Brazil '70: The Third Star Review
Director: Quico Meirelles, Paulo Morelli, and Pedro Morelli
Date Created: 2026-05-30 22:57
3.5
Brazil ’70: The Third Star Review: Directed by Quico Meirelles, Paulo Morelli, and Pedro Morelli, Netflix’s Brazilian sports drama series Brazil 70 – A saga do Tri stars Lucas AgrÃcola as Pelé, Rodrigo Santoro as João Saldanha, Bruno Mazzeo as Zagallo, Ravel Andrade as Tostão, Gui Ferraz as Jairzinho, Daniel Blanco as Rivellino, and Julia Stockler, among others. Spread across five episodes, the series revisits Brazil’s historic journey to winning the 1970 FIFA World Cup, becoming the first nation to secure a third world title.
Brazil ’70: The Third Star Review
In the shadow of Brazil’s military regime, Netflix’s Brazil ’70: The Third Star chronicles the Brazilian national team as they prepare for the World Cup in Mexico. Central to the plot is legendary football player Pelé, who, despite being considered one of the greatest footballers in the world, carries the burden of expectations from the whole country. Another important aspect covered by this story involves conflicts regarding the political views of Brazilian coach João Saldanha. As the World Cup draws near, both players and coaches are under intense pressure.
One of the key features of the show is that it does not try to make the World Cup of 1970 just an exciting event. Every football fan already knows what the result was, which makes it a very good decision for the creators of the series to concentrate more on the human aspects of the event. The series pays attention to all the uncertainty, frustration, and worries experienced before the Brazilian triumph.
The challenge before Lucas AgrÃcola is to embody Pelé, a player who may well be the most famous in the history of football. However, he manages to pull off a good portrayal. First, he looks similar to the footballer, but what is more important, he successfully manages to show that there were some vulnerable times for the player, too. The player is shown as a talented one struggling with high expectations and attention from time to time.
One of the best roles performed throughout the entire series is that of João Saldanha by Rodrigo Santoro. In several respects, this character proves to be as captivating as that of Pelé. What makes the position of the former player in relation to the national team quite captivating is the fact that it brings additional political and emotional dimensions to the storyline. Some of the best scenes revolve around disagreements and uncertainty about his role.
This can certainly be attributed to the production group in bringing out the period mood in Brazil ’70: The Third Star docudrama. In all aspects, from locker rooms and practice fields to full stadiums, the filmmakers succeed in immersing viewers into the 1970s atmosphere in many ways. The directors definitely intended for audiences to feel what the players went through while playing, not just watching games that were broadcast on television from afar back then. Football scenes in the series utilise close-ups of the game to make the viewers feel its excitement.
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The part of the Netflix Brazil ’70: The Third Star series which impressed me the most was its portrayal of the mood of the whole nation. At that moment, Brazil was politically unstable, and the football team became the bearer of many hopes. It was shown quite successfully how the wins of the Brazilian national football team gained the meaning of symbols for numerous fans. Not getting too political, it explains all the reasons for such a situation.
But there are a few weaknesses with this show, too. Even though Pelé’s role in this series is obviously vital, there are times when too much emphasis has been laid upon him. Some members of this famous side, like Jairzinho, Rivellino, Tostão and others, get their fair share of space in the series, but there is not enough coverage about them as individuals. Now, given the fact that this Brazilian side is considered to be one of the best sides ever, that is a problem.
Inconsistent is another term that could be used to describe the football scenes themselves. In some cases, they manage to portray the thrill of the game quite well. However, other sequences appear to be too dramatic and unrealistic. Sometimes there are repetitions in using slow motion and close-ups, which may diminish the effect of realism. Fans of perfect sports action might find some weak spots here.
The drama series Brazil 70: The Third Star, despite its flaws, is definitely worth watching. This is possible since the makers understand that true sports stories are not solely based on victories. Instead, they are based on individuals, their struggles, and the environment they are part of. And by concentrating on these aspects, the filmmakers are able to produce much more than just recreations of well-known matches.
Netflix Brazil ’70: The Third Star Review: Summing Up
All in all, if one is a fan of football and, especially, of Brazil’s fascinating sports heritage, then this show would definitely be recommended without any further ado. Not everybody can be interested in everything presented here, but it is such a good blend of drama, outstanding acting, and gripping storytelling that you will like watching this even if you know the outcome. It does not portray the greatest team in the world at its best; yet, it gives a hint of its glory anyway.
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