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Apple TV+ unveils a treat for soccer fans – a four-part docuseries about superstar Lionel Messi

Published Jun 6th, 2023 3:13PM EDT
Lionel Messi
Image: Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images

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Soccer fans had a hunch that something like this might be in the works when the official @AppleTV Twitter account not-so-subtly tweeted out the following string of words on Tuesday morning: “Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain Argentina Apple TV+.” The iPhone maker’s streaming service also wasted no time in making the news official Tuesday morning, confirming the imminent release of an untitled, four-part docuseries about Lionel Messi, arguably the greatest soccer player of all time, that was filmed in Paris, Qatar, and Argentina.

The forthcoming series, from Smuggler Entertainment, purports to represent the first official and definitive account of Messi’s career with the Argentina national team and his five FIFA World Cup appearances. Weeks before he triumphantly kissed the World Cup trophy to the roar of a rapturous crowd in Qatar, Messi told the filmmakers behind this Apple TV+ release: “It would be the ultimate experience to win a World Cup and to be able to close out my career in that way.

“I’ve daydreamed about it after many years of fighting for it. I made a million possibilities of what could happen … the first match, the round of 16, the quarterfinals, the semifinal, and the final.”

Lionel Messi
Argentina’s forward Lionel Messi raises a replica of the World Cup trophy next to his teammates during a recognition ceremony for the World Cup-winning players, following the friendly football match between Argentina and Curacao at the Madre de Ciudades stadium in Santiago del Estero, in northern Argentina, on March 28, 2023. Image source: JUAN MABROMATA / AFP) (Photo by JUAN MABROMATA/AFP via Getty Images

Messi is a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner, and Apple’s series will track his five FIFA World Cup appearances — including his FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 win, following what was unquestionably one of the most nail-biting finals in the history of the tournament. The filmmakers got rare and unique access to Messi throughout the 2022 World Cup, from the training grounds in Qatar to the chaos of press junkets and eventually the quiet and contemplative stillness of Messi’s private room.

In addition to personal and revealing interviews with Messi, the Apple TV+ docuseries will also include conversations with teammates, coaches, fans, competitors, and commentators who can attest to the extraordinary influence he’s had on the sport — and on, per Apple, the “grace, fortitude, and willpower he has demonstrated throughout his career.”

The Messi docuseries also joins existing Apple TV+ soccer-themed releases, including:

Andy Meek Trending News Editor

Andy Meek is a reporter based in Memphis who has covered media, entertainment, and culture for over 20 years. His work has appeared in outlets including The Guardian, Forbes, and The Financial Times, and he’s written for BGR since 2015. Andy's coverage includes technology and entertainment, and he has a particular interest in all things streaming.

Over the years, he’s interviewed legendary figures in entertainment and tech that range from Stan Lee to John McAfee, Peter Thiel, and Reed Hastings.