At their base form, sports are the purest form of drama.
It makes sense, then, that the world's most popular sport has featured in hundreds of movies over the years. Like the teams that play the game, soccer movies run the gamut from good, to bad, and even ugly.
Here, DAZN takes a closer look at some of the best movies focused on The Beautiful Game.
Bend It Like Beckham (2002)
Featuring star-making performances by Parminda Nagra and Keira Knightley, Bend It Like Beckham is an uplifting comedy out of Britain about two girls doing whatever it take to play the sport they love. A commentary about social norms and bucking familial expectations, the film was a huge hit on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.
Victory (1981)
This movie has it all: Huge stars of both the pitch and the silver screen, a World War II backdrop, and a do-or-die match pitting our heros against the evil villains. Released just five years after Sylvester Stallone shot to superstardom in Rocky, Victory puts Sly in another sports-themed movie that definitely shouldn't be taken too seriously despite its heavy setting.
Goal! The Dream Begins (2005)
Another one for the lovers of cheesy cult classics, Goal! chronicles the life of an undocumented Mexican youth in the United States who chases his dream of being a professional footballer. Most notable for cameos by then-Real Madrid stars David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane and Raul, who all succintly remind us that most athletes should not be actors.
The movie also spawned two sequels which should have probably never left the cutting room floor.
The Damned United (2009)
Sports movies that are rooted in reality make for some of the best dramatic films around, and The Damned United certainly fits that bill. Starring Martin Sheen as legendary manager Brian Clough, the movie brilliantly takes viewers through Clough's ill-fated 44-day spell on the sidelines for Leeds United.
Fever Pitch (1997)
Absolutely not to be confused with the Jimmy Fallon-Drew Barrymore movie of the same name, 1997's Fever Pitch is a faithful adaptation of Nick Hornsby's novel about romance, life and the protagonist's enduring love for Arsenal. Colin Firth provide his unique mix of charm and awkwardness to the lead role as his character tries to balance a romantic relationship with that of his beloved Gunners.