10 Best Football Movies of 21st Century
"Diego Maradona" among 10 best football movies of century. Show dark side of glory through Argentine legend life, British Film Institute say.
For World Cup 2026, British Film Institute (BFI) choose features and documentaries showing football views. List have films on legends, fan culture, women football, community impact. BFI say films show football not just game, but reflect history, identity, social issues.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
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Trailer 'Bend It Like Beckham' (2002)
Trailer "Bend It Like Beckham". Video: Kintop Pictures
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Gurinder Chadha film follow Jess (Parminder Nagra), British Indian Sikh girl. She love football, family oppose. Jess join women team, friend Jules (Keira Knightley). Both chase pro player dream, face family expectation, first love, cultural difference.
Critics praise Bend It Like Beckham ahead of time for put women football center. Story mix comedy, grow up, sport spirit. Recreate early 2000s pop culture.
Offside(2006)
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Trailer Offside
Trailer "Offside". Video: International Film Festival Rotterdam
Set during 2006 World Cup qualifier Iran vs Bahrain at Azadi Stadium, Tehran. Jafar Panahi film show girls disguise as men to sneak in stadium. Women ban from stadium, soldiers catch them fast. Wait for match end, talk between girls and guards show injustice, gender bias, wish for equality.
Key scene: girl need toilet. No women toilet in stadium, she must use men area. Panahi show gender inequality in funny scene: girl cover face with player poster. Though ban from film, director finish work. Offside prove escape gender box to live hobby.
Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait (2006)
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Trailer 'Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait' (2006)
Trailer "Zidane: A 21st Century Portrait". Video: Universal Pictures
Unlike typical football documentaries, work only follows single character during 90 minutes of match between Real Madrid and Villarreal on April 23, 2005. With 17 synchronized cameras, directors Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno capture every movement, expression, and mental state of Zinedine Zidane, from team trailing to equalizer, before red card at end of match.
According to British Film Institute, work is one of most unique football documentaries ever made. With soundtrack by band Mogwai and Zidane's narration about childhood and life, work opens new approach to portraying player on screen.
Linha de Passe (2008)
Scene from "Linha de Passe". Photo: Universal Pictures
Set in São Paulo (Brazil), film by directors Walter Salles and Daniela Thomas centers on four brothers and mother living in poverty. Each seeks escape from dead-end life; Dino hopes to change life through football talent but faces obstacles at local club, where money and connections rule selection.
Linha de Passe avoids rags-to-riches trope. Instead, film realistically portrays working-class life, reflecting impact of poverty, inequality, and crime on Brazilian families.
Looking for Eric (2009)
Actor Steve Evets (left, as Eric Bishop) and former player Eric Cantona in "Looking for Eric". Photo: Icon Film Distribution
Directed by Ken Loach, film tells of Eric—postman in Manchester (UK) facing mental crisis and living in isolation. In despair, character imagines football idol Eric Cantona stepping off poster to talk to him. Conversations motivate Eric to regain faith, mend relationships, and change life.
Film blends comedy with surreal elements to convey message about men's mental health. Work is highly praised for reflecting loneliness while honoring power of sharing to help people overcome crisis.
The Damned United (2009)
Scene from "The Damned United". Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing International
Based on David Peace's novel of same name, director Tom Hooper recreates 44 turbulent days of manager Brian Clough (played by Michael Sheen) leading Leeds United in 1974. Film weaves this period with his successful time at Derby County, depicting ups and downs in relationship with assistant Peter Taylor (Timothy Spall). Through this, work reflects pressure, ambition, and power struggles in professional football.
Highlight of film is Michael Sheen's performance in lead role. Actor plays talented but hot-tempered "conductor" obsessed with competition. BFI rates The Damned United as not just about clash between two managers, but also showing dark side of modern football, where ambition, power, and business interests run alongside sport.
Diego Maradona(2019)
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Trailer 'Diego Maradona' (2019)
Trailer "Diego Maradona". Video: HBO
Documentary by director Asif Kapadia recreates turbulent career and life of Argentine football legend, focusing on his time with Napoli and Argentina national team. Through archival footage, interviews with close associates, and Maradona's own words, work shows journey from poor boy to one of greatest players in history, while mentioning controversy surrounding "Hand of God" goal at 1986 World Cup.
Director Asif Kapadia portrays man torn between fame and tragedy. Film explores dark side of celebrity, showing Maradona revered for talent but collapsing under pressure and drug spiral.
Pelé (2021)
Brazilian football legend Pelé in documentary of same name. Photo: Netflix
Documentary by filmmakers Ben Nicholas and David Tryhorn records thoughts of Brazilian football legend in final stage of life. Content looks back at poor childhood, then becoming only player to win World Cup three times, recalling milestones. Critics say Pelé honors peerless achievements on pitch, shows sincerity in stories about victories and defeats of one of greatest players in football history.
What Do We See When We Look at the Sky? (2021)
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Trailer 'What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?' (2021)
Trailer "What Do We See When We Look at the Sky?". Video: Mubi
Set in Kutaisi (Georgia), work by director Alexandre Koberidze weaves stories of local football love. With boys fan of Lionel Messi, girl training on pitch, and dog Vardy only watching England matches at kebab shop behind theater, football exists as part of daily life.
Story centers on love between pharmacist and amateur player. Curse changes their appearance. During World Cup, they miss meetings repeatedly before recognizing each other through film role. Work mixes fantasy and humor, uses football to tell of love, community, simple beauty of life.
Copa 71 (2023)
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Trailer 'Copa 71' (2023)
Trailer "Copa 71". Video: Dogwoof
Work by James Erskine and Rachel Ramsay covers 1971 Women's World Cup in Mexico, tournament drawing tens of thousands of fans but unrecognized by FIFA. Through stories of past players, film shows how they overcame bans and prejudice to play professional football, honoring women who laid foundation for modern football.
Shakira is the only singer to date to perform four times at the World Cup, stirring up the tournament with iconic songs like "Hips Don't Lie", "Waka Waka". 11