Which is the world’s best football team?

Taking into account current form, performances, achievements as well as history and heritage, it is fair to say that Liverpool are the world’s best football team right now. They are just a point behind Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table and have also qualified for the Champions League final where they will face another European giant in Real Madrid.

Clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona also have tremendous prestige and have dominated European football like nothing else. Some of the greatest footballers in the history of the sport have played for these two clubs.

In England, Liverpool find company from the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City. Although record-winners Manchester United are no longer the formidable challengers they once were, they continue to have a major foothold in global football.

The Champions League is easily regarded as the second biggest achievement in world football after the FIFA World Cup. As a result, every club and player wishes to lift the prestigious trophy. Champions League success gives us a fair idea of how great a club actually is. League successes also paint a strong picture of year-long dominance and consistency.

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Without further ado, let’s take a look at which sides can be considered in the list of the world’s best football team.

World’s best football team: Top 10 list

Liverpool | Premier League

As Liverpool’s historic bid for the quadruple goes strong, it is hard to find a more in-form side among European football teams than Jurgen Klopp’s men. Not only are Liverpool a world-class side filled with players perfectly suited to their positions under a wonderful manager, they also have plenty of mental fortitude and resilience which helps them bounce back from difficult situations.

Liverpool are currently hot on the heels of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, trailing them by just one point. They have also booked their spot in the final of the UEFA Champions League against Real Madrid and this will be their third final in five years. The Reds will also face Chelsea in the FA Cup final on May 14.

Liverpool also have a rich history and pedigree in Europe. They have won the Premier League 19 times, second only to Manchester United’s 20 titles. They have also won the European Cup (known as the UEFA Champions League since 1992) on six occasions. Liverpool are also seven-time FA Cup winners, and have also won the UEFA Cup thrice. They won the FIFA Club World Cup for the first time in 2019.

Manchester City | Premier League

Manchester City may have lost the UEFA Champions League semi-final second leg against Real Madrid in horrific fashion at the Santiago Bernabeu, but it can do little to discredit their general dominance all season. The defending Premier League champions continue to lead the top-flight standings and have a one-point lead over Liverpool.

Besides Bayern Munich and PSG, Manchester City have found success most consistently in their respective domestic league. City’s credentials are even bigger given that they have to battle the likes of Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur to win the league.

Manchester City have one of the most expensive and best squads in Europe. Pep Guardiola has genuinely world-class players almost across all positions and their depth and bench strength are also enviable.

Speaking of history and heritage, Manchester City are very much a recent success story. It was only after their takeover by Abu Dhabi Group in 2008, that City have been able to compete with their peers in club football. Despite their competitiveness, Manchester City are yet to win the prestigious UEFA Champions League. They qualified for the final of the Europe’s most premier competition last season but ended up losing to Premier League rivals Chelsea by a single goal.

Bayern Munich | Bundesliga

With 10 consecutive Bundesliga titles, five DFB Pokals, and two Champions League trophies over the last decade, Bayern Munich are a perennial and consistent force in world football. Few sides have been as dominant in their leagues as Bayern Munich. Calling the Bundesliga a monopoly will not be an injustice given that Bayern have been German champions a historic 32 times.

Bayern Munich currently have an extremely strong and consistent squad led by Robert Lewandowski who is one of the best players in the world. In Julian Nagelsmann, they also have a young and energetic coach who is hungry for success. Bayern may have fallen short to Villarreal and suffered a shocking exit from the Champions League this season, but expect them to be a formidable force once again next season.

Real Madrid | La Liga

Real Madrid are arguably the biggest football team of all time. They are the only club to win FIFA’s Club of the Century award and no side has won more Champions League titles than Real Madrid in history. Los Blancos are gunning for their 14th title, having defeated the likes of PSG, Chelsea, and Manchester City in stunning style in their own backyard Santiago Bernabeu this season.

Despite not possessing as many superstars as previous Madrid sides, Carlo Ancelotti’s unit has mastered the art of making impossible comebacks. They have also won La Liga this season and have won the Spanish league a record 35 times!

Karim Benzema has been the best player in the world this year and he has been as decisive as the word gets for the Spanish champions. Meanwhile, Luka Modric has cemented his status as one of the finest midfielders of all time and despite being 36, he continues to age like fine wine on the grandest stage of all.

Real Madrid have also had a plethora of superstars playing for them over the years. Raul, Iker Casillas, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Sergio Ramos, Paco Gento, Ferenc Puskas, Alfredo Di Stefano, Ronaldo, and Roberto Carlos are some of the most illustrious names to have worn the famous white jersey over the years.

Chelsea | Premier League

Last season’s UEFA Champions League winners, Chelsea have had a bit of a topsy-turvy campaign. They’ve done well under Thomas Tuchel on the pitch and are third in the Premier League table, behind favourites Manchester City and Liverpool. Chelsea also crashed out of Europe after being on the receiving end of a Real Madrid comeback.

Chelsea have also been hit hard off the pitch with the UK government sanctioning the club because of Russian owner Roman Abramovich following Vladimir Putin’s blatant aggression on Ukraine. Abramovich has, since then, severed ties with the club and Chelsea are currently in the process of being sold to a new bidder.

The Blues have won two Champions League titles over the last decade and have also won two Premier League titles during that period. Much of their success has been attained since the club was taken over by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich in 2003 and they have been a consistent force ever since.

Barcelona | La Liga

FC Barcelona are one of the biggest clubs in the history of European football. The Barcelona team between 2008-2012 managed by Pep Guardiola has strong claims of being the greatest club that the sport of football has ever seen. The football that they played during that period led by the magnificent trio of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi forms much of the basis of modern football and every team in the world has tried to emulate it to some extent.

Although they have been a far shadow of their former selves over the last few years, things are looking upward for the club following the arrival of Xavi as manager. Defeating eventual champions Real Madrid 0-4 at the Santiago Bernabeu was the highlight of their season and Barcelona are gearing up for a strong summer.

They will, of course, have to bear the complications brought about by the massive debt they incurred from the previous board. It was also the reason why they had to part ways with their greatest player Lionel Messi last year.

Barcelona have won five Champions League titles and have also won La Liga on 26 occasions. Some of the greatest players in history Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Ronaldinho, Romario, and Johan Cruyff have played for them.

Paris Saint Germain | Ligue 1

Pairs Saint Germain have climbed to the upper echelons of world football following their Qatar Sports Investments takeover in 2011. They are the richest club in France and flexing their financial muscle has allowed them to find consistent success in the domestic league over the last decade. They are also one of the wealthiest clubs in the world and hold the record for the two most expensive transfers in world football – Neymar and Kylian Mbappe signed for 222 million euros and 180 million euros respectively.

PSG also signed Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos on free contracts last summer and despite the hype, they haven’t been able to click under head coach Mauricio Pochettino this season. PSG collapsed in spectacular style and conceded three late goals against Real Madrid to crash out of the Champions League. Although they have reclaimed the Ligue 1 title this season, it is the bare minimum given their extraordinary squad compared to the rest of the league.

PSG have won the Ligue 1 crown 10 times (a joint record in France with Saint Etienne), with eight victories arriving over the last decade. They are yet to taste success in the Champions League and are desperate for it.

Inter Milan | Serie A

The departures of Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku threatened to derail Inter Milan who rose from anonymity to the top to conquer Serie A last season. However, they have gone from strength to strength under head coach Simone Inzaghi this season and are involved in a heated fight for the Scudetto along with neighbours and arch-rivals AC Milan.

Inter Milan have won 19 Serie A titles and three Champions League trophies. The pinnacle of their success was when they won the prestigious treble under Jose Mourinho in 2009-10.

Ajax | Eredivisie

Although Ajax cannot compete with the European behemoths from a financial perspective anymore, they are one of the most renowned and prestigious clubs in history. The likes of Johan Cruyff, Rinus Michels, Marco Van Basten, Frank Rijkaard, Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Neeskens, Clarence Seedorf, Patrick Kluivert, Luis Suarez, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Michael Laudrup have all played here with distinction and have helped Ajax leave a mark on world football. They have won the Champions League on four different occasions.

Under Erik ten Hag, the famed Dutch side enjoyed a stellar run in the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19 but suffered a major heartbreak in the semi-final against Tottenham. They also won the league title over the last three seasons and are on course to win again this year.

Being in the less prestigious Dutch league, Ajax, unfortunately, have a lower ceiling than most teams on this list, but they remain a jewel in European football.

Manchester United | Premier League

While you could say that, Manchester United haven’t been a world-class side since Sir Alex Ferguson left, their history, legacy, appeal and fanbase continue to make them one of the biggest football teams in the world. Despite the nostalgic return of Cristiano Ronaldo back to Old Trafford this season, United have continued on their downward decline and are expected to miss the Champions League once again.

Manchester United sacked Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, brought in Ralf Rangnick as an interim coach and then appointed Ajax boss Erik ten Hag to take over as head coach from next summer. It has been a season of several ups and downs for United who are still trying to find their feet among the European elite.

They are the most successful club in England with 20 titles, however. The Red Devils have also lifted the Champions League on three occasions.

FAQs

Which countries have the best football teams in the world?

England (Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea) and Spain (Real Madrid, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid) have the best football teams in the world.

Which are the best teams in the UEFA Champions League?

As far as history and heritage are concerned, Real Madrid (13 titles), AC Milan (7 titles), Liverpool (6 titles), Bayern Munich (6 titles), and Barcelona (5 titles) are the best teams in the UEFA Champions League.

Which country has the best national team?

The national teams of Brazil, France, Germany, Spain, and Argentina are believed to be the strongest in world football.