Real Madrid Takes Center Stage In Apple TV+ Documentary Series

Soccer club documentaries have become a thing. And now Real Madrid is on the scene.

Real Madrid: Until The End will air globally on Apple TV+ from March 10, providing behind-the-scenes footage and insight into Real Madrid’s heroic 2022/23 season, where it clinched a 14th Champions League trophy following a 35th domestic league title.

As well as snippets from key matches, it will contain interview contributions from top stars, such as Luka Modric and Toni Kroos, alongside ex-players like David Beckham and Marcelo. It will focus solely on Los Blancos and the obstacles the team overcame during a memorable, topsy-turvy campaign.

Wakai, an independent sports and factual films studio from Spain, is behind the production, made in collaboration with the club. It’s the second time in quick succession that Apple TV+ will host much-anticipated soccer content after releasing Super League: The War for Football in January—indicating the platform’s growing interest in the game.

Real is not the first elite side to feature in a documentary format. For instance, Amazon’s Prime Video service has covered Premier League clubs Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur and Arsenal, welcoming fans into the high-stakes elite soccer world. Further afield, Netflix has lifted the lid on life at Italian club Juventus, historically the most successful competitor in Serie A.

Back in Spain, Amazon’s Six Dreams is the closest many La Liga fans have got to the game’s inner workings in the country. As the title suggests, each season focuses on six top-flight teams—including Atlético Madrid and Athletic Club—but not Real or rival Barcelona. With its exclusive in-house Barça TV content, Barcelona is somewhat out-of-bounds for filmmakers outside, meaning both Clásico rivals are yet to enter the frame.

Even by Real’s lofty standards, its rollercoaster ride to silverware last season perfectly lends itself to a first video title. Los Blancos’ path to La Liga glory was clear as it topped the standings 14 points ahead of Barcelona. Contrastingly, the Champions League journey was rocky and breathtaking.

En route to the European trophy—which it won after a close contest with a spirited Liverpool team—it struck late against Chelsea at home to reach the semifinals before recovering from the brink against Manchester City to make the final. In the second semifinal leg against City, Rodrygo miraculously scored twice in injury time to epitomize Real’s never-say-die attitude.

Indeed, the central documentary feature is the side’s steely mental resilience. More than ever, its will to win against the odds in demanding games came good in its latest Champions League accolade—setting a benchmark for the talented generation coming through—while pocketing over €100 million ($106 million) in prize money, according to various reports.

Going by Real’s unrivaled social media standing—with approximately 180 million followers on Twitter and Instagram combined—this release could become popular among many people, too, even though Apple+ is yet to establish itself as the market leader when it comes to such programming. If you compare it to Six Dreams, Real Madrid alone will match the intrigue of the other La Liga participants.

As more and more clubs enter the spotlight in documentaries, viewers are starting to see how more players tick in the dressing room, not just in matches. That shift is more apparent now that a Spanish heavyweight is in on the act. Internationally, this one may be the biggest so far.