Rakuten has revealed a new documentary detailing the rise of Andrés Iniesta from wonderkid to Barcelona legend.
VoD service Rakuten has released details of its latest doc, Andrés Iniesta – An Unexpected Hero, which includes unseen footage of the Spanish midfielder reflecting on his milestones, as well as interviews with teammates Lionel Messi, Neymar, Xavi, and Luis Suarez, and former manager Pep Guardiola.
The documentary will be released worldwide, beginning with Europe, Japan, the United States, and Southeast Asia on various platforms in Spring 2020.
In Europe, the film will be available for free on the ad-supported section of Rakuten TV. Meanwhile, in Japan you can see it on Rakuten TV and live streaming, video-on-demand and community platform Rakuten Sports.
In the US and Southeast Asia, it will be shown on Rakuten Viki, a global video streaming service providing content translated by a volunteer community of fans. A global release will follow through content partners.
With a career that has included scoring the winning goal in extra time of the World Cup final, captaining Barcelona, and winning the Champions League on four occasions, the documentary will encompass Iniesta’s upbringing and hugely successful career.
Rakuten produced it in partnership with Spanish company Producciones del Barrio, which is led by Jordi Évole and Ramón Lara. It is scripted by journalist Marcos López, who also wrote the footballer’s official biography, while the original idea came from Iniesta’s representatives, Sports&Life agency.
CEO and founder of Rakuten TV, Jacinto Roca, said: “This story talks about personal self-improvement, starting from his beginnings in his small hometown, Fuentealbilla, up until becoming the captain of FC Barcelona. It is also about global innovation in the sport, thanks to his unique playing style. The documentary flows together to create an amazing story that we are proud to be part of, and we are excited to share within an innovative distribution system.”
Iniesta added: “My story is the story of a person who tries to overcome any obstacle to be the best version of himself. It is a story about difficulties from an optimistic perspective and I hope people find inspiration in it.”