Goal! The Dream Begins 2006

The film opens with a nostalgic glimpse of Santiago Munez as a child playing football in Mexico. That same night, his family makes the perilous decision to illegally cross the border into the United States in search of a better life. As Santi grows up, he works diligently alongside his father as a gardener during the day and as a busboy in a Chinese restaurant at night. Amidst his busy schedule, he also plays football for a small local team named AJFC. On one occasion, he has to resort to using makeshift shin guards crafted from cardboard due to financial constraints, highlighting his determination and passion for the sport. Each night, he secretly saves money, hiding it in his shoes, with aspirations to purchase a proper football kit.

One day, while engaged in a match, Santi captures the attention of Glen Foy, portrayed by Alessandro Nivola, an ex-Newcastle player who now works as a scout and car mechanic. Glen promises Santi that he will arrange for an agent to meet with the Newcastle manager for him. However, on the day of the meeting, the agent, Barry Rankin, disappointingly fails to show up, claiming to be in a meeting. Undeterred, Glen takes matters into his own hands by calling the Newcastle manager directly, convincing him to offer Santiago a trial, provided he can make it to England.

Eager to join Newcastle United, Santi lacks the funds to make the trip, leading him to save even more money. When he returns home one afternoon, he discovers that his father has taken the money he hid for his travel and spent it on a new Chevy truck to help establish their own gardening business. This confrontation leads to a heated argument where Santi’s father insists, > “This is how things get better! This is how you measure a man’s life.” Frustrated, Santi retreats to his room, feeling betrayed. His grandmother, a fervent football fan, ultimately steps in and sells part of her jewelry to purchase a train ticket for Santi, enabling him to travel from Los Angeles to Mexico City and catch a flight to London, as he is unable to travel directly due to his undocumented status.

Upon his arrival in England, Glen warmly welcomes Santi and arranges for his trial. Unfortunately, Santi’s nerves get the better of him, and he performs poorly during the first trial, leading to his rejection by the manager. However, Glen advocates for him, persuading the manager to give Santi another chance with a month-long trial offer, which is accepted. Meanwhile, Newcastle also signs newcomer Gavin Harris. Despite struggling initially, Santi manages to pass a medical exam by concealing his asthma condition, and he meets the club’s nurse, Roz Harmison.

As Santi navigates his new life, he and teammate Jamie hit the town and unexpectedly run into Roz. During the month, a jealous teammate sabotages Santi during a reserve game, destroying his inhaler—an event that deteriorates his performance as he can’t catch his breath. As a consequence, he is released from the club. In a twist of fate, while heading to the airport in despair, Santi coincidentally shares a taxi with Gavin Harris, who encourages him to rejoin the team after learning of his misfortunes. With renewed determination, Santi returns to training and ultimately earns a spot on the first team, much to his surprise.

During his first major match against Fulham, Santi finds himself as a substitute due to several injuries among the first team players. When given the chance to play, he wins a crucial penalty that helps secure a victory for Newcastle. Meanwhile, his father watches from afar in the USA, filled with pride for his son, despite their earlier conflicts. Santi’s manager notes his flaw of not passing the ball, which becomes a pivotal issue for Santi. In an effort to connect with the team, he goes to St. James’ Park to experience the field for himself, but the manager dismisses him, insisting that he would have his chance to feel the thrill of playing during Newcastle’s final game against Liverpool.

Tragedy strikes when Santi’s father passes away from a heart attack just before the final match. Overwhelmed with grief yet determined to honor his father, Santi chooses to stay and play rather than return home. Adding to the emotional turmoil, his friend Jamie is injured and told by Roz that he may never play again.

In the climactic match against Liverpool, Newcastle initially takes the lead thanks to Harris’s goal. However, Liverpool stages a comeback, pushing ahead with two goals. In a moment of redemption, Santi assists Harris for the equalizer by passing the ball, demonstrating growth and addressing one of his biggest weaknesses. In the final moments of injury time, after Harris is fouled, he insists that Santi take the free kick. With tension building, Santi skillfully scores, securing a 3-2 victory for Newcastle. As the game concludes, Glen rushes to inform Santi that his grandmother is on the line, thrilled and proud of her grandson’s achievement. She reassures him that his father witnessed his debut match from afar. The film closes with a touching scene, as Roz blows kisses to Santi, who is now overcome with tears of joy, celebrating the realization of his dream amidst the triumphs and tribulations of his journey.