Few sports are able to translate over to the big screen better than soccer. Stories that are told in the sport are able to transcend throughout time, and iconic feats that are achieved against all odds can be used as inspiration for those looking to overcome their own challenges.

However, not all great soccer films are based on factually accurate stories, as fans are able to dare to dream with a number of non-fiction stories also related to the sport. Soccer fans constantly want to be closer to the action, meaning that films focused on the sport typically attract huge numbers at the box office.

Newcomers to the sport can also learn more about soccer by watching films, which could have an impact on their bets at YouBet. But, which movies rank among the greatest of all-time?

Goal!

There are few soccer movies that have enjoyed as much long-term success as the 2005 release, Goal!. The movie quickly became a cult classic among fans of the sport, and it had a direct impact on the popularity achieved over the coming years by Newcastle United.

Directed by Danny Cannon, the film was made in co-operation with FIFA and Adidas, and followed the story of a Mexican immigrant living in the United States that dreamed of becoming a professional player. Santiago Munez, played by Kuno Becker, gets picked up by a scout in the U.S., before eventually excelling during a trial at Newcastle United to start his professional career.

Goal!’s success ensured that a sequel was made, with Goal II following Munez’s career to Real Madrid. A third film was also released, but the trilogy release was greeted with negative reviews by fans.

The Damned United

One of the best soccer films ever released focuses on Brian Clough’s ill-fated tenure at Leeds United, titled The Damned United. Michael Sheen stars as the legendary manager, who is appointed Leeds boss under a wave of negative fan reaction.

The divide between manager and club fans started in an FA Cup tie in 1968 when Clough was in charge of Derby County. The film follows the manager’s turbulent time at Leeds, which includes alienating players leading to his departure after just 44 days in the hot seat.

In the film’s closing scenes, it notes that Clough returned to management after his stint at Leeds to win the First Division and two European Cups with Nottingham Forest.

Bend It Like Beckham

It could be argued that a film way ahead of its time comes in the form of Bend It Like Beckham. Starring Keira Knightley and Parminder Nagra, it follows the story of two female players that idolize David Beckham and are chasing a career in professional soccer.

It focuses on the cultural differences between Jess and her parents when it comes to her future plans, as soccer takes its place at the forefront ahead of her studies. The film could be one of the most important made in the United Kingdom, as it can trace back to having a direct impact on the enhanced popularity that is currently being enjoyed in the women’s game. Since its release, it has become a cult classic, and was also adapted into a stage musical, which opened at Phoenix Theatre in 2015.

It has already passed the test of time, and the long-standing wishes of fans could be about to get their dreams of a sequel released, as director Gurinder Chadha revealed that plans are in place for a second film to be made.

Escape to Victory

Escape to Victory consistently ranks as one of the best soccer films ever made. The title features an all-star cast of actors and soccer stars, including Michael Caine, Sylvester Stallone, and Pele. Soccer legends such as Bobby Moore and Osvaldo Ardiles also feature.

Escape to Victory is based on the film by Zoltan Fabri, titled Two Half Times in Hell, which tells the true story of a match between German soldiers and Soviet Ukrainian prisoners of war during World War II in 1942. The film was also the inspiration behind the 1972 American released titled The Longest Yard, which focused on American Football instead of soccer.

In the film, it follows a team of Allied prisoners who are preparing for a match against a German team, before discovering that the event is being used as a German propaganda stunt.

Captained by John Colby, the Englishman is constantly challenged to avoid the temptation of escaping, with German soldiers reminding them that they would be returned to prison as soon as the game is finished. The closing scene remains one of the most iconic in sports film history, as the pitch is flooded with spectators, giving the Allied players an opportunity to run to freedom.