By: Ella Marrufo

Editor-in-Chief

Captains of the World, a docuseries released by Netflix and produced by Ben and Gabe Turner, enraptures extreme soccer fans and average viewçaers alike. The six-episode series follows the skilled and accomplished captains of 32 different soccer teams during the 2022 Men’s World Cup as they vie for the top spot.  

Captains of the World documents venerated players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modrić, Thiago Silva, and others as they work to lead their respective teams and ultimately win the Cup for their country. What makes this documentary unique, however, is the intimate insight into players’ lives that delves beyond speculation from the media. Messi, for example, is known to be especially private and not one to appear in front of a camera very often. Despite this, Messi reveals many of his thoughts on the show, such as his relationship with Diego Maradona and how he dealt with the loss to Saudi Arabia in Argentina’s opening game. 

Though the show features star-studded talent and teams with undeniable legacies like Brazil, Germany, and Italy, it also highlights the underdogs, following teams like the United States, Japan, and Senegal as they struggle to prove their countries’ worth. Captains of the World provides a touching, personal look into these players’ innermost hopes, motivations, and fears as they battle against all odds, showcasing stories from the often overlooked and underestimated teams.  

Aside from an elite and diverse cast, the cinematography is stunning, highlighting players’ prowess on the pitch, the electric crowd, and the quieter moments. Between behind-the-scenes locker footage and private interviews, viewers are rewarded with some truly standout moments that they will be hard-pressed to find anywhere else. Of course, the footage during the games is fantastic, too, with close-up shots of players’ focused faces adding to the drama and intensity. Epic feats caught on camera like Brazilian player Richarlison’s bicycle kick against Serbia, for instance, immortalize these precious moments, solidifying players’ legacies in history on the largest streaming platform in the world. 

Even for non-soccer fans, Captains of The World is enthralling, entertaining, and one hundred percent worth the watch. It is the ultimate documentary — a vivid culmination of deeply personal stories, immense loss, and euphoric success. It tells multiple narratives over the course of the six episodes, covering everything from battles with illness to the heartbreak of looming retirement and, of course, plenty of soccer in between. Iconic players who seemed untouchable are humanized in the best possible ways, encouraging audiences to empathize with them and root for their success. These stars live fast lives and are constantly thrust into the spotlight, but Captains of the World provides a chance to slow down and truly digest the 2022 World Cup; it offers an opportunity to understand precisely how difficult it is to win the Cup, and how much it means to the players who do. 

(Source: IMDb)