Captains of the World

Netflix’s "Captains of the World" Peels Back the Curtain on the 2022 FIFA World Cup’s Biggest Stars

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was a tournament of historic firsts and emotional farewells, but Netflix’s Captains of the World (2023) offers something rarer: an all-access pass to the minds of the men who led their nations onto the pitch. Directed by Ben Turner, Christian Cerami, and Gabe Turner, the six-episode docuseries isn’t just a highlight reel—it’s a raw, behind-the-scenes chronicle of the pressures, triumphs, and personal battles faced by the 32 team captains, latestnetflix.com contends, from Lionel Messi’s final World Cup quest to lesser-known leaders fighting for their countries’ pride.

A Rare Glimpse Into the Locker Room

Unlike traditional sports documentaries that focus on the spectacle of the game, Captains of the World zeroes in on the human stories behind the armbands. The series is a collaboration between Netflix, FIFA, and production company Fulwell 73, the same team behind the 2022 prequel Captains, which followed players as their teams battled to qualify . This time, the cameras stayed rolling through the tournament itself, capturing moments that usually stay hidden: Messi reflecting on Diego Maradona’s legacy, Thiago Silva opening up about his past battle with tuberculosis, and U.S. captain Tyler Adams challenging stereotypes about American soccer .

The docuseries doesn’t shy away from the emotional weight of the World Cup. For Messi, it was a chance to cement his legacy after years of near-misses; for others, like Croatia’s Luka Modrić, it was another chapter in a career defined by resilience. The series’ strength lies in its ability to balance these personal narratives with the broader drama of the tournament, from group-stage upsets to the heartbreak of elimination .

The Making of a World Cup Docuseries

Producing a project of this scale required unprecedented access. Fulwell 73, known for its work on sports documentaries like Sunderland ‘Til I Die, embedded with teams throughout the tournament, capturing footage that would otherwise remain unseen. The result is a series that feels intimate, even when the stakes are global .

One standout aspect is the series’ pacing. Spanning six episodes, Captains of the World follows the tournament’s progression from the group stage to the final, ensuring that the narrative builds alongside the on-field drama. While the evidence doesn’t specify which captains dominate each episode, the inclusion of high-profile names like Kylian Mbappé, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Olivier Giroud suggests that the series doesn’t just focus on the usual suspects—it gives equal weight to the stories of underdogs and rising stars .

What’s Missing?

For all its strengths, Captains of the World leaves some questions unanswered. The evidence doesn’t reveal how the production team navigated the logistical challenges of filming in Qatar, where media access was tightly controlled. There’s also no mention of how the captains themselves reacted to the cameras—whether they embraced the project or found it intrusive. And while the series promises "exclusive behind-the-scenes footage," the snippets don’t clarify how much of that footage is truly unseen versus repurposed from FIFA’s official coverage .

Another gap is the series’ tone. Is it a celebration of the World Cup’s unifying power, or does it delve into the controversies that marred the tournament, from human rights concerns to the last-minute alcohol ban? The evidence doesn’t specify, leaving viewers to wonder whether the docuseries leans into the drama or glosses over it .

Why It Matters

At its core, Captains of the World is a love letter to the men who carry the weight of their nations on their shoulders. For fans, it’s a chance to see their heroes in a new light—not just as athletes, but as leaders, strategists, and, above all, humans. The series arrives at a time when soccer’s global appeal has never been stronger, yet the stories behind the game often remain untold. By focusing on the captains, Netflix and FIFA have created a project that feels both timely and timeless.

Whether it’s Messi’s final World Cup journey or the quiet determination of a first-time captain, Captains of the World reminds us why the tournament captivates billions. The drama isn’t just on the field—it’s in the moments before, after, and in between, where legends are made and legacies are defined.