IFFHS World's Best Club


The IFFHS World's Best Club is a football award given annually since 1991 to the world's best club. The award is given by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, the entity has also produced a monthly Club World Ranking.
The ranking takes into consideration the results of twelve months of continental and intercontinental competitions, national league matches and the most important national cup.
All countries are rated at four levels based upon the national league performance—clubs in the highest level leagues receive 4 points for each match won, 2 for a draw and 0 for a defeat. Level 2 is assigned 3 pts., 1.5 and 0, and so on with the next lower levels.
In continental competitions, all clubs receive the same number of points at all stages regardless of the performance level of their leagues. However, the UEFA Champions League and the Copa Libertadores yield more points than UEFA Europa League and Copa Sudamericana, respectively. The point assignment system is still lower for the AFC, CAF, CONCACAF and OFC continental tournaments. Competitions between two continents are evaluated depending upon their importance. Competitions not organized by a continental confederation, or any intercontinental events not recognized by FIFA, are not taken into consideration.

Criteria

CompetitionPoints for a winPoints for a draw
UEFA Champions League14.07.0
UEFA Europa League12.06.0
Copa Libertadores14.07.0
Copa Sudamericana12.06.0
CAF Champions League9.04.5
CAF Cup 7.03.5
AFC Champions League9.04.5
AFC Cup7.03.5
CONCACAF Champions League9.04.5
OFC Champions League5.02.5
FIFA Club World Cup 14.07.0
FIFA Club World Cup 21.010.5

Men's winners

Statistics

CountryTotalClubs
145
74
63
22
21
21
11
11

Continental Men's Clubs of the Century (1901–2000)

In 2009, the IFFHS released the results of a statistical study series which determined the best continental clubs of the 20th century. The ranking did not consider the performance of the teams in national football tournaments, the performance in the intercontinental or worldwide club competitions or those submitted in the IFFHS Club World Ranking, available since 1991.
Based on this study, which assigned a weighted score criteria applied for each competition analysed, the below six clubs were named as "continental clubs of the century" by the IFFHS between 10 September and 13 October 2009. These clubs were awarded with a golden trophy and a certificate during the World Football Gala celebrated at Fulham, London, on 11 May 2010.
RankEuropeSouth AmericaCONCACAFAfricaAsiaOceania
1 Real Madrid Peñarol Saprissa Asante Kotoko Al-Hilal South Melbourne
2 Juventus Independiente' Olimpia Al Ahly' Yokohama F. Marinos' Sydney City
3 Barcelona Nacional' Comunicaciones Zamalek' Esteghlal' Marconi Stallions
4 Milan River Plate' Municipal Canon Yaoundé' Persepolis' Wollongong Wolves
5 Bayern Munich Olimpia' Transvaal ASEC Mimosas' Seongnam FC' University-Mount Wellington
6 Inter Milan Boca Juniors' Alajuelense' Hearts of Oak' Al-Nassr' Melbourne Knights
7 Ajax Cruzeiro Necaxa Espérance de Tunis' Pohang Steelers' Adelaide City
8 Liverpool São Paulo Cruz Azul Hafia FC' Tokyo Verdy' Napier City Rovers
9 Benfica América de Cali Alianza Africa Sports' Liaoning' Tafea
10 Anderlecht Palmeiras América Englebert' Thai Farmers Bank' Sydney United

The World's Best Man Club of the Decade (2001–2010)

In 2012, the IFFHS recognised Barcelona as the World's Best Club Team of the Decade for the first decade of the 21st century.
RankClubConfederationPoints
1 BarcelonaUEFA2,550
2 Manchester UnitedUEFA2,523
3 LiverpoolUEFA2,414
4 ArsenalUEFA2,410
5 Inter MilanUEFA2,358
6 Bayern MunichUEFA2,315
7 MilanUEFA2,296
8 Real MadridUEFA2,257
9 ChelseaUEFA2,235
10 Boca JuniorsCONMEBOL2,095

The World's Best Men Club of the Decade (2011–2020)

In 2021, Barcelona were recognised as the world's best club also for the second decade.
RankLeagueConfederationPoints
1 BarcelonaUEFA2,877
2 Real MadridUEFA2,782
3 Bayern MunichUEFA2,594.5
4 Paris Saint-GermainUEFA2,357
5 Atlético MadridUEFA2,302
6 JuventusUEFA2,272
7 ChelseaUEFA2,113
7 Manchester CityUEFA2,113
9 Manchester UnitedUEFA2,020
10 ArsenalUEFA2,016

The World's Best Men Club of the Month

MonthYearClubRef.
2023.12023 Porto
2023.22023 Real Madrid
2023.32023 Feyenoord
2023.42023 Real Madrid
2023.52023 Inter Milan
2023.62023 Flamengo
2023.72023 Corinthians
2023.82023 Palmeiras
2023.92023 Barcelona
2023.102023 Bayern Munich
2023.112023 PSV Eindhoven
2023.122023 Manchester City
2024.12024 Juventus
2024.22024 Feyenoord
2024.32024 Milan
2024.42024 Manchester City
2024.52024 Atalanta
2024.62024 Internacional
2024.72024 FCSB
2024.82024 Sparta Prague
2024.92024 Corinthians
2024.102024 Fiorentina
2024.112024 Atlético Madrid
2024.122024 Real Madrid
2025.12025 Arsenal
2025.22025 Real Madrid
2025.32025 Barcelona
2025.42025 Barcelona
2025.52025 Paris Saint-Germain
2025.62025 Fluminense
2025.72025 Chelsea
2025.82025 Flamengo
2025.92025 Bayern Munich
2025.102025 Arsenal
2025.112025 Atlético Madrid
2025.122025 Paris Saint-Germain

Women's winners

Statistics

CountryTotalClubs
71
51
21

Continental rankings (women)

YearConfederationWinner
2021UEFA Barcelona
2021CONMEBOL Corinthians
2021CONCACAF Portland Thorns FC
2021CAF Hasaacas
2021AFC Melbourne Victory
2021OFC Southern United

YearConfederationWinner
2022UEFA Barcelona
2022CONMEBOL Palmeiras
2022CONCACAF Chivas Guadalajara
2022CAF Mamelodi Sundowns
2022AFC Incheon Red Angels
2022OFC Northern Rovers

YearConfederationWinner
2023UEFA Barcelona
2023CONMEBOL Corinthians
2023CONCACAF América
2023CAF Mamelodi Sundowns
2023AFC Urawa Red Diamonds
2023OFC Western Springs
Auckland United

YearConfederationWinner
2024UEFA Barcelona
2024CONMEBOL Corinthians
2024CONCACAF Tigres UANL
2024CAF
2024AFC Incheon Red Angels
2024OFC

The World's Best Woman Club of the Decade (2011–2020)

In 2021, Lyon were recognised as the world's best club for the second decade.
RankClubConfederationPoints
1 LyonUEFA178
2 VfL WolfsburgUEFA130
3 Bayern MunichUEFA98
4 Paris Saint-GermainUEFA97
5 Portland Thorns FCCONCACAF87
6 BarcelonaUEFA74
7 ChelseaUEFA69
8 North Carolina CourageCONCACAF67
9 Manchester CityUEFA48
10 RosengårdUEFA47

The World's Best Women Club of the Month

MonthYearClubRef.
2025.12025 Barcelona
2025.22025 Barcelona
2025.32025 Barcelona
2025.42025 Barcelona
2025.52025 Corinthians
2025.62025 Palmeiras
2025.72025 Pachuca
2025.82025 Corinthians
2025.92025 Twente
2025.102025 Barcelona
2025.112025 Bayern Munich
2025.122025 Barcelona