Top 10 Best Football Teams in the History

Football has been around for centuries, yet some players, coaches, and teams are remembered no matter how much time has passed. Legacies persist forever, so the younger generations still hear about achievements that occurred long before birth.

Even though we’re talking about a sport that has been exciting for over a century and is played worldwide, some teams have managed to stay in everyone’s memory for a long time. The clubs that are considered giants now owe their reputation to accomplishments in the past. But those who succeeded afterward still needed to make history. Have a look at the top ten best football teams of all time.

World football has seen several outstanding teams over the years. Yet, only a few made it into history. These are the top ten best soccer teams in history, based on the titles won, the players that were a part of them, and the impact they had on the sport’s history:

 

Top 10. Hungary (1953 – 1958) 

  • Significant titles: 1952 Olympic Games, 1953 Central European International Cup

  • Significant players: Sándor Kocsis, Nándor Hidegkuti, Ferenc Puskás

  • Remarkable History: Tactics of Guztáv Sebes influenced by Jimmy Hogan

Hungary was once a European powerhouse that dominated world football. They not only triumphed over an Olympic gold medal, but they also topped the world rankings in the 1950s. The so-called Hungarian ‘Golden Team,’ captained by Guztáv Sebes in the dugout and led by renowned forward Ferenc Puskas on the field, is widely considered one of the finest teams that, shockingly, never became world champion—though it came pretty close.

Hungary entered the 1954 World Cup as solid favorites, becoming the first to defeat England at Wembley in the memorable “Match of the Century” in November 1953 and enjoying an unbeaten record since May 1950.

They had a remarkable run throughout the tournament but showed up just short in the final, losing 3-2 to West Germany. Yet, the ‘Magical Magyars’ established a long-lasting legacy in the sport.

 

Top 9 West Germany (1970 – 1974)

  • Significant titles: 1972 European Championships, 1974 FIFA World Cup

  • Significant players: Gerd Muller, Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthaüs

  • Remarkable History: Integrated some of the best players of all time and denied the Netherlands “total football.”

West Germany accomplished an even better accomplishment in the 1974 FIFA World Cup, held at home, after amazingly winning the 1972 European Championship. The Netherlands’ “total football” approach was predicted to win that year, but the hosts shocked Johan Cruyff and his team with a 2-1 victory in the grand finale.

 

Top 8. Ajax (1970 – 1973)

  • Significant titles: 1971, 1972, and 1973 European Cup

  • Significant players: Johan Cruyff, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol

  • Remarkable History: Invented “total football” under manager Rinus Michels.

To discuss the Dutch national team, which came close to winning the World Cup, we must first understand what affected their style of play.

At the club level, the team that transformed the game must be traced back to the 1970s. Ajax would be the first product of Rinus Michels’ “total football” style of play, inspiring the rest of the globe, particularly the Dutch national team, throughout that decade.

 

Revolutionary Soccer

The international success that eluded Johan Cruyff contrasted with his Ajax team, which won three straight European Cups from 1971 to 1973, defeating Panathinaikos, Inter Milan, and Juventus in the finals.

The most significant accomplishment of the team, though, was its impact on the rest of international soccer, particularly in the Netherlands and Barcelona. An Ajax team established a football philosophy that has impacted the beautiful game for over fifty years.

 

Top 7. Spain (2008 – 2012)

  • Significant titles: 2008 UEFA Euro, 2010 FIFA World Cup, 2012 UEFA Euro

  • Significant players: Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez, David Villa, Carles Puyol

  • Remarkable History: Adapted Barcelona’s successful play style and dominated Europe

Spain has long struggled to make an impression on international football, despite having two of the most recognizable sports clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona. Nonetheless, things would improve in 2008. Spain won the Euro 2008 tournament, its first major trophy in over 40 years, to start the most prosperous period under Luis Aragones.

 

The Greatest Glory

Spain triumphed at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa under Vicente Del Bosque, becoming the first European team to do so outside their continent by using the best players they had ever produced. The Spanish team, which had some of the best players in the world, comprised the best players from Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Spain was far from pleased, as they won another European Championship in 2012. They became the first national team to win three successive crowns with their third consecutive victory. Spain ruled the world from 2008 until 2012. Their impressive run of form ended in 2014, as they could not defend their World Cup title in Brazil. Spain was eliminated in the group stage, therefore ending their golden era.

 

Top 6. Manchester United (1992 – 2000)

  • Significant titles: 1999 treble

  • Significant players: Paul Scholes, Gary Neville, Ryan Giggs

  • Remarkable History: Class of 92 dominated soccer clubs during the 90s, guided by Sir Alex Ferguson

Although Manchester United has always been a dominant force in England, its heyday came in the 1990s. Over Sir Alex Ferguson’s remarkable 26-year reign at Old Trafford, there were a variety of victories. Yet, looking only at the 1990s, you’ll notice a dynasty that ruled England and outperformed other world-class squads like Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.

Ferguson, it must be confessed, first had difficulty. He nevertheless managed to get through the club’s turbulent early years and finally built a strong team by bringing in new players and elevating up-and-coming players. In the English top division during that decade, United was unquestionably better than the league’s original 1991–1992 season.

 

The Treble

The Red Devils’ first treble under Ferguson in the 1998–99 season unquestionably marked the apex of that illustrious era. United achieved one of the most significant comeback victories in soccer history on May 26, 1999.

By that point, United had already won the league and FA Cup. However, they had yet to face Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League championship game. As they entered extra time down 1-0, it appeared as though their treble hopes were all but over. Nevertheless, that is when they taught everyone a lesson.

In extra time, United made a comeback from two corners David Beckham took. In a stunning victory for the record books, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored the winning goal barely two minutes after Teddy Sheringham had tied the score at 90+1′ on a loose ball.

United won between 1992 and 2000:

  • Five Premier Leagues 

  • Three FA Cups 

  • One League Cup 

  • Three Community Shields 

  • One Intercontinental Cup

  • And of course, that epic Champions League title.

 

Top 5. Real Madrid (2016 – 2018)

  • Significant titles: 2016, 2017, and 2018 UEFA Champions League

  • Significant players: Luka Modric, Sergio Ramos, Cristiano Ronaldo

  • Remarkable History: The first team to win three consecutive Champions Leagues, all under Zinedine Zidane.

Who says that the current age cannot be used to write history? Real Madrid is living proof of this. The Merengues have already given the world several iconic teams, but they showed from 2016 to 2018 that they are never done writing history. Real Madrid sent a clear message in 2016 when everything appeared to be going wrong: never write them off.

As an emergency decision, the board promoted Zinedine Zidane from Real Madrid B after Rafael Benitez’s team had a bumpy start to the season. Zizou had served as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant when the Blancos won their 10th Champions League championship in 2014, despite needing more senior-level managing experience. As a result, he gained some knowledge about the position. And Zizou would only need a little time to turn around the team’s fortunes.

 

Continental Supremacy

Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League under Zidane’s leadership just four months after he took over. They were the first squad to win three UCL titles in a row after winning European championships in the next two seasons. But that was just the beginning. That winning team upheld the club’s ideals flawlessly and demonstrated to the rest of Europe why they should always be afraid of Real Madrid.

That Real Madrid squad, led by the illustrious BBC (Gareth Bale, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo), was as tough as they came. Sergio Ramos and Raphael Varane were at the peak of their careers, and Luka Modric, Casemiro, and Toni Kroos controlled the midfield. Goalkeeper Keylor Navas was a rock between the posts. That team won on the continent and the La Liga championship.

 

Top 4. AC Milan (1988 – 1994)

  • Significant titles: 1989, 1990, and 1994 European Cups

  • Significant players: Paolo Maldini, Ruud Gullit, Marco Van Basten

  • Remarkable History: Strayed away from Italy’s popular “catenaccio” and conquered Europe under Arrigo Sacchi.

One of the most significant teams in Italy, AC Milan, experienced a difficult period in the 1980s as they failed to capture a Scudetto championship after 1979. Hardly many predicted it, but the summer of 1987 would bring about change. The Rossoneri wouldn’t have regretted putting their faith in Arrigo Sacchi. The Rossoneri’s mentality was altered by the Italian coach, who chose an offensive style of play that eventually paid dividends.

In his debut campaign, Sacchi guided AC Milan to two straight European Cups victories after leading the team to a Serie A championship. Milan’s triumph in 1989 stands out in particular since they defeated Real Madrid 5-0 in the second leg of the semifinals before defeating Steaua Bucharest by a score of four in the championship game.

 

A New Era of Soccer In Italy

The Milan team revolutionized Italian football, changing the “Catenaccio” defensive style that had previously dominated the nation, the club, and other groups. Ruud Gullit, Marco van Basten, and Frank Rijkaard, a Dutch trio, served as its leader, and it also included talents like Franco Baresi and Paolo Maldini.

Sacchi left following the 1990–91 campaign, setting the groundwork for future growth. After Fabio Capello succeeded him, Milan won three Serie A championships, two Supercoppa Italiana medals, and an additional Champions League championship the following seasons.

Capello still deserves praise for extending San Siro’s golden era, but it’s fair to claim that Sacchi’s earlier efforts contributed to some of his success. In any case, it was because of them both that AC Milan dominated between 1988 and 1994.

 

Top 3. Brazil (1958 – 1970)

  • Significant titles: 1958, 1962 and 1970 FIFA World Cup

  • Significant players: Pelé, Jairzinho, Rivelino

  • Remarkable History: Played soccer ahead of its time and significantly contributed to the worldwide popularization of soccer.

For a very long period, the Brazilian national team has been at the top of the list of World Cup champions. La Verde-amarela’s success during 1958–1970, regarded as the “golden age” of Brazilian football, is mainly responsible for its status as one of the most teams in international sport.

Brazil won an astounding three World Cups in twelve years, led by Pele, one of the sport’s most exciting players. At 17, the Santos star guided La Canarinha to World Cup victory in 1958 and then assisted them in making back-to-back victories in 1962. Brazil could not have a competitive team in 1966 due to domestic political unrest, but they bounced back in 1970 for what is regarded as the best World Cup ever.

 

The 1970 World Cup

Brazil scored 19 goals in six games throughout this championship en route to the final against Italy, which they defeated 4-1 to win the World Championship for the third time. Together with Pele, players like Garrincha, Jairzinho, Gerson, Tosto, and Rivelino were part of that offensive-minded Brazil that ruled the world during those years.

 

Top 2. Real Madrid (1955 – 1960)

  • Significant titles: 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, and 1960 European Cup

  • Significant players: Alfredo Di Stefano, Paco Gento, Ferenc Puskás

  • Remarkable History: Set records and won almost every tournament they played.

Real Madrid is, without a doubt, Brazil’s club-level equivalent, earning a reputation as the world’s most dominant national football team. The Merengues established their status as the most recognizable football team in the world during the 1950s, much as La Verde-amarela owe much of that recognition to their success during the late 1950s and early 1970s.

In those days, Real Madrid was just unbeatable. The Blancos, led by two all-time greats in, Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas, won the European Cup five times from 1956 to 1960. Their hegemony in Europe was overthrown by Benfica, who won two straight championships.

 

One of The All-Time Greats

Many who saw that team were in awe of what Madrid did on the field, although there aren’t many videos or other archives regarding those years. Di Stefano is recognized by many as one of the key players ever to play the game; for others, he is on par with or above Pele, Diego Maradona, and Lionel Messi.

In any case, few clubs have ever been able to maintain such extraordinary dominance for as long as Madrid did back then. Classifying them as one of the prime football teams of all time is reasonable.

 

Top 1. Barcelona (2008 – 2012)

  • Significant titles: 2009 sextuple

  • Significant players: Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta, Xavi Hernandez

  • Remarkable History: Accomplished some of the most incredible feats of any soccer club and created a revolutionary play style under Pep Guardiola.

Pep Guardiola disproved that history had already been written by the turn of the twenty-first century. After succeeding Frank Rijkaard as Barcelona’s manager, he got the squad back on track and put together the greatest team in history. There were only a few trophies the Catalans failed to win while Pep was in charge.

It is just amazing what Guardiola accomplished at Barcelona. The Cules were equipped with everything they needed to win, and the Spanish coach recognized that they also had the potential to revolutionize football. Under Guardiola, Barcelona adopted a Tiki-Taka style of play that had never been used in football. Even more impressive is that he accomplished this in 2010 when everything looked to have been invented.

 

Unparalleled success

In Guardiola’s first season, Barcelona won the La Liga, Champions League, and Copa del Rey. Hence, a Spanish club accomplished the triple for the first time. As Ajax and the Dutch national team did in the 1970s, Barca’s methods for winning those titles made its supporters even more proud and inspired the rest of international soccer.

By choosing innovative strategies, such as using Lionel Messi as a false No. 9, Guardiola demonstrated that he was a football genius and was years ahead of his contemporaries. By winning the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup later that year, his Barcelona turned the inaugural treble into a flawless sextuple in 2009 for the team.

Guardiola’s reign as Barcelona’s king ended in 2012 when Pep decided to leave the team. After his departure, the team had to wait until 2015 to claim another continental championship. Additionally, longtime rival Real Madrid increased their lead in Champions League titles won.

In other words, Guardiola was the winning coach for Barcelona. He delivered: before leaving Camp Nou.

  • Three La Liga titles 

  • Two UEFA Champions Leagues

  • Two Copa del Rey titles 

  • Three Spanish Super Cups, two UEFA Super Cups

  • Two FIFA Club World Cups.

 

Conclusions

There have been a lot of other fantastic combinations in such a long time. In the current period, teams like Chelsea or Manchester City have also made history. Liverpool had more than one team that made its imprint in soccer.

 

Throughout history, people will remember national teams like Maradona’s Argentina or Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. But these ten groups changed the game forever.

 

Best Highest odds betting site in the World 2024
1x_86570
  • Highest odds No.1
  • bank transferwise
  • legal betting license

Best Highest odds betting site in the World 2022
1x_86570

934 bros Global