3 Must-watch Netflix Documentaries on Sports Icons
Athletes face extreme pressure to deliver beyond the expectations of their fans. However, we often fail to see the dedication, effort, and personal struggles beyond the triumph and glamor of an athlete’s life.
I guess Netflix took that personally. The streaming giant is one of the best when it comes to creating documentaries. It has already given us some of the best true crime documentaries, from Making a Murderer to Conversations with a Killer.
Witnessing the potential for sharing the stories of sports icons, the company tapped into this niche not long after. In my opinion, one of the best decisions they ever made.
The company has since produced some of the best documentaries on the lives of sports icons, and in this article, I’m going to share some that you just have to watch.
Just make sure you have an internet connection
Just a heads up! To immerse in and fully enjoy these documentaries uninterrupted, you’re going to need an internet connection that can keep up. I would recommend Xfinity because of their speed and reliability. You can call the Xfinity phone number to choose from a range of internet plans.
Now, without further ado, let’s dive into 3 of the best Netflix documentaries on sporting legends.
Beckham
- Released: October 4, 2023
- Episodes: 4
For those of you who’ve been living on the moon for the past 30 years, David Beckham is one of the most legendary English football stars, with multiple awards to his name. He has also made a huge name for himself as a fashion icon, businessman, and humanitarian. Plus, he’s scorching hot.
This documentary takes us way deeper into the footballer’s life, moving beyond what he’s done and achieved, to who he is. It explores the challenges he faced to reach where he is, and what he likes to do in his free time, as well as his relationship with his family, friends, and teammates. Oh, and did I mention that the documentary was nominated 5 times at the Primetime Emmys?
Carlos Alcaraz: My Way
- Released: April 23, 2025
- Episodes: 3
Carlos Alcaraz is a Spanish tennis player and one of the most exciting prospects in the sport. The 22-year-old’s unbreakable mentality and aggressive style have brought multiple achievements his way, such as being the youngest ever player to reach a number one rank, at just 19 years old.
The freshly released docuseries gives fans a detailed view into the tennis prodigy’s career-building highlights, and the struggles and sacrifices he makes to balance life both on and off the court. I mean, Carlos himself said, “People are going to get to know everything you don’t see on a tennis court.”
This documentary isn’t the first time we’re seeing Carlos on Netflix. Previously, he appeared in the Netflix Slam, a televised match where he competed against another Spanish legend, the one and only Rafael Nadal.
Naomi Osaka
- Released: July 16, 2021
- Episodes: 3
Naomi Osaka is one of the most successful female tennis players to enter the sport. The young Japanese champion brings a strong and aggressive touch to any match she’s a part of. These qualities resulted in her groundbreaking victory against legend Serena Williams in the 2018 US Open. She is also the first Japanese to win a Grand Slam singles title as well as the first Asian to reach the number 1 spot for 25 weeks.
The documentary explores her life two years post-victory, focusing on her rise to fame, the burden of pressures and expectations, as well as the mental health issues that came with these. It additionally explores her passion for voicing opposition to social injustices like the murder of George Floyd.
Open Heart
- Released: June 15, 2023
- Length: 1h 15m
As sad as it is, many athletes have had to cut their careers short due to sudden illnesses, and former NHL player Henrik Lundqvist is one such athlete. The Swedish player had built a stellar reputation as a goalie for the New York Rangers. However, fate had other plans, and it all came to an end when he was diagnosed with a heart condition that required open-heart surgery to cure.
The documentary takes a film-style approach to celebrate Henrik’s outstanding 15-season career with the New York Rangers. It also sheds light on his journey of accepting the end of his hockey career and trying to find himself after recovering from his surgery.
Netflix – Connecting Us with Our Favorite Icons
Netflix started producing documentaries more than a decade ago and has given the world some of the most amazing analysis and insights imaginable.
With these documentaries, Netflix once again proves that it’s an expert when it comes to really immersing us in the mindsets and struggles that drove these icons to where they are.
Each of their stories tells a tale of a burning passion, relentless dedication, and winning despite all odds, serving as an inspiration for generations to come.
