Best football teams in the world - ranked

While every club in world football wants to be known as among the best on the planet, a select elite instead dominate the global landscape.

While sides like Real Madrid and Liverpool have long enjoyed success domestically and in Europe, the progression of teams like Manchester City means a new order is being developed around the globe.

Here are 90min's top football teams in the world.

33. Galatasaray

The Turkish giants responded to Fenerbahce's appointment of Jose Mourinho by capitalising on the opportunity to sign Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen on loan.

Nobody should be surprised to hear that one of the world's leading forwards has further emboldened the champions. Osimhen leads Galatasaray's scoring charts with his team unbeaten in the Super Lig and through four games of the Europa League league phase.

32. Fiorentina

Raffaele Palladino kept a cash-rich Monza in Serie A upon their return to the top flight and has blossomed into one of Italy's brightest coaching prospects.

He joined Fiorentina in the summer and has built on the sturdy foundations left by Vincenzo Italiano. La Viola have rarely been apart of the conversation at Serie A's summit, but Moise Kean's goalscroing form has thrust them into a potentially thrilling Scudetto race.

31. Bologna

Bologna enjoyed a stunning 2023/24 season as now Juventus manager Thiago Motta implemented a beautiful style of play at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara.

The Rossoblu ensured their first-ever appearance in the Champions League as a result, having only ever played in the European Cup once back in 1964/65.

Motta's subsequent departure has made life more challenging for Bologna but they will be eager to limit the fallout from his move to Juve in 2024/25. They have their work cut out if they're to remain in European competition next season.

30. Eintracht Frankfurt

Harry Kane will not be strolling to another Bundesliga Golden Boot if Omar Marmoush can sustain his remarkable run at the start of the 2024/25 season.

The Egyptian forward has inspired this Frankfurt team after they secured an underwhelming 47 points last season. Marmoush is shining in front of goal, but offering plenty as a creator, too, and his relationship with Hugo Ekitike up top has been nothing short of box-office this term.

You may have sustainability concerns, but just enjoy 'em, man.

29. Girona

Michel's Girona faded down the final stretch but gave La Liga's heavy hitters an almighty scare last term.

Links to the City Football Group mean their story isn't an archetypal fairytale but Girona's astute recruitment and Michel's enthralling ideals can only be celebrated.

Losing the dynamic duo of Savinho and Artem Dovbyk has made life more challenging at the beginning of 2024/25 as they embark on a maiden Champions League campaign.

28. Olympiacos

Olympiacos may have lost out to PAOK in the Super League Greece but they became the first side from the country to win a major European trophy when they defeated Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

Ayoub El Kaabi bagged the winner in extra time as a long VAR check saw the club's fans grow anxious before the strike was confirmed, sparking jubilation in the stands at OPAP Arena.

27. Lille

Paulo Fonseca may have jumped ship but the Portuguese coach certainly made an enormous impact at Lille. Joining in 2022, he guided Les Dogues to fifth and fourth-placed finishes in Ligue 1, which resulted in the French side qualifying for the 2024/25 Champions League.

Lille have picked up from where they left off following the appointment of Bruno Genesio last summer and have already flexed their muscles by beating reigning champions Real Madrid in the league phase of the newly-expanded Champions League.

26. PSV Eindhoven

Arne Slot's Feyenoord proved worthy champions of the Eredivisie in 2022/23 but the reliable PSV Eindhoven came roaring back in 2023/24 to claim a first title since 2017/18. Peter Bosz, formerly of Ajax, Borussia Dortmund and Lyon among others, quickly transformed the club into a free-flowing attacking side.

PSV's return to the summit of Dutch football came in style, with the Eindhoven outfit breaking the previous points record for an Eredivisie season en route to the title. Finishing with a goal difference of +90 after scoring 111 times in 34 matches, PSV also managed a tally of 91 points - two higher than Ajax's record set in 1997/98.

25. Brest

2023/24 was littered with feel-good underdog stories, and one that seemingly went under the radar was Brest's campaign in Ligue 1.

The French club has scaled to new heights since returning to the top flight in 2019, but their rise over the past couple of years has been exponential. An 11th-place finish in 2021/22 was their best since 1990/91. In 2023/24, they finished third, Brest's best-ever season, and are now shining on their return to the Champions League.

Eric Roy has done a quite remarkable job.

24. Manchester United

Erik ten Hag's dismissal has come as no surprise after a disappointing 2023/24 campaign and woeful beginning to 2024/25. Last term was somewhat salvaged by an FA Cup triumph but Manchester United have often been left to rely on individual brilliance rather than tactical ingenuity.

15 years ago, they would have likely topped these rankings, but now they barely scrape into the top 25 following some dismal displays and frequent forays into crisis.

Given the club's size and financial muscle, surely it's only a matter of time before they grace the upper echelons of European football once again. Still. Ruben Amorim has a huge job on his hands.

23. RB Leipzig

It was another solid season for RB Leipzig in 2023/24, who reached the Champions League last 16 before being ousted by winners Real Madrid.

The German side consistently produce young stars with great potential, though it was loanee Xavi Simons who impressed most in Saxony last term.

The Dutchman has returned for 2024/25 and Leipzig will be keen to kick on under Marco Rose having flattered to deceive in recent campaigns.

22. Atletico Madrid

There was to be no La Liga or Champions League challenge from Atletico Madrid in 2023/24, eventually coming fourth in Spain's top flight.

They messed up the chance to win the Copa del Rey after Barcelona and Real Madrid exited the competition before the semi-final stage, being eliminated themselves by Athletic Club 4-0 over two legs.

Diego Simeone's side have not made a swashbuckling start to 2024/25 but still have time to turn things around after significant summer investment.

21. Napoli

Napoli peaked in the modern era during 2022/23 as they upset the odds to secure a first Serie A title since the Diego Maradona days. Under Luciano Spalletti, the Partenopei romped to a famous triumph but were unable to follow up their success following his departure at the end of the season.

A difficult campaign ensued before former Juventus, Inter and Atalanta coach Antonio Conte was appointed to turn the tide at the beginning of the 2024/25 season.

That's exactly what the experienced Italian has done in the early days of his reign in Naples, with a stubborn defence unsurprisingly at the heart of their success.

20. Newcastle United

A ridiculous injury crisis stopped Newcastle United from capitalising on their Champions League qualification last season. The Magpies were eliminated at the group stage after being handed a horribly difficult group that contained Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and finalists Borussia Dortmund.

However, the talent at Eddie Howe's disposal is undeniable, with the likes of Alexander Isak and Bruno Guimaraes hauling the Magpies to an eventual finish of seventh in 2023/24.

Without European football to worry them this season, they will be aiming to improve on last season's points tally.

19. Tottenham Hotspur

Many feared the worst for Ange Postecoglou in year one of his Tottenham Hotspur tenure after the Lilywhites lost all-time record goalscorer Harry Kane in the summer.

Succumbing to mid-table obscurity was projected for Spurs but Postecoglou instead lifted a club off its knees that had endured years of pragmatism in the wake of Pochettino's exit.

The Greek-Australian's gung-ho style certainly isn't without its flaws - some of which have already been exposed in 2024/25 - but there is potential for an increasingly elusive piece of silverware to find its way to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on his watch.

18. Juventus

Juventus ambled through another disappointing season in Italy, culminating in Massimiliano Allegri's combustible departure after their Coppa Italia triumph.

La Vecchia Signora's squad still lacks the star quality to challenge properly in the Champions League but a title push could come in 2024/25 with a move towards a more progressive manager.

After some tough years, Juve appear to be heading in the right direction.

17. Monaco

It's tough for any side to match Paris Saint-Germain at the top of Ligue 1 but Monaco did enough to finish as the best of the rest in France.

Les Rouge et Blanc have sometimes struggled to avoid being stripped of their best players in transfer windows but their finish of second this time around showed definite improvement with Adi Hutter at the helm.

They have already shown their potential in 2024/25, too, beating Barcelona in their opening Champions League match of the season.

16. Stuttgart

Stuttgart were one of the top stories from the 2023/24 season that few were talking about.

Having preserved their status in the Bundesliga by the barest of margins in 2022/23, the historically significant German outfit are now a Champions League side after a second-placed Bundesliga finish and continue to improve under Sebastien Hoeness.

While star striker Serhou Guirassy has moved to Borussia Dortmund, the likes of Deniz Undav, Angelo Stiller, Enzo Millot and Max Mittelstadt have stuck around to help Stuttgart push themselves even further this season.

15. Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund's Champions League campaign carried the load last season as they fell to another final defeat, this time at the hands of Real Madrid.

Edin Terzic's side were woefully inconsistent domestically. A 1-0 home defeat to Stuttgart just a week after they secured their first victory away at Bayern Munich in almost a decade surmised their frustrating season.

The young and intriguing former BVB midfielder Nuri Sahin was drafted in to replace Terzic in the hot seat, but it's been a largely disappointing start to the 36-year-old's reign.

14. Milan

Following five years with the Rossoneri, Stefano Pioli called time on his Milan stint at the end of an underwhelming 2023/24 campaign. The Italian was replaced by former Lille boss Fonseca, who has been tasked with restoring the club to their former glory.

It wasn't all plain-sailing for the Portuguese coach at the start of his reign, but victories over Inter and Real Madrid mean Fonseca at least has some credit in the bank.

13. Chelsea

Chelsea are yet to show significant improvement since Todd Boehly took control of the club. A late charge helped them finish sixth last season before Mauricio Pochettino was swapped for Enzo Maresca.

The Italian got off to a concerning start at Stamford Bridge but the Blues are starting to find their rhythm. They boast an incredibly deep squad and can field two starting XI's worthy of playing at the elite level.

Cole Palmer continues to be the standout performer for the west London outfit but his supporting cast are starting to reach his lofty standards this term.

12. Aston Villa

Aston Villa have got the history and financial might to upset the Premier League's aristocracy, but their attempts to breach the division's 'Big Six' weren't realised until they appointed Unai Emery as manager in October 2022.

Villa Park is roaring once more with Emery at the helm and qualification for the Champions League made 2023/24 a highly successful campaign, even if they failed in pursuit of Europa Conference League glory.

Their Premier League form has so far suffered amid the extra burden of competing at Europe's top table, but Emery's men have made an impressive start to their league phase campaign.

11. Sporting CP

Ruben Amorim rebuilt Sporting CP. Without a title since 2001/02, the Lisbon side have won the Primeira Liga twice since his appointment, most recently in 2023/24 as they strolled to a commanding victory ahead of rivals Benfica.

Sporting now boast some of Europe's most exciting talents, including sharpshooter Viktor Gyokeres and defensive dynamo Goncalo Inacio, and they lost just six times across the entirety of last season.

They have made an outstanding start to 2024/25, too, but Amorim's exit will pose plenty of questions.

10. Paris Saint-Germain

Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappe era has drawn to a close, with manager Luis Enrique recognising the need to transition to a world without the France superstar.

Mbappe's long goodbye included disappointment in the Champions League as they were defeated by Borussia Dortmund in the semi-finals, but there's no denying the French side are as cohesive collectively as they have been in years.

Again, PSG will be judged on their European exploits rather than their domestic displays, with a strong run in the Champions League essential for Enrique's men in 2024/25. It's been a struggle thus far.

9. Atalanta

Atalanta turned heads with an incredible run during their victorious 2023/24 Europa League campaign.

Master tactician Gian Piero Gasperini led his side to glory in Dublin against a Bayer Leverkusen side that were previously unbeaten in 2023/24, with La Dea having already ousted Liverpool during the earlier knockout stages of the competition.

Their Serie A form was a little more inconsistent but the Bergamo outfit have already made a strong start to 2024/25 as they aim to build on a first European trophy.

8. Arsenal

Arsenal's frustrating 2022/23 title bid was followed by an agonising race with Manchester City once again last season. The Cityzens proved too tough to leapfrog down the stretch and left the Gunners licking their wounds following another close call.

But this Arsenal team isn't going anywhere under Mikel Arteta despite their indifferent start to 2024/25 and you cannot write them out of any title discussions just yet.

The return of Martin Odegaard from injury will aid Arteta and his team greatly after the November break.

7. Bayer Leverkusen

It was always going to take something special to dethrone Bayern.

A pragmatic start to his tenure saw Xabi Alonso get Bayer Leverkusen out of the mire in 2022/23 and the Spaniard has since taken the club to new heights.

Leverkusen didn't merely take advantage of Bayern's demise, they ended the 2023/24 Bundesliga season unbeaten as they won the title, also clinching the DFB Pokal and reaching the Europa League final.

Alonso's flying wing-backs, balanced pivot and masterful creators have coalesced to create an outstanding unit, but 2024/25 has so far proven to be much tougher for the Spaniard's side.

6. Inter

Inter came within inches of winning the Champions League in 2022/23 but struggled to make an impact on the continent last season. However, an exit at the round of 16 was mitigated by an impressive Serie A campaign which ultimately resulted in a 20th scudetto.

Lautaro Martinez and Marcus Thuram developed a telepathic relationship up front, with the former finishing as the division's top scorer, and Simone Inzaghi continued to command a well-organised and stubborn defensive unit.

Defending their crown will be essential in 2024/25, as will an impressive run in Europe.

5. Bayern Munich

The collective cohesion upon which Bayern Munich have thrived for decades has escaped the latest iteration. Stability has ceased to exist in Bavaria since Hansi Flick left the club after winning the treble in 2020.

Now England boss Thomas Tuchel was unable to get the best out of Die Roten despite the presence of world-class talents such as Harry Kane, with Bayer Leverkusen's impressive rise under Xabi Alonso ultimately dethroning Bayern in the Bundesliga.

Vincent Kompany's arrival has raised eyebrows but the Belgian's attractive philosophy has so far proven to be more suited to Bayern than Burnley. Die Roten are flying at the summit of the German top-flight again.

4. Manchester City

Questions were raised in regards to Man City's motivation for 2023/24 having reached the pinnacle in Istanbul.

However, doubters were swiftly silenced by another remarkable campaign from Pep Guardiola's side, which somewhat surprisingly only ended with a fourth successive Premier League title - a new English football record.

Arsenal are likely to push City all the way in what could reportedly be Guardiola's final campaign at the helm, while there will be expectations of a second Champions League crown. Key injuries have held the Cityzens back in the autumn.

3. Real Madrid

Real Madrid's humiliation at the Etihad in 2022/23 and Karim Benzema's subsequent departure forced Carlo Ancelotti into a rethink, but the club responded in a big way last season.

Jude Bellingham was the star of the season's opening half, with Vinicius Junior blossoming after Christmas. Rodrygo shone in his compatriot's absence, while the well-balanced engine room brought enough stability.

Ancelotti's masterful empowering of his individual stars led Los Blancos to another La Liga title and a 15th Champions League trophy, but the Italian has yet to stumble upon a reliable formula since Kylian Mbappe came to town and Toni Kroos packed up his paintbrush for the very last time.

2. Barcelona

Barcelona's La Liga title defence was ultimately a tame one in 2023/24 as legendary midfielder Xavi got the boot in the dugout, replaced by former Bayern and Germany manager Flick.

While the club continue to be a shambles off the pitch, Flick has made an immediate impact when it comes to results and, most notably, performances.

A 4-0 demolition of Real Madrid in his first Clasico went down well with supporters and some exceptional attacking football has catapulted La Blaugrana to a new level despite consistent injuries throughout the team.

1. Liverpool

Jurgen Klopp's last Liverpool team wasn't as ferocious or defensively stable as their unit that won the Premier League and Champions League, but the Reds still proved strong enough for a third-place finish in 2023/24.

The Merseysiders ultimately sent the departing German boss off with triumph in the Carabao Cup, with Arne Slot handed the unenviable task of replacing one of the club's most-loved and successful figures.

The Dutch coach has shrugged off the pressure to date, however, immediately building on the impressive foundations left behind by Klopp and his staff. The Reds are cruising in the Premier League and Champions League through the first three months of 2024/25.

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