Top 10 World Football Movies Ever Made

The fascination with football will always lead to movies on the topic being produced over time. But finding the ones that are worth watching is harder than it might seem.

From documentaries of fans in search of a means to watch their favorite team, films that follow the dark side of the game to films based on the what "could happen" scenarios of life, there will always be a topic in demand.

There are many titles beyond those mentioned here, but these are the best of the best and are all must-sees for fans of the sport.

Other Mentionable Titles

Africa United (2010)

The Cup (1999)

Shaolin Soccer (2001)

Mean Machine (1997)

Bend it Like Beckham (2002)

Gracie (2007)

The Match (1999)

A Shot at Glory (2000)

Fever Pitch (1997)

The Big Green (1995)

The Game of Their Lives (2005) also known as Miracle Match.

Goal 2: Living the Dream (2007)

Director: Jaume Collet-Serra

Cast: Kune Becker (Sex and Breakfast), Alessandro Nivola (The Eye) and Anna Friel (Limitless)

Synopsis: The second of the three-part trilogy following the rise of Santiago Munez (Becker) from the streets of Los Angeles to Newcastle United. He now finds himself at a crossroads between the move of his career to Real Madrid to reconnect with former teammate Gavin Harris (Nivola), or to remain in Newcastle and start his life and family with his fiance (Friel).

IMDB Rating: 5.8

When Saturday Comes (1996)

Director: Maria Giese

Cast: Sean Bean (Lord of the Rings), Emily Lloyd (A River Runs Through It) and Pete Postlethwaite (Jurassic Park, Inception)

Synopsis: A from nothing to something feature that sees Jimmy Muir (Bean) rise from a local pub team drunkard to a member of Sheffield United after having a few life-changing moments along the way.

IMDB Rating: 5.9

Once in a Lifetime (2006)

Director: Paul Crowder and John Dower

Cast: Pele, Matt Dillon (Entourage) and Giorgio Chinaglia

Synopsis: The chronicle of the rise and fall of the New York Cosmos as they led the way for the North American Soccer League in 1970s New York City.

IMDB Rating: 7.1

The Great Match (2006)

Director: Gerardo Olivares

Cast: Atibou Aboubacar, Abu Aldanish and Kenshleg Alen Khan

Synopsis: This quirky comedy documentary follows three separate groups of football fans as they quest for over 500km to find a way to watch the 2002 World Cup Final between Brazil and Germany. It is a feel-good film about how the game can unite people from all over the world for love of the game.

IMDB Rating: 6.7

Green Street Hooligans (2005)

Director: Lexi Alexander

Cast: Elijah Wood (Lord of The Rings), Charlie Hunnum (Sons of Anarchy), Claire Forlani (Camelot, NCIS: Los Angeles)

Synopsis: A wrongfully expelled American student (Wood) moves to London to live with his sister (Forlani) and is drawn into the local Green Street Elite hooligan gang that are fanatical and violent supporters of West Ham United.

IMDB Rating: 7.5

Victory (1981)

Director: John Huston

Cast: Michael Caine (The Dark Knight), Sylvester Stallone (Rambo Series, Rocky Series) and Pele (Football Legend)

Synopsis: A group of Allied Prisoners of War are pit against a team of Nazi soldiers in a football match amidst escape plans and alternate agendas.

IMDB Rating: 6.3

Kicking It (2008)

Director: Susan Koch and Jeff Werner

Cast: Colin Farrell (Alexander) as Narrator

Synopsis: If you can tune out Colin Farrell at times this is a film that is all about how the world's greatest game can lift people from the worst times of their life and give them hope. The story follows several homeless people as they rise to find a place for their nation in the 2008 Homeless World Cup in South Africa.

IMDB Rating: 7.8

Goal: The Dream Begins (2005)

Director: Danny Cannon

Cast: Kuno Becker (Sex and Breakfast), Alessandro Nivola (The Eye) and Anna Friel (Limitless)

Synopsis: Young Santiago Munez (Becker) is a Mexican living in Los Angeles working during the day for his father, who has no belief in his sporting abilities, while playing on local football teams.

When he is noticed by a former Newcastle United player who manages to get him a trial with the Magpies in England, Munez finally has the chance to chase his dream. However, as an illegal immigrant to the United States he risks losing everything if he fails.

IMDB Rating: 6.8

Pelada (2010)

Directors and Cast: Luke Bougher, Rebekah Fergusson, Gwendolyn Oxenham and Ryan White

Synopsis: Two players that never made it to the heights of professional careers travel throughout the world to 25 separate countries chronicling the people of the globe that play football for the love of the game.

IMDB Rating: 7.4

The Damned United (2009)

Director: Tom Hooper

Cast: Michael Sheen (Frost/Nixon), Colm Meaney (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Timothy Spall (Enchanted)

Synopsis: The story of Brian Clough (Sheen) and his rise as Derby County manager alongside his assistant (Spall) to take the job at Leeds United from Don Revie (Meaney) before ultimately realizing that was not the job for him.

IMDB Rating: 7.5

Conclusion

Football and cinema will always be a tricky subject. So many have tried and only a select few have succeeded.

I hope that in years to come more and more great footballing movies will start to hit the market.

Thanks for reading and be sure to check out more on Bleacher Report and at the links below. You can follow me on Twitter @thedailyatz and Facebook or visit my Website.