Since 1991, the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics) has classified the most powerful clubs in the world. When ranking them, the results of the teams in the championship, cup and international tournaments are taken into account. At different times, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and other giants became the leaders of the list. However, it was not without its surprises. For example, in 2016, the Colombian Atlético Nacional was recognized as the best club in the world, and in 2021, Palmeiras from Brazil. In mid-January 2023, IFFHS released a new ranking for 2022. What’s interesting about it?
non-obvious leader
Palmeiras could not become the third club in the history of the qualification, which would have managed to hold the lead for two years in a row, but it was not moved by the European giant, but by the neighboring Brazilian league Flamengo. In 2022, Flamengo took only fifth place in the local Serie A, but won the Copa Libertadores and the Brazilian Cup, thanks to which it took first place in the list.
What other surprises?
The first two spots were taken by surprise teams, and further down the list, the same chaos? Not really. Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City, Real Madrid, Benfica, RB Leipzig and Porto flew into the top 10. Also among the best, PSV unexpectedly broke through, not allowing Bayern (11th), PSG (16th), Barcelona (20th ) and other recognized clubs from the world top will enter the top ten.
Furthermore, not only PSV, but also Olimpia (Paraguay), Al-Ahly (Egypt), Independiente del Valle (Ecuador) and Atlético Paranaense (Brazil) beat Barcelona itself.
Are there Russian clubs?
In view of the almost complete absence of Russian clubs in international tournaments, it was difficult for the RPL teams to get close to the top places, but even getting into the list can already be considered a success by today’s standards.
Zenit took the honorable 398th place out of 500, surpassing Verona (Italy), Leeds (England), Kutaisi Torpedo (Georgia), but the Petersburgers fell behind Jeju United (Korea), Pakhtakor “(Uzbekistan),” Ararat ” (Armenian) and many others.
Spartak also made the list, but much lower: position 464. The following clubs could be beaten by points: Takuari (Paraguay), Augsburg (Germany), Rijeka (Croatia), but the rojiblancos did not reach Al-Hilal Port Sudan (Sudan), Coton Sport “(Cameroon), BATE (Belarus), “Avai” (Brazil) and others.
Other Russian representatives, it seems, were left out of the top 500. Nothing more to brag about.
Where are the other CIS clubs?
The highest place of all clubs in the post-Soviet space was taken by Qarabag (Azerbaijan), 78th place, and the other teams are distributed as follows:
“Zalgiris” (Lithuania) – 95
Sheriff (Moldova) – 101
Pyunik (Armenia) – 152
“Riga” (Latvia) – 168
“Nasaf” (Uzbekistan) – 183
“Riga” (Latvia) – 226
“Sogdiana” (Uzbekistan) – 249
Paide (Estonian) – 261
“Dnepr-1” (Ukraine) – 278
Dynamo Tbilisi (Georgia) – 278
Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine) – 290
“Neftchi” (Azerbaijan) – 290
Kyiv Dynamo (Ukraine) – 331
“Urartu” (Armenia) – 347
“Ararat-Armenia” – 372
Dynamo Batumi (Georgia) – 386
“Levadia” (Estonia) – 389
Pakhtakor (Uzbekistan) – 390
Zenit (Russia) – 398
Nomme Kalju (Estonia) – 420
Kutaisi Torpedo (Georgia) – 420
Panevezys (Lithuania) – 431
Liepaja (Latvia) – 433
“Alashkert” (Armenia) – 435
BATE (Belarus) – 435
“Hegelmann” (Lithuania) – 443
“Kauno Zalgiris” (Lithuania) – 450
Spartak Moscow (Russia) – 464
Dinamo Minsk (Belarus) – 473
Shakhtar Soligorsk (Belarus) – 473
Saburtalus (Georgia) – 475
“Auda” (Latvia) – 475
“Zira” (Azerbaijan) – 478
