Who is the world’s top soccer team? There is no objective “correct” response, and the debate will never be resolved. Football will never be genuinely, irrevocably conquered, the argument will never end, and the groups will never stop fighting.
Football has been around for centuries, yet no matter how much time has passed, there will always be players, coaches, or teams that people will remember. Because legacies endure forever, younger generations continue to learn about accomplishments that took place decades or even centuries before they were born.
Even though soccer has been around for more than a century and is played worldwide, some teams have left a lasting impression on everyone. The accomplishments made by the teams in the past are what give them their current reputation as giants. But that doesn’t negate the historical contributions of those who were successful afterward. Here are the 12 greatest football teams in history.
Top 12 all-time best soccer teams
Fantastic teams have appeared in international football over the years. However, only a few made it into the annals of history. These are the top 12 soccer teams ever, as measured by the titles won, the players that were a part of them, and the impact they had on the sport’s history:
1. Arsenal (2004)
The 2003–2004 Premier League season saw the “Arsenal Invincibles” go undefeated. Juventus accomplished the same thing in 2012, but Arsenal won many more games and finished with 90 points. Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp, and Theirry Henry were on the team. Arsenal won the league title with a resounding victory because their quick, attacking style completely devastated the opponents. They were named the best team in Premier League history due to their 49-game unbeaten streak.
2. Milan (1988–1994)
AC Milan won the Italian league four times and the European Cup (Champions League) three times in the six years between 1988 and 1994. They dominated European football under the management of Arrigo Sacchi and later Carlo Ancelotti, thanks to a group of elite athletes that included Paolo Maldini, Marco Van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Frank Rijkaard, and Franco Baresi.
3. Liverpool (1984)
The 1984 Liverpool team won the Champions League, the league, and a domestic cup in addition to the league. In the latter’s championship game, they defeated Roma via penalties. The season’s top scorer, Ian Rush, scored 47 goals. Alan Hansen, Graeme Souness, and Kenny Dalglish were more noteworthy players.
4. West Germany (1972–1974)
The greatest football players in history were on the German squad that won the 1974 World Cup and the 1972 European Championships. The team, prominently led by Franz Beckenbauer, also featured Berti Vogts and their dynamic striker, Gerd Müller. They defeated the Netherlands’ renowned “total football” team 2-1 in the 1974 World Cup final to prevent Johan Cruyff’s team from winning. If you are curious to know more about game soccer and latest updates go on SoccerFeed and get the latest news on soccer.
5. France (1998–2000)
In the final, France defeated heavy favorites Brazil 3-0 to win the 1998 World Cup. David Trezeguet’s game-winning goal helped them upset Italy 2-1 to win the 2000 European Championships. Thierry Henry, Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Lauren Blanc, and Lilian Thuram were further essential members of the squad. They possessed elite athletes at every position, but Zidane was crucial to their victory.
6. Madrid Real (1955–1960)
The Real Madrid team of the late 1950s, led by Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskas, dominated world football. From 1956 through 1960, they won the European Cup (Champions League) five times in a row. This culminated in the 1960 championship game, which saw them defeat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in one of the all-time great football performances.
7. Manchester United (1999)
The 1998–1999 Manchester United team won the Premier League, FA Cup, and Champions League in the same year. It featured legends like Paul Scholes, David Beckham, Roy Keane, Ryan Giggs, and Peter Schmeichel. They fought till the final whistle, just like many of Alex Ferguson’s teams, and the 1999 Champions League final was the best example of this. With two late goals from Sheringham and Solskjaer against Bayern Munich, they overcame a deficit to triumph.
8. Barcelona (2009)
Barcelona won the first treble ever by a Spanish team ten years after Manchester United’s accomplishment. They defeated Real Madrid 6-2 to win La Liga, defeated United 2-0 in the Champions League final, and also won the Copa Del Rey (the Spanish domestic cup).
Lionel Messi became the best player in the world during this season. Messi more than quadrupled his total from the previous season under the direction of Pep Guardiola, one of the top football managers in the world. Barcelona’s “tiki-taka” style enabled them to add the domestic, UEFA, and FIFA Club World Cup victories to their treble in 2009, making it a “sextuple.”
9. Brazil (1970)
The best World Cup performance ever occurred at the 1970 FIFA World Cup. Brazil outscored Italy 4-1 in the final, with Carlos Alberto scoring one of the all-time great goals as Brazil scored 19 goals in six games. Greats like Pelé, Gerson, Jairzinho, Rivelino and Tosto all contributed to their gorgeous brand of attacking football.
10. Spain (2007–2012)
After winning three straight international championships, Spain must be considered the greatest football squad. They won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2008 and 2012 European Championships. They won 35 games without losing from 2007 to 2009. This included their ten World Cup qualifying victories, which they won all ten. Their noteworthy players included David Villa, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Carles Puyol, Xabi Alonso, and Iker Casillas. The team was composed nearly entirely of Barcelona and Real Madrid players.
11. Juventus
Juventus, a legendary powerhouse that has dominated Italy entirely for the past ten years, has dipped amid the COVID pandemic.
They are currently sixth in Serie A, one spot below where they finished the 2020–21 season, although a transitional phase following Cristiano Ronaldo shouldn’t overshadow their dominant position in European football. The form is transient, whereas the class is constant.
Juventus has consistently competed in the Champions League knockout round despite their domestic issues, and after five victories in six group-stage matches, they will participate again. Despite a setback, they are now back on the upswing.
12. Inter
As soon as Inter had finally returned to the top of Italian football, Antonio Conte and Romelu Lukaku’s exits threatened to put the team out of commission. It has been established that reports of their demise were highly exaggerated.
In Serie A this season, Inter has only suffered one defeat. They are now in first place in the league and have advanced, although shabbily, to the Champions League knockout stages.
To keep his squad at the top of the standings, Simone Inzaghi scored plenty of goals from veteran 35-year-old Edin Dzeko and Lautaro Martinez.
Conclusion
Football is the most watched and well-liked sport in the entire world. People watch it closely and assess different teams and players based on their performance. Several considerations influence which team should be kept first and last. It mainly depends on performance, fan following, popularity, and achievements.