Neymar Jr. is about to be DAZN-ing…
DAZN is expanding its behind-the-scenes series The Making Of, with the 27-year-old soccer star one of the subjects, setting the unprecedented launch across all nine of its global streaming markets on August 9 of a new soccer-themed installment.
The nine-part original series relives the significant games that helped define soccer’s greatest figures. Neymar Jr., Cristiano Ronaldo, and legendary football manager José Mourinhoheadline the show.
Each 25-minute installment is dedicated to a particular match. Each of the three figures recounts three meaningful matches, recalling the emotion of the night and the impact it had on their careers and lives. Surrounding those centerpiece interviews are those with other players who were involved in the games, among them John O’Shea, Rafael Alcántara, Fernando Santos, Roberto Carlosand Julio Cesar. Journalists who covered the games and fans who were in the stadium join the reminiscences.
Moments explored in the show will include Ronaldo playing for Sporting Lisbonagainst Manchester Unitedin 2003, just as he began his rise to the top of the sport. Mourinho looks back on his legendary Champions Leaguevictory over Manchester United with Portoin 2004, which had him sprinting down the touchline at Old Traffordin celebration. Neymar Jr. also recounts his stunning performance for Santos against Flamengoin 2011, when he scored that year’s Puskasaward-winning goal.
The Making Of is the first global series produced by DAZN. It follows MotoGP documentary series In Our Blood, the documentary film Being Mario Götze, three-part documentary series Canelo vs. Rockyand most recently, 40 Days.
DAZN, which has expanded from its European origins, is an all-streaming sports player with a sizable war chest. It’s now available in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, Japan and Brazil. Under the aegis of executive chairman John Skipper, who had a long stint at ESPNand left as president of the Disney-owned network in 2017, the company has continued to buy rights to major sports. It has also been supplementing live coverage with an array of originals designed to give viewers up-close insights.
“In the world of sport, live and non-live content goes hand in hand,” Chief Revenue Officer James Rushtonsaid. “Our original programming strategy is about creating iconic content that complements our extensive premium live-sport offering and engages viewers to bring them closer to the sport and athletes they love. It’s about driving engagement, retention and mass brand awareness around the biggest sporting cultural moments.”
Soccer “is a sport full of inspiring stories, powered by superhuman emotion, sacrifice and ecstasy,” added Grant Best, DAZN’s SVP of Original Programming & Content Development. “Our access to these global football icons enabled us to intimately spend time reliving what they feel are some of the greatest moments in their football history, from their perspective, which is incredibly powerful, moving and enlightening. Our original content aims to engage fans and bring them closer to the sports they love, which The Making Of captures beautifully.”
The Making Of is a DAZN Originals production in association with Archer’s Mark, a UK-based creative production company, executive produced by Grant Best, SVP Original Programming and Content Development, DAZN, with Toby Burnettas Executive Creative Director. The series is directed by Dan Rileyand produced by Ian Henderson.