Pele’s death has saddened the football community across the globe as one of the game’s greatest legends has passed.
At 82 years old, Pele succumbed to colon cancer which spread to the rest of his body.
Maybe one of football’s most well-known superstars, the legendary Brazilian led his nation to its first-ever World Cup title in 1958 as just a teenager, kickstarting an illustrious career that saw him finish as one of the game’s all-time top goalscorers and a three-time World Cup champion.
For fans looking to learn more about a giant of football, or who want to reminisce about one of their favorite players of the past, here are the details of the most readily available documentaries streaming today.
MORE: Read Pele’s obituary
Pele Netflix documentary Birth of a Legend
- Release date (theaters): May 13, 2016
- Release date (streaming): October 14, 2016
- Runtime: 1 hour, 47 mins
- Starring: Vincent D’Onofrio, Rodrigo Santoro, Diego Boneta
- Language: English
Official description: Pele’s meteoric rise from the slums of Sao Paulo to leading Brazil to its first World Cup victory at the age of 17 is chronicled in this biographical drama.
The 2016 Pele biopic, which streams on Netflix, focuses on the rise to prominence for one of football’s legendary giants. It focuses on Pele’s growth in the slums of Brazil to his World Cup debut at just 17 years old, where the South American nation wins its first title.
It follows the Brazilian through his eight years before debuting for the national team, detailing his upbringing as a young child in the favelas. The film finishes with a chronicle of Pele’s journey through the 1958 World Cup as just a teenager.
MORE: TSN Archives: Pele a Landslide Winner in Player Vote for NASL MVP (Sept. 11, 1976, issue)
Pele Netflix documentary reviews
Unfortunately, reviews of the documentary did not emerge with a positive impression. It received just a 33 percent on movie review website Rotten Tomatoes, with critics seemingly frustrated by the lack of tension or conflict in the story, and the excessive, propaganda-like tone.
“‘Pelé’ frames its subject’s talent as a form of divinity,” writes Alan Zilberman of the Washington Post. “In scene after scene, unimpressed spectators are gradually overcome by a joy approaching awe. The pattern gets repetitive; it’s already something of a cliche the first time we see it.”
“‘Pelé: Birth of a Legend’ so earnestly plays through the clichés of the inspirational sports biography that even soccer fans may find it boring,” says Sean Means of The Salt Lake Tribune, while Scott Marks of the San Diego Reader says, “they whip up and beat to death a sports-film cliche souffle.” Jordan Hoffman of The Guardian says the film “has all the subtlety of a Robert Huth free kick thwomping off your head while you sit in the stands.”
However, the acting is praised even in overly negative reviews. Jared Mobarak of The Film Stage says that titular actor Kevin de Paula “proves a charismatic lead to empathize with during the tough times and embrace with an infectious smile during the good,” while J.R. Jones of the Chicago Reader points out Brazilian musician Seu Jorge as a “standout performance” in the role of Pele’s father.
MORE: Who was Pele? Explaining the Brazil legend’s status as an all time soccer great
Pele documentaries online
“Pele: Birth of a Legend” is just one of a few Pele documentaries circling on streaming services for fans to enjoy. Those who wish to learn more about the legend after his death can check out a variety of different productions below.
Pele — Netflix
- Release date (streaming): February 23, 2021
- Runtime: 1 hour, 48 mins
- Starring: Amarildo, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Benedita da Silva
- Language: Portuguese
- Rotton Tomatoes score: 82%
“Looks back at the extraordinary 12-year period in which Pelé, the only man to win three World Cup titles, went from young superstar in 1958 to national hero in 1970; a radical yet turbulent era in Brazil’s history.”
Pele Eterno (Pele Forever) — Prime Video
- Release date (streaming): February 23, 2021
- Runtime: 2 hours, 2 mins
- Starring: Celeste Arantes, Assiria Seixas Lemos, Gordon Banks
- Language: Portuguese
“Dubbed a genius by many, the supremely talented footballer has touched hearts around the globe with goals, lessons in humanity and, pride in who he is. His name: Pel̩e.”
