Slumdog Million-Dollar Star

To buy a pair of soccer shoes, Martin, a teenager from a Brazilian slum, steals a gangster's fighting dog with his best friend Fer to enter it in an illegal betting match. But when the dog dies unexpectedly, they are left with a huge debt. To pay it off, Martin—hiding the truth from his father who despises football—enters a prize-money tournament. With his outstanding talent, he leads his team to victory. At that moment, scout Ange invites him to try out for a club in the capital. But Martin's early days in professional football are filled with setbacks—until Falma, a lame groundskeeper teaches him how to blend samba rhythm into his play and improve dramatically. Falma himself once had his World Cup dreams shattered by injury. In the final World Cup qualifier game where their team is on brink of defeat; Martin comes off bench and weaves past several defenders equalizing score then seals victory with breathtaking bicycle kick securing place in national squad not only transforming own fate but also fulfills Falma’s thirty-year-old dream of playing at World cup.

To buy a pair of soccer shoes, Martin, a teenager from a Brazilian slum, steals a gangster's fighting dog with his best friend Fer to enter it in an illegal betting match. But when the dog dies unexpectedly, they are left with a huge debt. To pay it off, Martin—hiding the truth from his father who despises football—enters a prize-money tournament. With his outstanding talent, he leads his team to victory. At that moment, scout Ange invites him to try out for a club in the capital. But Martin's early days in professional football are filled with setbacks—until Falma, a lame groundskeeper teaches him how to blend samba rhythm into his play and improve dramatically. Falma himself once had his World Cup dreams shattered by injury. In the final World Cup qualifier game where their team is on brink of defeat; Martin comes off bench and weaves past several defenders equalizing score then seals victory with breathtaking bicycle kick securing place in national squad not only transforming own fate but also fulfills Falma’s thirty-year-old dream of playing at World cup.