As the trailer Apple TV+ dropped Thursday for documentary series Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend shows, the soccer superstar is practically a deity in his home country, Argentina. And if you don’t already worship him, you might start after watching the show, which premieres February 21.
Anyone who loves the world’s most-popular sport, soccer (aka football), probably knows a thing or two about Messi. But that just makes the new four-part documentary series all the more enticing for its “exclusive, behind-the-scenes” look at the man’s five World Cup appearances and his long-awaited 2022 win with Argentina.
Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend premieres on Apple TV+ February 21
Apple’s new Messi love-fest follows the streamer’s other documentary about the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, tracking his late-career move to Inter Miami CF in Major League Soccer. Both series come from Smuggler Entertainment.
Messi made an impressive five FIFA World Cup appearances (they only come along every four years), including his FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 win, which featured one of the epic event’s most-exciting finals.
For this documentary series, Messi himself tells much of the story of his career with the Argentina national football team and its quest for a World Cup victory.
Here’s Apple’s description:
Messi’s World Cup: The Rise of a Legend highlights the thrilling story of the planet’s top living athlete, his loyal supporters across Argentina and those who made the pilgrimage across the globe to witness his epic World Cup win. The series also features the most personal interviews to date with Messi, alongside conversations with teammates, coaches, competitors, devout fans and commentators testifying to the incredible influence and impact he has on a nation and world stage.
The docuseries explores the grace, fortitude and willpower he has exhibited throughout his career as it charts the dramatic path from his first match with the Argentina national football team to carrying the weight of a country on his shoulders through several elusive World Cup wins, leading to his early retirement in 2016 and, ultimately, the comeback to become a FIFA World Cup champion and be crowned the 2022 tournament’s best player.
Award-winning filmmakers
Series executives producers are Emmy Award-winner Tim Pastore (Free Solo, Jane), Emmy and Tony Award-winners Patrick Milling Smith and Brian Carmody, and Emmy Award-winner Matt Renner (Free Solo, Limitless with Chris Hemsworth) of Smuggler Entertainment, alongside Jenna Millman (The Dropout, Tiger) and Juan Camilo Cruz (City of Ghosts, In Her Hands).
Smuggler Entertainment produced the series for Apple in association with Pegsa.
Watch the trailer:
Watch Messi on Apple TV+, Apple TV app
The documentary series will appear on Apple TV+. Fans in more than 100 countries and regions can also watch Messi play with Inter Miami CF on MLS Season Pass, the subscription service from Apple and Major League Soccer on the Apple TV app ($14.99/month or $99.99/year; $12,99/month or $79.99/year for Apple TV+ subscribers.
Apple TV+ is available by subscription for $9.99 with a seven-day free trial. You can also get it via any tier of the Apple One subscription bundle. For a limited time, customers who purchase and activate a new iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Mac or iPod touch can enjoy three months of Apple TV+ for free.
After launching in November 2019, “Apple TV+ became the first all-original streaming service to launch around the world, and has premiered more original hits and received more award recognitions faster than any other streaming service. To date, Apple Original films, documentaries and series have been honored with 638 wins and 1,836 award nominations and counting,” the service said.
In addition to award-winning movies and TV shows (including breakout soccer comedy Ted Lasso), Apple TV+ offers a variety of documentaries, dramas, comedies, kids shows and more.
Source: Apple TV+
