Documentary Review: Why "Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall" Is a Family Favorite
Ángel Di María is one the greatest soccer players of his generation. While he has been overshadowed by Lionel Messi, there is no doubt that Ángel Di María is one of the most beloved superstars in the history of Argentinian and European soccer. My son and I became huge Ángel Di María fans while watching the 2022 World Cup, where he helped Argentina win the final. We are clearly not the only fans, because on September 12, 2024, Netflix released Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall, a three-part documentary series about the life and career of Ángel Di María. The documentary provides an intimate look at the life of Ángel Di María. As a parent, I recommend watching Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall with your child(ren) – it is a great bonding experience and provides valuable life lessons of perseverance and triumph.
Here are some key aspects that make Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall a standout documentary:
Inspiring Story of Perseverance
Di María’s journey from a humble working-class family in Rosario, Argentina to becoming one of the world’s top footballers is incredibly inspiring. The documentary highlights the challenges he faced growing up, including the severe financial struggles, and his dedication to helping his family.
Young children see successful people and/or sports stars and assume that those individuals were always successful – they don’t get to see the sacrifice and hard work individuals, and those around them, put in to achieve the success. The documentary does a wonderful job showing the effort it takes to achieve world class success.
I enjoyed the fact my son watched how Di María’s family had to sacrifice so much to help him succeed. My son and I were surprised to learn that Di María’s family could not afford a car and his mother would transport Di María on the family bicycle for 30 to 40 minutes to get him to practice. After watching the documentary, my son had a lot of interesting questions about money and work.
Behind-the-Scenes Look at His Career
The documentary provides a detailed look into Di María’s career, from his early days at Rosario Central – where he was traded from his first club El Torito to Rosario Central for 36 soccer balls – to his stints at Benfica, Real Madrid, Manchester United (the transfer fee was $59.7 million), and Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). The documentary highlights Di María’s ups and downs of his amazing career. It highlighted the troubles he had at Manchester United when he played for a coach who seemed out to get him, despite already being a soccer super star. As winners do, Di María was able to get himself out of that situation and move on to another phase in his career and go on to be one of the greatest players in PSG history. This was invaluable for my son to watch.
His Role in Argentina's International Success
Di María who has been in the shadows of Messi, finally gets the credit he deserves for being a key player on the Argentina national team. The documentary shines a light on his contributions to their success, including the Copa América 2021 win, where he scored the decisive goal in the final. It is hard to imagine that Argentina, even with Messi, could have won the 2022 World Cup without Di María.
Insight into His Personal Life
Beyond football, the documentary provides a glimpse into Di María’s personal life, including his close-knit relationship with his family and the sacrifices they all made for him to succeed. His bond with his wife, children, and parents shows the human side of a global sports star.
Footage of Iconic Matches and Moments
Fans of the sport will appreciate the archival footage of Di María’s most iconic performances, including his winning goal in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final with Real Madrid and his crucial contributions to PSG. Reliving these moments helps capture the magic of his talent and the highs of his career. There were so many highlights I had never seen before – you will just how good Di María is.
Worth Watching
By blending emotional depth, incredible football moments, and a genuine underdog story, Ángel Di María: Breaking Down the Wall is captivating with both the highs and lows of his career and personal life. It’s a must-watch for those who appreciate inspiring sports documentaries. I also recommend that any child who is into soccer or other sports watch the documentary. There is show much to learn from Di María.