The Hulu docuseries “Kun by Aguero” offers an intimate portrait of Argentine football player Sergio “Kun” Agüero. A name that resonates with the thunder of stadium roars and the finesse of a master goalscorer, Agüero is set to be re-examined in a new light. The Argentine forward, celebrated for his prolific career at clubs like Manchester City and with the Argentine national team, is the subject of the docuseries, “Kun by Aguero”. Premiering on Hulu in the United States and Disney+ internationally, the four-episode series aims to pull back the curtain on a life lived under the intense glare of global football. While sports documentaries often tread the familiar path of on-field triumphs and setbacks, “Kun by Aguero” signals a more intimate and potentially raw exploration. Furthermore, its world premiere at the prestigious CANNESERIES festival before its streaming release indicates confidence in its cinematic merit and narrative depth, aspiring to critical recognition that transcends a purely sports-focused audience. This series appears poised to distinguish itself by delving into the complex, formative, and reportedly challenging relationship with his father, Leonel del Castillo, offering a fresh perspective on the man behind the legend.
More Than Goals: What “Kun by Aguero” Promises Viewers
The docuseries is set to provide a comprehensive account of Agüero’s life, tracing his journey from humble beginnings in Argentina to his most recent successes. It will also cover his contributions to the Argentine national team, his brief stint at Barcelona, and the abrupt, medically necessary end to his playing career due to a cardiac arrhythmia. To paint this multifaceted portrait, the series will feature exclusive interviews with a roster of individuals who played pivotal roles in Agüero’s trajectory. These include football luminaries such as Lionel Messi, his lifelong friend and national teammate; Pep Guardiola, his celebrated manager at Manchester City; former teammate Nicolás Otamendi; and prominent Spanish streamer Ibai Llanos. The narrative explicitly promises to explore the “difficulties he went through” and the “challenging” junctures of his professional and personal life, indicating that the docuseries will not shy away from complexities and will offer more than just a highlight reel. The production’s strong Argentine roots, evident in its country of origin and the use of Spanish in promotional materials and discussions, further suggest an authentic cultural perspective.
The Hidden Kun: Agüero’s Voice, Webster’s Vision, and Archival Depth
A cornerstone of “Kun by Aguero” is its commitment to telling the story “in the protagonist’s own voice.” This direct narrative approach, ensuring Agüero’s personal “reflections and revelations,” offers a powerful sense of intimacy. While such subjectivity can sometimes lead to a curated self-portrait, the guiding hand of director Justin Webster may provide a counterbalance. Webster is renowned for his vérité-style, observational, and character-driven documentaries, including acclaimed works such as “FC Barcelona Confidential,” “Six Dreams,” and “Nisman: The Prosecutor, the President and the Spy.” His established filmmaking philosophy, which holds that “real stories, told with craft but without invention, can be as dramatic, creative and revealing as fiction,” suggests an ambition for an immersive and candid portrayal rather than a hagiography. Webster’s method often involves extensive filming, allowing subjects to become comfortable enough to disregard the camera, thus capturing “real scenes.” He has previously stated that for him, “the message of the film was the style. You see what you think you know, but you don’t really know it until you see it.” Adding another layer of anticipated revelation is the promise of “never-before-seen archival material” and “unpublished archives.”
The Defining Echo – Agüero, His Father, and the Untold Truths
The most significant element setting “Kun by Aguero” apart from standard sports biographies appears to be its unwavering focus on the footballer’s relationship with his father, Leonel del Castillo. This dynamic is repeatedly noted as “difficult,” “complex,” and “conflicted.” Agüero recounts his father telling him, “He told me he was better than me playing, but that he didn’t have the luck I had.” This statement alone reveals a layer of comparison and perhaps a quality of belittlement in his father’s view of his success. Leonel del Castillo himself reportedly admits in the series, “I never told him he was good,” a stark confession of withheld praise. The pressure Agüero felt is palpable in his recollection: “My old man always appeared. Sometimes, I would lose a game and couldn’t talk to him because he was angry. All the time in my head it was ‘I have to win’.” This constant need for victory was compounded by his father’s demanding standards; Agüero described his father as “quite strict,” noting that even after a good performance, “he always looked for something to make me feel bad.” Leonel’s justification for this approach was that “it was because he saw that I could give more than I was giving.” Financial aspects also seem to have been a point of contention. Agüero mentions, “Over time, I realized that from all those clubs where I played, my father received some money.” Leonel, in turn, is quoted as saying, “I always took care of his money. I made him earn more than the agents were making him earn.” His mother, Adriana, reveals, “When he retired from football, he was waiting for his father for the farewell.” Leonel’s reported response to his absence was, “And if he was looking for me, he would have called me earlier.” This exchange underscores a deep and painful disconnect.
Navigating Stardom, Setbacks, and the Self
Beyond the foundational father-son dynamic, “Kun by Aguero” will navigate the broader arc of his brilliant career, including the immense pressures of stardom and the profound impact of its premature end. The docuseries devotes considerable time to the dramatic circumstances surrounding his forced retirement due to a cardiac arrhythmia. The emotional toll of this event, particularly as it unfolded shortly after his move to FC Barcelona with the long-held hope of playing alongside Lionel Messi, is expected to be a key focus. The severity of his condition was starkly underscored by his doctor’s reported advice: “If you were my son, I would tell you not to play again.” This sequence – the dream signing, Messi’s own unexpected departure from Barcelona due to financial issues, quickly followed by the diagnosis that ended Agüero’s career – provides inherently cinematic and tragic material, ripe for exploring themes like fate, profound disappointment, and the subsequent journey towards resilience. Agüero’s characteristic fighting spirit shines through even in this, with his comment, “My last goal was against Real Madrid, which isn’t bad,” showing an attempt to find a silver lining. In stark contrast to the complexities of his paternal relationship, the deep and enduring friendship with Lionel Messi is presented as a significant source of support and camaraderie. Agüero himself states, “With Messi, we were always together, for better or worse.” Messi reciprocates this sentiment, revealing, “We had a lot of trust, we started telling each other everything, each other’s personal things.” This bond likely serves as an emotional anchor throughout the narrative. The series also explores Agüero’s life beyond the pitch, detailing his “remarkable ability to adapt and reinvent himself.” This includes his forays into the world of esports with KRÜ Esports, a successful organization he co-founded with Messi, his popular presence as a streamer, and even an unexpected venture into competitive motor racing. This focus on his post-football pursuits offers a modern perspective on an athlete’s second act, highlighting a successful pivot to digital domain and entrepreneurial endeavors, rather than solely traditional paths like coaching or sports commentary. It showcases his continued relevance and ability to connect with a new generation.
Beyond the Touchlines
“Kun by Aguero” attempts to go beyond simply chronicling a historic football career; it promises a deeply human story exploring themes of family, immense pressure, identity construction under public scrutiny, resilience in the face of unforeseen adversity, and the challenging yet vital process of reinvention. The exploration of parental influence, the universal quest for approval, the emotional impact of life-altering changes, and the courage required to share one’s vulnerabilities are themes that extend far beyond the confines of the football pitch. As “Kun by Aguero” premieres on May 7, 2025, on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ internationally, viewers are invited to witness a familiar global icon in a potentially unfamiliar and profoundly personal light.
Where to watch “Kun by Aguero” depending on your location
