The World's Top Five Soccer Clubs: April 30, 2023
We unfortunately let too much time pass in between this entries, but here we are now. Lots has happened. See the methodology mentioned in the previous ranking to get caught up on how this all works.
Honorable Mentions
Let’s start with the most obvious one first: Arsenal FC. The club whose origins are in Woolwich, southeastern London, has had quite a time of it lately. Their loss at Manchester City last week was just the latest in a series of setbacks. Suffice it to say the Arsenal have now effectively bottled the Premier League title. They probably weren’t good enough for the Top 5 before the beatdown at the Etihad. The weak display just reinforced the case. No more Arsenal. A shame because Mikel Arteta’s men were really playing beautiful soccer, which was good enough for the fifth spot last time around.
We can then mention two actual countries that have no representation here despite warranting consideration. One is France, where Paris Saint Germain once again put in a lackluster continental campaign. The other is Germany, where Bayern Munich have fallen from grace. Indeed Bayern even topped the rankings last time out. We can throw in Portugal as well, as Benfica Lisbon have quietly had a very solid season, including a run into the Champions League quarterfinals.
Other clubs not featuring here are FC Barcelona, who lead La Liga by a comfortable margin but didn’t even make it out of their Champions League group, and then had the indignity to bow out of the Europa League. Speaking of which, the team that ousted Barca, Man United, aren’t in the top 5 either despite receiving some consideration.
Where that leaves us:
The Top 5 Clubs in Ascending Order
There are three (3) Italian clubs in this list, the most ever, one Spanish, and one English. Three of four Champions League semifinalists are represented.
5. Juventus (previously: unranked)
Accolades: Europa League semifinalist, Coppa Italia finalist, third place in Serie A
Key wins (league games unless otherwise noted): At Inter, Lazio.
Key losses: Inter (Coppa Italia final), Napoli (2x), at Roma, at Lazio, at Milan, at Benfica 2x (CL), PSG 2x (CL)
Upcoming fixtures of interest: First leg of Europa League semi at Sevilla (May 18). Host Milan in last Serie A matchday (June 4)
This was a very tough decision and surely many readers will scoff at the bianconeri’s inclusion here, even in the 5 spot. Well, scoff away. Massimiliano Allegri’s men might have bowed out of the Champions League group stage, but they have made the most of their Europa League run. They dispatched Nantes, Freiburg, and Sporting Lisbon and next face Sevilla (who vanquished Man U) in the semifinals. Importantly, Juve also made a deep run in the Coppa Italia, losing in the final to Inter. Admittedly they have not beaten many quality sides this season. Like we said, this was a tough decision. Hopefully Juve can win the Europa League to vindicate it.
4. Inter Milan (previously: unranked)
Accolades: Champions League semifinalist, Coppa Italia winner, fourth place in Serie A
Key wins: Juventus (Coppa Italia final), Benfica (CL quarterfinal), Porto (CL Round of 16), Barcelona (CL group stage), Napoli
Key losses: Juventus (2x)
Upcoming fixtures of interest: Visit Roma (May 6), Champions League semifinal with AC Milan (first leg, May 10), visit Napoli (May 21)
Inter lost to Juventus twice in Serie A so why are they ahead of them in the ranking? Well, they beat them in the Coppa Italia final and had a much better run in the Champions League. Inter just vanquished second-place Lazio over the weekend. They could conceivably catch Lazio in the league, as just four points separate the two sides.
3. Real Madrid (previously: 4)
Accolades: Champions League semifinalist, second in La Liga, FIFA Club World Cup champions
Key wins: RB Leipzig (CL group stage) Barcelona 2x (including Copa del Rey semi), Sevilla
Key losses: Barca (away), Villareal (home)
Upcoming fixtures of interest: Osasuna in Copa del Rey final (May 13), visit Man City in CL semifinal first leg (May 17)
Admittedly it’s weird to see a team this high up that doesn’t even lead their domestic league, but Real’s continental campaign was far more successful than Barca’s. Yes, Real had a far easier Champions League group, and the elimination round wasn’t exactly taxing either (they defeated Liverpool, and Chelsea who are having awful seasons, in the Round of 16 and quarterfinals, respectively). Importantly Real also vanquished Barca in the Copa del Rey. They will certainly receive their sternest test in the CL semis however. We wouldn’t expect Real to prevail here, but they play these games for a reason.
2. Napoli (2)
Accolades: Have all but wrapped up the Serie A title, their first in over 30 years.
Key wins: Juventus, Lazio, AC Milan, Liverpool (UCL group), Eintracht Frankfurt (UCL round of 16)
Key losses: AC Milan (UCL quarterfinal). Cremonese on penalties (Coppa Italia Round of 16)
Upcoming fixtures of interest: Host Inter (May 21) but should have the league wrapped up by then
We were singing Napoli’s praises loudly last time around. Indeed the ciucciarelli (it means little donkeys) are maintaining their second spot in the rankings despite bowing out of the Champions League to domestic rivals Milan. The Coppa Italia loss hurts Napoli’s cause as well. Otherwise there are no blemishes in their campaign. Napoli have lost just three league games all season and this has been the most competitive Serie A has looked in years. Decades even.
1. Manchester City (3)
Accolades: First place in the Premiership. Semifinalist in the Champions League. Finalist in the FA Cup.
Key wins: Arsenal 2x, including last week in convincing fashion, Dortmund (UCL group), Bayern Munich (UCL quarterfinal).
Key losses: At Man U
Upcoming fixtures of interest: Face Real Madrid in the UCL semis, with the first leg at the Bernabeu on May 9. Face Man U in the FA Cup final in June
City have started to look very dominant and last week’s victory over Arsenal was just the latest demonstration of this. Citizens have now won eight (8) straight league games and have not lost since losing at White Hart Lane of all places back on Feb. 5. Much has been said about Erling Haaland’s exploits but it’s kind of hard to see how City have any weaknesses at all. We fully expect this team to win the treble this season and go down in history as one of the world’s greatest teams of all time. City are that good.