Who doesn’t love soccer movies? The sports, the drama, the rise and fall. Every moment is unpredictable and when our favourite character finally does a goal, we feel as if we’re the ones who won. Although there are limited good soccer movies out there, we picked out the best soccer movies for you to watch, ones which will make you want to get up, and start playing soccer right away.
10. Playing for Keeps (2012)
If you’re up for the best soccer movies with romcom, you’ll enjoy watching Playing for Keeps. George Dryer used to be a professional soccer player, but his career came to an early end. Goerge decides to move back with his ex-wife and his son, Lewis., in the hope of rebuilding his relationship with his family.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Unexpectedly, George becomes the coach of Lewis’s soccer team bringing him a lot of unwanted attention from other parents. But when he receives a job offer from ESPN, requiring him to once again move away from his family, George is troubled by the dilemma to choose his family or career.
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9. Kicking & Screaming (2005)
Phil Watson is a married middle-aged man running a vitamin store, but even after all these years, he holds his childhood trauma from his father who was overcompetitive and always kept him on the bench in Phil’s soccer matches. Phil’s young son, Sam now plays in the district’s best team, Gladiators which is coached by Phil’s father, Buck.
Buck also keeps Sam on the bench, so Phil gets tired and enrols him in the district’s worst team, Tiger. He hopes to give Sam the chance to play and make the team better by personally coaching him. However, he’s faced with many challenges, making him almost lose hope in the victory of the Tigers.
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Kicking & Screaming deserves a spot on the best soccer movies list, because it has a deep storyline, great characters, and the father-son duo makes everything better.
8. The Hand of God (2022)
Fabietto Schisa is a carefree youngster going through a troublesome life at home, where his sister is abused by her husband. He finds peace by watching soccer and becomes very happy when Diego Maradona is acquired by Napoli.
His life takes a turn when his family dies in a carbon monoxide leakage, and Fabietto is the only one surviving. Although he has survival guilt, he finds a new purpose in life by believing in the concept of “the hand of God” and that there must be a reason that he survived.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});The Hand of God is one of the best soccer movies for being an emotional, powerful, autobiography of Fabietto Schisa himself. It’s the journey of a man going through the toughest struggles in life, but finding a sweet escape in soccer.
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7. The Beautiful Game (2024)
The Beautiful Game is a real-life story focusing on the lives changed by the Homeless World Cup. The story follows Mal the manager of England’s Homeless soccer team and Vinny, an exceptional striker who carries a traumatic past. Each member of the team has their own stories to tell, but playing for the Homeless World Cup gives a reason to their lives.
The Beautiful Game captures the stories of unpopular athletes, who despite their life’s difficulties, manage to heal and become better with the help of soccer.
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6. Holy Goalie (2017)
Father Salva is the priest of a rural monastery, which is facing a financial crunch and is on the verge of having their monastery turned into a hotel. Their only hope is for them to compete and win in the “Champions Clerum,” a football tournament sponsored by the Vatican for clergies.
The monks have absolutely no soccer experience, but with the hope to keep their home, they follow the guidance of Father Salva and train day and night to become better.
Holy Goalie isn’t like any other soccer movie, but that’s exactly what makes it so fun to watch.
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5. Mean Machine (2001)
No matter how many great movies you watch, there are some which end up having a special place in your heart., and Mean Machine is one of them. It’s a remake of the American film, The Longest Yard.
Danny Meehan, also called “The Mean Machine” was at the peak of his career as the captain of England’s football team. But his career ends when he’s accused of match-fixing and ends up in jail for three years because of assaulting two police guards while being drunk.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Danny is mistreated in prison because of his bad reputation as a football player. But when he’s offered the unique opportunity by the prison governor to coach the prison’s football team, Danny decides to instead form a prisoner football team and have them play against the guards. Finally, giving a chance for prisoners to get back to the guards, and gaining the favor of other inmates.
If you’re looking for the best soccer movie with comedy and action, you would love this one.
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4. Pelé: Birth of a Legend (2016)
There probably isn’t any soccer fan out there, who hasn’t heard the name of one of the greatest soccer legends, Pelé.
Pelé: Birth of a Legend is the biography of the famous Brazilian footballer, Edson Arantes do Nascimento also known as Pelé. The film begins from Pelé’s childhood, where he grows up in the poor neighborhood of Bauru, Brazil. After witnessing the loss of Brazil in 1950s, Pelé promises his father that he’ll bring the world cup to Brazil.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Despite facing criticism for his unconventional playing style, Pelé later ended up getting a spot in the Brazilian national soccer team and played a pivotal role in winning the World Cup in 1958.
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3. Goal! (2005)
Santiago Muñez is an illegal Mexican immigrant and an aspiring football,er living in Los Angelos. Santiago plays street soccer and works part time as well. Dring one of his amateur matches, he’s noticed by a former player of Newcastle, Glen Foy who invited him for a trial in Newcastle United, England.
Santiago plans to use his savings to travel to England, but his father steals his savings for his business, as he has no hope in Santiago’s football career. After Santiago’s grandmother secretly gives him money, Santiago’s able to travel to England for the try out. But he’s bullied by his peers, and has an asthma flare up, impacting his performance in the middle of a reserve match.
But life takes a turn when he once again gets a chance to play in the reserve match and he’s finally able to show his true skills.
Goal!Is one of the best soccer movies, because it depicts the difficult yet beautiful journey of an immigrant climbing up to the top.
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2. Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
This is where Hollywood comedy peaked, Bend It Like Beckham is a hilarious soccer movie.
Jess Bhamra is a British-Indian girl who idolizes Beckham and loves playing soccer. However, her parents are very traditional to their Indian norms and wish for Jess to let go of her soccer dream and focus on studying, cooking, and marrying someone soon. But Jess joins the women’s football team after being invited by a talented player, Jules Paxton.
https://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4474055489327117 (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});Jess leads the team to winning many matches. But as the team comes closer to the final tournament, it becomes more difficult for Jess to hide her soccer life from her parents. You’ll enjoy watching every moment, as it’s a gem amongst the best soccer movies.
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1. Shaolin Soccer (2001)
Sing is a Shaolin Kung Fu master who wishes to promote Kung Fu to the modern world, but nobody takes him seriously. But one day, Sing comes across Fung, a former soccer player who walks with a limp. When Fung sees the power of Sing’s legs, he offers to coach him for soccer. They came up with the idea of using Kung Fu to play soccer, which seems something different but exciting to them.
Sing forms a soccer team of his previous Shaolin team members and although they seem worthless and deadbeat at first, with the right training, they soon become an excellent team and even face off against the steroid-fueled super-team called “Team Evil”.
Shaolin Soccer holds the spot for the best soccer movie because it’s an evergreen film which is funny no matter how many times you watch it.
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Related to the best soccer movies
Have a great time watching these best soccer movies, they might just ignite your passion for playing soccer.
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 10 best soccer movies you must watch!
Whether you’re a lifelong fan or just discovering the excitement of the beautiful game, these films are sure to inspire and entertain.
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