Football is a sport where passion and skill collide to create unforgettable moments. Every season we witness teams that rise above the rest, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. Every season we hear fans chanting, “We’re the best team ever seen in the world.”
Choosing the top football team in the world is hard, nearly impossible. People will always get upset when certain teams are left out, even if they play in a lower league. But we’re going to give it a try anyway.
Before we delve into the rankings of the top 20 best teams in the world, we should set some ground rules. Our opinion is based on the teams’ current form, achievements in recent seasons, and future potential. And yes, we know that winning the league in the Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga is not comparable to winning the Premier League and La Liga. But one Premier League team stands unmatched, dominating the league in the past couple of seasons.
Best Football Teams In The World – Rated by 5Times.co.uk
20. RB Leipzig
RB Leipzig, a relatively young club from Germany, has rapidly ascended through the ranks. Their dynamic and high-pressing style has earned them a strong reputation in European competitions. The Bundesliga team finished third on the table in the 22/23 season.
19. Brighton & Hove Albion
Brighton & Hove Albion FC, an English football team located in the city of Brighton and Hove, exceeded expectations this season. They qualified for European football for the first time in their history.
The club achieved one of its most remarkable performances in the league by finishing 6th.
18. Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur, a club based in North London, has made significant strides in recent years. With star striker Harry Kane, Tottenham’s attacking prowess has earned them a place among the top teams.
17. Juventus
Juventus, the dominant force in Italian football, has a rich history of success. The team combines tactical discipline, solid defense, and attacking prowess to maintain their position among the elite clubs in the world.
Yes, it’s a fact that their form struggled in recent seasons, failing to win the league in the past three seasons. But despite that the Old Lady deserves a spot in that table.
16. Sevilla Football Club
Sevilla FC, a Spanish club known for its success in the Europa League, consistently challenges the elite teams in La Liga.
Sevilla failed to perform on the expected level in the 22/23 season and finished 12th in the La Liga table. But they are real powerhouse when it comes to Europa League.
The club won their seventh Europa League title in 2023, making them the most successful team in the competiton history.
15. Paris Saint-Germain
PSG has risen to prominence in recent years, backed by significant investment and a star-studded roster.
PSG’s dominance in the French league is evident from their impressive record of eight Ligue 1 titles and 21 domestic cup trophies since 2013. No other team has exerted such prolonged control over their national league as PSG has over the past decade.
Despite the significant resources invested in the club and the presence of star players, PSG’s performance in European competitions has been below par.
Over the past decade, PSG has failed to reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in eight out of ten seasons. Even their run to the 2020 final was achieved through relatively favourable matches against Atalanta and RB Leipzig. That’s why PSG take the 14th place on our list.
14. Benfica
Benfica is a real powerhouse in the Portuguese Primeira Liga. The Portuguese club has won its 38th league title in 22/22 season.
They also had an impressive Champions League campaign, reaching the quarter-finals.
13. Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid, a club renowned for its defensive solidity and tactical prowess, consistently challenges the dominance of its Spanish counterparts. Under the guidance of Diego Simeone, Atlético boasts a resolute defense and a relentless work ethic that sets them apart.
The club has been consistent in La Liga, always securing a place in the Champions League. Their most recent win of the La Liga title came in the 2020/21 season.
12. Borussia Dortmund
Borussia Dortmund is one of the the top contenders of dethroning Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga. The German club is one of the best in the Bundesliga.
In the 2022/23 season, Dortmund was very close on winning their first league title since 2011/12 season, when they were led by Jurgen Klopp. The team came up short losing the title to Bayern Munish on goal difference. Everyone believed that this was the year when we finally get to see a new Bundesliga champion, but Bayern had different plans.
11. AC Milan
It’s not a surprise for anyone that AC Milan is part of this list. As one of the successful teams in Serie A, the club deserved its place among the best teams in world football.
AC Milan is the most successful Italian football team on the international stage. The Rossoneri hold an impressive record of seven victories in the European Cup and UEFA Champions League.
They last won the Scudetto in the 2021-2022 season. They are widely recognized as one of the top clubs in the world.
10. Liverpool
Liverpool FC had a disappointing campaign in the 2022/23 season. They were inconsistent year-round, but this doesn’t mean they should be completely discounted from the top rankings.
Liverpool’s squad has been plagued by significant injuries, which has undoubtedly impacted their performance.
In the past five years, Liverpool has reached three Champions League finals, emerged as Premier League champions in 2020, and secured two second-place finishes. The Reds is one of the best teams in the Premier League and its disappointing that we’re not going to see them in the Champions League.
9. Manchester United
This season, several top-tier teams across Europe have fallen short of expectations and the Red Devils is one of them.
United won the Carabao Cup in the 2022/23 season and secured a place in the top four of the table. But still the team disappointed with their performances. The Red Devils were way more inconsistent that we’re used to see.
Week after week, Erik ten Hag’s team is growing in confidence and developing their distinct footballing identity. Players like Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes have rediscovered their form, and Manchester United were contenders for the Premier League title. But then a drop in form happened and they were battling for a place in top four.
8. Newcastle United
Newcastle United was the surprise of the season. The Magpies definitely stunned the world with their amazing performances week in week out.
No one expected Newcastle to be such a force in the Premier League in the past campaign. Eddie Howe team secured European football for the first time in 20 years. They finished above teams like Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur.
7. Inter Milan
Inter Milan, a club with a storied history, has experienced a resurgence in recent years. The difficult period from a decade ago is now a thing of the past, and they have once again claimed their position at the top of Serie A.
Inter Milan secured the Serie A title in 2021 and have maintained a consistent performance. They also clinched the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italia last year, further solidifying their position as a formidable team. The Nerazzurri finished third in the 2022 /23 season.
Inter Milan has managed to establish a sense of stability and success in the upper ranks of Italian football, which cannot be taken for granted considering the inconsistent form of AC Milan, the struggles of Juventus, the constant threat posed by Atalanta, and the presence of Jose Mourinho at Roma.
6. Arsenal
Arsenal is one of the most successful teams in the Premier League despite the past several years were difficult for them.
If we have to be fair, Arsenal deserves a place on our list thanks to their performance in the 2022/23 season. Throughout most of 2022, the Gunners showcased remarkable form with a young and promising team under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.
Their performance during the first half of the season earned them the fifth-highest points tally in Premier League history. Leading the charge were rising stars Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and William Saliba.
While some may argue that Arsenal has yet to secure any major trophies and cannot be considered among the elite, it is important to note that competing at the top end of the Premier League requires a lot of exceptional talent. Arsenal’s progress this season is worth acknowledging.
5. Napoli
Napoli is an Italian club with a passionate fanbase that consistently competes at the highest level. With each passing season, they have climbed the ranks of Serie A, showcasing their class.
The past couple of seasons were not so great for the Gli Azzurri. In 2020, Napoli finished in seventh place, followed by a notable improvement to fifth in 2021.
In the 2022/23 season, Napoli won their first Serie A title since the 1989/90 season. After 33 years of wait, the Coppa Campioni d’Italia was finally brought to Maradona’s beloved team.
Their success doesn’t end there, as they conquered a challenging Champions League group. The group featured formidable opponents like Liverpool, Ajax, and Rangers.
4. Real Madrid
Real Madrid, the Spanish giant, still holds the reputation as the most formidable opponent in European football, with four trophy wins since 2016. To put it into perspective, only six teams have claimed four or more trophies since the birth of the European Cup in 1956.
However, this year Real Madrid didn’t perform at the level, everyone expected them to do.
Karim Benzema, the latest Ballon d’Or winner, netted 18 goals this season, but that wasn’t enough to secure the title. Now Real needs to look for a new striker, as the Frenchman joined Al-Ittihad Club.
Luka Modric continues to rule the midfield, despite his gradually decreasing involvement. Fans are eager to see new additions to the squad. Emerging talents like Vinicius Jr, Eduardo Camavinga, and Aurelien Tchouameni are poised to ensure Real Madrid’s triumphs continue into the foreseeable future.
Real failed to perform to the highest level both in the domestic league and the Champions League this season. In the semi-final, they faced Pep Guardiola Man City, and the Citizens completely destroyed the Spanish giant.
3. Barcelona
Barcelona was in decline for a couple of years. After the Messi era was over, the club went into crisis but is now back on its feet.
Yes, the Catalan club has some financial difficulties, but we’re not going to focus our attention there. Their performances on the field speak for themselves and give every fan hope.
With the likes of rising stars like Pedri and Gavi and experienced players like Robert Lewandowski, Barca looks more stable than ever.
Xavi has done a great job at the club and led Barcelona to their first La Liga title since 2018/19. Even though Barcelona hasn’t done as well in Europe since Lionel Messi left, they’re still a strong team.
2. Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich achieved something that not many football clubs have achieved – winning 10 Bundesliga titles in a row. The club is definitely one of the best clubs in football history.
Despite their best efforts, teams like Dortmund and RB Leipzig have been unable to challenge this dominance. Bayern cemented themselves as a powerhouse in the Bundesliga.
Some might suggest, much like in the case of PSG, that the comparative weakness of their league could diminish their achievement. But, the Champions League performance plays a crucial role in assessing their true mettle.
Bayern has made it to the semi-finals in eight out of the last 13 seasons, making it to the finals four times and clinching the Champions League trophy two times. They’ve advanced to the knockout stages in all these seasons, suffering only two losses in the Round of 16 stage. Without a doubt, they are a heavy hitter on the European stage.
1. Manchester City – The Best Football Club In The World in 2023
Speaking about the best football club in the world at the moment, we just can’t think of a better team than Manchester City.
Led by the world’s finest coach, Pep Guardiola, Man City were unparalleled in any way this season. The club has built a reputation as one of the most successful clubs in the history of English football. The signing of the season for City was, without a doubt, Erling Haaland.
With Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne in your team, it’s a recipe for success. The Norway star broke the Premier League record for most goals in a season, with 36 goals.
The 2022/23 season hasn’t been entirely smooth sailing for City, but they managed to take back control and won the league title for third time in a row. The Citizens also won the FA Cup after a 2-1 win against Manchester United.
City has established itself as a dominant force in the world’s highest-quality league. Their continuous evolution in their playing style indicates that they are likely to remain at the pinnacle for a considerable time.
The only criticism against City is their lack of a Champions League trophy, which soon might be forgotten. Guardiola’s team reached the Champions League final in 2023 with ease. They completely destroyed Real Madrid in the semi-final, securing their spot against Inter.
