Ronaldo: A Superhero Origin Story

On May 1st 1986, 51 days before he became the most infamous footballer on the planet with his two goals against England in the World Cup, Diego Maradona arrived in London to play in a testimonial match for Ossie Ardiles. White Hart Lane was rammed for a night of pure joy. This episode was executively produced by Owen Blackhurst, Tayo Popoola, and Seb White. Produced by James Bird and Joel Grove. Story editing by Matt Nelson from Gimlet. Original music composed by Harry Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The economics have demanded that top flight football returns as Covid-19 continues to wreak havoc, but for this special episode we went down the leagues to investigate what happens to a semi-professional club that had its season derailed. It’s a story of community, crisis, hope, human spirit and a fear of the unknown at a club nicknamed The Beavers. They’re managed by a taxi driver, their ground is a mismatched work of art, they've lost all revenue, and their fans are lost without them. For this episode, we teamed up with Gimlet’s We Came to Win, and you can hear their story straight after ours. It’s called The Biological Bomb, and is a chilling look at the origins of a pandemic. GIANT is a Spotify Original made in association with Mundial Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1996, against a backdrop of socio-political instability, and with the country an international pariah, Nigeria travelled to the USA and spent three weeks shaking up the world. It's the story of how the Golden Generation fulfilled their potential by becoming the first African team to win Olympic gold, how that win gave the suffering population at home hope, and how that legacy was eventually squandered by administrative incompetence. It's full of ridiculous goals, brilliant players, and a coach who helped make it all possible. GIANT is a Spotify Original in association with Mundial. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Between 1996 and 2005, Arsenal and Manchester United played each other 29 times, and there was always something on it. The managers rowed in the press, the players fought on the pitch, and the fans lapped it up. It was a rival based on animosity, success and, when the dust had settled, respect. For nine seasons it was absolute mayhem, two clubs swapping first and second place and stopping each other winning trophies. Two teams who combined silk and steel, containing some of the greatest players in recent history, and the two best managers the Premier League has seen. Giant is a Spotify Original podcast in association with Mundial Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2002, an independent committee appointed by the FA voted 2-1 in favour of Wimbledon Football Club being moved to Milton Keynes, and a club died. But only momentarily. A group of fans got together and formed a new club instantly, and AFC Wimbledon was born. This is a story of defiance, and struggle, and hope and glorious redemption. The club are now back in the league structure, have announced a new stadium, and are finally going home. We met the fans and ex-players to give us the tale of how the real dons came back stronger. Giant is a Spotify Original podcast in association with Mundial Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The MLS has never been in better health. Atlanta United averaged over 50,000 fans a game last season, the fan culture across the country is celebrated and vibrant, and the quality on pitch is higher than ever before. But we wanted to find out what happened back in 1996, the year the league launched on the back of the success of the 1994 World Cup, so we went from coast to coast to meet fans, administrators and the marquee players to give you the inside story on the birth of the fastest growing league in the world. Giant is a Spotify Original podcast in association with Mundial Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The 2019 Women’s World Cup is the biggest yet, and we're charting the progression of the tournament by speaking to one player from each of the previous seven. What we got was much more than that. Stories of superhuman effort, childbirth, pressure, and success without support. The stories of seven incredible individuals that illuminate the friction that exists between being both a woman, and a footballer. Giant is a Spotify Original podcast in association with Mundial Magazine. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1994, long before he shook up the world with Barcelona, Brazil, Inter Milan and Real Madrid, Ronaldo was just a 17-year-old kid who swapped Rio for Eindhoven to play for PSV. We travelled to the south of Holland to talk to fans, journalists, former teammates, and the coaches who scouted him to bring you the origin story of the greatest striker of his era. GIANT is a  Spotify Original podcast in association with Mundial Magazine.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

GIANT is a series devoted to the football stories that matter, told to you by the people who were there. Launches on 20th June.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices