Neymar: The Perfect Chaos

Neymar: The Perfect Chaos (Netflix)

This documentary follows Brazilian football player Neymar Jr. and his rise to stardom in both the Brazilian National team and Europe. I first watched this documentary over the summer but chose to revisit it, since the World Cup is currently happening. It is a 3-episode series that details Neymar's life from his beginnings in futbol in Brazil, to him signing with PSG in France. 

I found that I was very drawn to the insight it gives into Neymar's life behind the scenes of futbol.  You get an inside peek into Neymar's home, his family life, and more. For example, one of his favorite art pieces is a portrait of himself depicted as half joker, half batman. This is just a small detail from the documentary that adds a lot of character and pizazz to the series as a whole. You also see a lot of Neymar's interviews done in his gaming room or commentary done through his gaming, which makes him feel much more personable and approachable, rather than a distant celebrity. You can tell that he is someone who is very into trinkets and little toys, again showing a side of him that is grounding. 

Another engaging aspect of the documentary is the interviews they intersperse throughout. Not only do you hear from Neymar's parents and friends, but also other players who are easily recognizable. It feels very personal to hear about Neymar's soccer and life journey both from the perspective of his family, as well as his teammates. Neymar is known to be a bit of a controversial player, especially when it comes to his personal life and partying, but the way the documentary framed those topics, you can see how dedicated he is to soccer. The interviewers help build the storyline further, and help it feel more honest because they aren't making claims about Neymar's personality through one person. An important event you gain more insight into is Neymar's potentially life-threatening back injury from back in 2014, which was a big deal. 

Even if you know nothing about soccer, or don't particularly like it, this documentary provides a detailed insight into the life of one of the most famous and talented players in the World. 

Stars: 5/5

Recommend: YES