Diego Maradona and portrayed his life, including the famous World Cup win in 1986. The show covers his controversial personal life and his drug addiction as well. 

1. Pele (2021)

Pele is a cult figure in world football and a player responsible for Brazil's three World Cup triumphs. In 2021, Netflix released a movie that depicted his life as a Brazilian footballer who rose from a small street to become one of the greatest of all time. Firstly, the movie shows some of the best records of Pele's career. Showing how he defied all expectations and accomplished so much at such a young age.