They call soccer the beautiful game. But like any endeavor, it can encompass the good, the bad and the ugly. Or at least movies about soccer can, engaging with themes of race and gender, ego, hubris, economics, politics, fandom, the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat — as well as, of course, unadulterated athleticism. If the game has captured your imagination and you want continued programming when World Cup games aren’t on, it might be time to turn to cinema. Here are 12 soccer movies worth revisiting for the laughs, life lessons and fancy footwork they contain.
