Top 30 best football teams in the world right now (2024 update)

Since the 20th century began, many European and South American football teams have emerged from obscurity to dominance. The world has seen players with a great array of skills and a high degree of fitness join and leave the sport. Discover the 25 best football teams in the world right now below.

The late Brazilian player Pele said, "The history of football is replete with teams that have demonstrated the enthusiasm and artistry of "the beautiful game." The best football teams in the world have won at least one trophy. Their players efficiently endure stiff competition.

What are the best football teams in the world?

Below are the 25 best football teams in the world. For years, they have maintained top positions in the highly competitive national, intercontinental, and global leagues.

25. West Ham United

• Second Division / Championship (level 2) wins: 2
• FA Cup wins: 3
• FA Community Shield / FA Charity Shield wins: 1
• European Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Europa Conference League wins: 1
• UEFA Intertoto Cup wins: 1

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The West Ham United FC competes in the Premier League, the top tier of English football. They have had 17 permanent managers in their history and an additional three caretaker managers. The club now plays at the London Stadium, having moved from their former home, the Boleyn Ground, in 2016.

24. Benfica

• Primeira Liga wins: 38
• Taça de Portugal wins: 26
• Taça da Liga wins: 7
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira wins: 9
• Campeonato de Portugal wins: 3
• European Cup (now the UEFA Champions League) wins: 2
• Latin Cup wins: 1

Soccer club Sport Lisboa e Benfica competes in the Primeira Liga, a top-flight of Portuguese football league. With 38 Primeira Liga trophies and Taça de Portugal titles, SL Benfica is the most decorated club in Portugal. In addition, Benfica is the only Portuguese team to have become back-to-back European champions.

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23. New Castle

• First Division / Premier League (level 1) wins: 4
• Second Division / First Division / Championship (level 2) wins: 4
• FA Cup wins: 6
• FA Charity Shield wins: 1
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup wins: 1

English football club New Castle competes in the Premier League. They have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times, and have won many more major and minor titles. Also, the team has played in England's top league in the second tier at all other times.

22. Athletic Club

• La Liga wins: 8
• Copa del Rey wins: 23
• Supercopa de España wins: 3
• Copa Eva Duarte wins: 1
• Copa de la Coronación wins: 1

Spanish club Athletic Bilbao is known as Los Leones (The Lions) because their stadium is near the San Mamés church, named after Saint Mammes, an early Christian the Romans threw to the lions. Its home colors are red and white striped shirts with black shorts.

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21. SSC Napoli

• Serie A wins: 3
• Serie B wins: 2
• Serie C wins: 1
• Coppa Italia wins: 6
• Supercoppa Italiana wins: 2
• UEFA Cup wins: 1

Società Sportiva Calcio Napoli is an Italian football club. They are the reigning Champions of Italy, having won the Serie A title in the 2022/23 season. By attendance, this club has the fourth-largest fan base in Italy. Also, it is among the top five highest-earning football clubs in Serie A. So far, SSC Napoli has won three Serie A titles, six Coppa Italia titles, two Supercoppa Italiana titles, and one UEFA Cup.

20. AC Milan

• Serie A wins: 19
• Serie B wins: 2
• Coppa Italia wins: 5
• Supercup wins: 7
• Trofeo Silvio Berlusconi wins: 1
• UEFA Champions League wins: 7
• UEFA Supercup wins: 5
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 1
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 3
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 2

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Due to its triumphs in top leagues like the European Cup and the UEFA Champions League, Italian football team AC Milan has become one of the most successful clubs on the international level. The acronym AC stands for Associazione Calcio, which can be translated as "kicking club" in English. AC Milan is also considered one of the best clubs in the world because it has produced many legendary footballers over the years.

19. Brighton & Hove Albion FC

• FA Cup Runners-up: 1
• FA Charity Shield Winners: 1
• Sussex Senior Challenge Cup wins: 15
• The Sussex Royal Ulster Rifles Charity Cup wins: 2
• Third Division South//League One Champions (Tier 3): 3
• Fourth Division/Third Division Champions (Tier 4): 2
• Southern League Champions: 1

Brighton & Hove Albion FC has competed in many categories, including the English Premier League. The English team is based in the city of Brighton and Hove. Brighton FC finished 9th in the EPL and experienced one of their most outstanding performances in the league.

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18. Villareal FC

• Tercera División wins: 1
• UEFA Europa League wins: 1
• UEFA Intertoto Cup wins: 2

Villarreal Club de Fútbol is a Spanish professional football club. Fans have nicknamed it the "Yellow Submarine" because of the team's yellow uniform. Villarreal FC reached the semifinals against Arsenal in the 2005–2006 Champions League. Also, they finished as Premier League runners-up in 2022 in a match against Real Madrid.

17. Arsenal

• First Division (until 1992) and Premier League wins: 13
• FA Cup wins: 14
• Football League Cup/EFL Cup wins: 2
• FA Community Shield wins: 17
• Continental Inter-Cities Fairs Cup wins: 1
• European Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• Mercantile Credit Centenary wins: 1
• Southern Professional Floodlit Cup wins: 1
• Kent Senior Cup wins: 1
• London Charity Cup wins: 1
• London Challenge Cup wins: 11
• London Senior Cup wins: 1
• Inter-Cities Fairs Cup wins: 1

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With 48 major trophies in Arsenal FC's lustrous history, this is undoubtedly one of the best football teams in the world. Workers from the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory formed this football team in late 1886 and called themselves the Dial Square about the sundial atop the factory's entrance. Arsenal has celebrated many achievements, including being the first and only British team to defeat Inter Milan and AC Milan at Real Madrid and San Siro.

16. Atlético Madrid

• La Liga wins: 11
• Europa League wins: 3
• Copa Del Rey wins: 10
• Segunda wins: 1
• Supercopa wins: 3
• UEFA Supercup wins: 3
• Intercontinental wins: 1
• Cup Winners Cup wins: 1
• Copa Eva Duarte wins: 1
• Copa Presidente Fef wins: 1
• Audi Cup wins: 1
• Trofeo Carranza Laliga World wins: 11
• Trofeo Colombino wins: 6
• Teresa Herrera Trophy wins: 6
• Memorial Carlos Lapetra wins: 1
• Trofeo Ciutat De Palma wins: 1
• Orange Trophy wins: 1

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Regarding UEFA competition titles, Atlético Madrid is Spain’s 3rd most successful club behind Futbol Club Barcelona and Real Madrid. When comparing Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid, both have played 62 Games since 2003. Real Madrid won 30 games (Total Goals 97, PPG 1.6), while Atlético Madrid has won 12 (Total Goals 62, PPG 1.0) and drew 20. In terms of titles, Atlético Madrid is the fourth most successful club in Spanish football, behind Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Athletic Bilbao.

15. Borussia Dortmund

• European Cup/Champions League wins: 1
• German Championship/Bundesliga wins: 8
• Dfb Pokal wins: 5
• Supercup wins: 6
• Intercontinental wins: 1
• Oberliga wins: 6
• Cup Winners Cup wins: 1
• Costa Del Sol Trophy wins: 1
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1

Bayern and Borussia Dortmund have been Germany's top teams for the longest time. The two have dominated the German top division for years. Also, Borussia Dortmund is one of the most successful clubs among the 57 teams that have had the honor of competing in the Bundesliga throughout the league's history of over 60 years. The average attendance for games played by the North Rhine-Westphalian Giants is 81,178. Meanwhile, their Signal Iduna Park stadium holds around 25,000 people.

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14. RB Salzburg

• Austrian Bundesliga wins: 17
• Austrian Cup wins: 9
• Austrian Supercup wins: 3
• Austrian First League wins: 2
• UEFA Youth League wins: 1
• The Atlantic Cup wins: 1

FC Red Bull Salzburg has a distinguished past in the football world. For this reason, they have established themselves as one of the most successful teams in Austrian football. They have won many trophies, including 17 Austrian Bundesliga championships, and been UEFA Cup runners-up once during the 1993/94 season. What's more, FC Salzburg has changed its name four times because of the two major sponsorships it has had.

13. FC Porto

• Portugal Cup: 19
• Primeira Liga wins: 30
• Taça de Portuga wins: 19
• Taça da Liga wins: 1
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira wins: 23
• Campeonato de Portugal wins: 4
• European Cup / UEFA Champions League wins: 2
• UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League wins: 2
• UEFA Supercup wins: 1
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 2

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FC Porto's success includes 30 Primeira Liga titles, 19 Taça de Portugal titles, and 23 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira wins. They also hold the record for the only Portuguese team to win five straight league championships from 1995 to 1999. Because of this, FC Porto is the most decorated Portuguese team. This club, S.L. Benfica, and Sporting CP make up the Portuguese "Big Three" teams, and the last two have had a long-standing rivalry with Porto.

12. RB Leipzig

• DFB-Pokal wins: 1
• Saxony Cup wins: 1
• Regionalliga wins: 1
• Saxony Cup wins: 1
• Oberliga wins: 1

FC RB Leipzigreaching the UEFA Champions League semifinals in the 2019/20 season shocked Atletico Madrid. The historic victory against Atlético Madrid enabled the club to get promoted to the Bundesliga. Along with the success of RB Leipzig's first team, the club focuses on developing youth and women. Five of their 20 youth teams of U8s to U19s are girls' teams. In addition, they have had a women's team since the 2016/17 season, and they currently play in Bundesliga 2.

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11. Tottenham

• Football League wins: 2
• The FA Cup wins: 8
• Football League Cup wins: 4
• European Cup-Winners Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Cup wins: 2
• Football League Division Two wins: 2
• FA Charity Shield wins: 7

Tottenham Hotspur is the third-most successful club in FA Cup history, behind Manchester United and Arsenal. They have won the FA title eight times among the nine times they have played in the league since 1901. On top of this, Tottenham FC became the first non-league team to win the FA Cup in 1901. Also, they have collected at least one major trophy in six decades from the 1950s to the 2000s, an achievement only matched by Manchester United.

10. Ajax

• Netherlands Football League Championship / Eredivisie wins: 36
• KNVB Cup wins: 20
• Johan Cruyff Shield wins: 9
• European Cup/UEFA Champions League wins: 4
• UEFA Supercup wins: 3
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 2
• UEFA Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• International Football Cup wins: 1

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Historically, Amsterdamsche Football Club Ajax is the most successful club in the Netherlands, with 36 Eredivisie titles and 20 KNVB Cups. Because AFC Ajax is in the less prestigious Dutch league, the team has a lower ceiling than most clubs. Nonetheless, it remains a jewel in European football. Its

9. Manchester United

• First Division/Premier League wins: 20
• Second Division wins: 2
• FA Cup wins: 12
• Football League Cup/EFL Cup wins: 6
• FA Charity Shield/FA Community Shield wins: 21
• European Cup/UEFA Champions League wins: 3
• European Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Europa League wins: 1
• UEFA Supercup wins: 1
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 1
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 1

In 1968, Manchester United became the first English team to triumph in the European Championship. They won the Triple in 1999, making them the first English club. They won the FA Cup, Champions League, and Premier League crowns. Of course, the 2021/22 season did not pan out expectedly. Reports of discontent are never far away, but Man United is not in terminal decline.

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8. Juventus

• Serie A wins: 36
• Coppa Italia wins: 14
• Supercoppa Italiana wins: 9
• Serie B wins: 1
• European titles wins: 9
• European Champions Cup/UEFA Champions League wins: 2
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Europa League wins: 3
• UEFA Supercup wins: 2
• UEFA Intertoto Cup wins: 1
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 2

Soccer team Juventus FC is a historic giant with total dominance in Italy for the last decade. Also, the club has won 36 Serie A league titles, 14 Coppa Italia titles, nine national Supercup titles, 2 Intercontinental Cups, 2 European Cups/UEFA Champions Leagues, and a national record.

7. Inter Milan

• Serie A wins: 19
• Coppa Italia wins: 9
• Supercoppa Italiana wins: 7
• European Cup / UEFA Champions League wins: 3
• UEFA Cup wins: 3
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 2
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 1

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FC Internazionale is undoubtedly one of the most adored clubs in Italy. Inter Milan won their 19th Serie A championship by defeating teams like Atalanta, AC Milan, and Juventus. After 11 long years, Inter finally won the Scudetto, depriving the Bianconeri of their chance to win the Serie A championship for the tenth time in a row.

6. Real Madrid

• La Liga wins: 35
• Copa del Rey wins: 20
• Copa de la Liga wins: 1
• Supercopa de España wins: 12
• Copa Eva Duarte wins: 1
• European Cup/UEFA Champions League wins: 14
• European Supercup wins: 5
• UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League wins: 2
• UEFA Supercup wins: 5
• Latin Cup wins: 2
• FIFA Club World Cups wins: 8
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 3
• Ibero-American Cup wins: 1
• Campeonato de Madrid/Campeonato Regional Centro wins: 23
• Copa Federación Centro wins: 4
• Mancomunados Trophies wins: 5

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Real Madrid's 35 La Liga championship titles are more than any other Spanish team has won. Additionally, the team has won two UEFA Cups, 19 Copa del Rey cups, 25 Copa Eva Duarte titles, and more. Players like Karim Benzema, Toni Kroos, and Luka Modric are its spine in La Liga and their Champions League. Real Madrid has been one of the best football teams in the world for a long time.

5. Chelsea

• UEFA Champions League wins: 2
• First Division/Premier League wins: 6
• FA Cup wins: 8
• League Cup wins: 5
• UEFA Europa League wins: 2
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 2
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Supercup wins: 2
• Charity/Community Shield wins: 4
• Full Members' Cup wins: 2

In 2012, Chelsea FC won their first Champions League championship; in 2013, they won the Europa League. Because of this, it became the first football team to double up on all four major European trophies. In addition, Chelsea FC is the only team in football history to have won all four major European trophies twice.

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4. PSG

• Ligue 1 wins: 11
• Ligue 2 wins: 1
• Coupe de France: 14
• Coupe de la Ligue: 9
• Trophée des Champions: 11
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup: 1
• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1

Paris Saint-Germain FC's championship titles make it the most successful club in French football history. They have won Ligue 1, a domestic French football competition, six times. The league features formidable opponents like Bordeaux, Monaco, Brest, Reims, and Marseille. PSG FC has players like Kylian Mbappe, Neymar, and Lionel Messi.

3. Liverpool

• First Division / Premier League wins: 20
• Second Division wins: 4
• FA Cup wins: 8
• Football League Cup / EFL Cup wins: 9
• FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield wins: 16
• European Cup / UEFA Champions League wins: 6
• UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League wins: 3
• UEFA Supercup wins: 4
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 1
• Football League Supercup wins: 1

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Liverpool is among the top 10 best football teams in the world. The club has won six European Cups - more than any other British team. It also has eight FA Cups and three UEFA Cups to its name. Liverpool FC is among the teams with the most championships, while Manchester United tops the list with 20 Premier League championships it won from 1889 to 2023. Also, Liverpool FC has played its home games at Anfield since its formation.

2. Bayern Munich

• German Championship wins: 33
• DFB German Cup wins: 20
• German Supercup wins: 11
• League Cup wins: 6
• Champions League wins: 6
• UEFA Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• Intercontinental Cup wins: 2
• FIFA Club World Cup wins: 2
• UEFA Supercup wins: 2

FC Bayern Munich is one of the best football teams ever, with 33 Bundesliga titles, 20 DFB-Pokal titles, two Champions League trophies, and more titles. Bayern has proved to be Germany’s most successful club by maintaining a consistent force in football. The club has produced icons like Robert Lewandowski, one of the world's best strikers.

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1. Manchester City

• First Division / Premier League (Level 1) wins: 9
• Second Division / First Division / Championship (Level 2) wins: 7
• Third Division / Second Division / League One (Level 3) wins: 1
• FA Cup wins: 7
• Football League Cup / EFL Cup wins: 8
• FA Charity Shield / FA Community Shield wins: 6
• UEFA Champions League wins: 1
• European Cup Winners' Cup wins: 1
• UEFA Supercup wins: 1

English club Man City FC is considered the best football team in the world. The club has won nine league titles, six FA Community Shields, and more championship titles. One of the reasons the club performs exemplary well is because Manchester City's managers always find ways to adapt to challenges, like finding competent replacements for retired players like Sergio Aguero.

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Trophies won, the number of legendary players the club has produced, its stadium capacity, and many other factors attract followers to a club. The 25 best football teams in the world are:

• Manchester City
• Bayern Munich
• Liverpool
• PSG
• Chelsea
• Real Madrid
• Inter Milan
• Juventus
• Manchester United
• Ajax
• Tottenham
• RB Leipzig
• FC Porto
• RB Salzburg
• Borussia Dortmund
• Atlético Madrid
• Arsenal
• Villareal FC
• Brighton & Hove Albion FC
• AC Milan
• SSC Napoli
• Athletic Club
• New Castle
• Benfica
• West Ham United

What are the top 10 best football teams in the world?

There is an unending debate among soccer fans about the best football teams in the world. Below are ten clubs that many agree are the best across the globe:

• Manchester City
• Bayern Munich
• Liverpool
• PSG
• Chelsea
• Real Madrid
• Inter Milan
• Juventus
• Manchester United
• Ajax

Who are the five biggest football clubs in the world?

The debate surrounding who the biggest clubs in football are has raged on for years and will continue to do so for quite some time. The five soccer teams many consider the biggest are:

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• Real Madrid
• Barcelona
• Manchester United
• Liverpool
• Bayern Munich

What is the richest club in the world?

Real Madrid is the world's richest and most valuable team, with a $6.07 billion net worth and $807 million annual revenue in the 2021/22 financial year.

Who are the best football teams in the world?

Real Madrid ($6.07 billion net worth), Manchester United ($6 billion net worth), Barcelona ($5.51 billion net worth), Manchester City ($4.99 billion net worth) and Bayern Munich ($4.86 billion net worth) are the top five most valuable soccer teams in the world in 2023.

Who is the richest football team owner in the world?

Sheikh Mansour is the world's richest football team owner, with a $30 billion net worth. He owns Manchester City.

Which football club has the most fans?

Real Madrid has the most fans worldwide. The club has around 400 million supporters dispersed across the globe.

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Who are the best football teams in the world?

Real Madrid (over 363 million followers), Barcelona (over 330 million followers), Manchester United (over 213 million followers), PSG (over 183 million followers), and Juventus (over 148 million followers) are the most followed soccer teams on social media.

What are the best football teams in the world?

Scottish club Rangers FC is among the most-honored football clubs in the world, with 116 trophies. Al Ahly SC follows with 114 trophies, then Celtic FC comes in third place with 113 trophies.

Picking out the greatest soccer club from this list of the best football teams in the world is a near-impossible venture. One reason is that all the teams always do their best to perform well in all leagues.

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Lewandowski is considered one of the world's top football attackers. He is one of the most successful players in Bundesliga and Bayern Munich history. Learn more about the player from the article.