20 Greatest Teams in Football History Ranked by Fans

There are plenty of debates to be had in football. Who are the best players of all time? Who should be winning the Ballon d’Or? Did that Geoff Hurst goal really cross the line? The list is endless, and for most of them, the answer is likely to vary from person to person.

The same applies to who the greatest teams are in the sport’s glorious history. There have been so many incredible outfits down the years that have not only cemented their legacy, but in some cases have had cultural impact beyond football, that categorising them is often a thankless task.

However, thanks to research conducted by OLBG, as per The Sun, fans have voted for who they think are the greatest teams to have ever taken to a football pitch, with the top 20 being named in order of the votes.

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Just missing out on the top 10 are a collection of magical teams, starting with the France team that ruled European international football between 1982-1986, led by Michel Platini. The Gerd Muller and Johan Cruyff-led West Germany and Ajax follow in 19th and 18th respectively.

The Bayern Munich team who won three consecutive European Cups in the 1970s are next, before Jamie Carragher’s pick for the greatest story in English football – that being Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forest, who also won consecutive European Cups. The 1993-1994 Barcelona team also makes their way in, just behind the mercurial Brazil team at the 1982 World Cup.

Manchester City’s Centurions also miss out on the top 10, with a Zinedine Zidane-led France the final outfit to fall just short of the top half of this table.

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10

Real Madrid

1984-1990

Between 1984 and 1990, Real Madrid experienced yet another golden era, led by the legendary group ‘La Quinta del Buitre’ – Emilio Butragueno, Michel, Miguel Pardeza, Manolo Sanchis, and Rafael Martin Vazquez.

Known for their attractive attacking football, they dominated Spanish football. Under coaches Luis Molowny and Leo Beenhakker, Madrid won five consecutive La Liga titles (1985-1990), two UEFA Cups (1985, 1986), one Copa del Rey (1989), and three Spanish Super Cups.

Long before the period of Galacticos, this was a Madrid side that was much closer to their roots than more modern teams but still maintained their greatness in domestic and continental football.

9

Manchester United

1966-1968

Manchester United completed a remarkable recovery from the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, which had devastated the club, when they became the first English club to win the European Cup just ten years later.

Under legendary manager Sir Matt Busby, who survived the crash, the team was rebuilt with a mix of youth and experience. Key players included George Best, Bobby Charlton (a crash survivor), Denis Law, and Nobby Stiles.

The 1968 European Cup triumph against Benfica, fittingly at the home of English football, was the culmination of a story filled with heartbreak, but is perhaps the cornerstone of what makes the Old Trafford outfit so special.

8

Manchester City

2022-2023

The 2022-2023 season marked a historic milestone for Manchester City as they became the second team in English football to secure themselves a treble. With Pep Guardiola in the hotseat, the team showcased tactical brilliance and relentless energy.

They outpaced Arsenal to win the league, defeated Manchester United 2-1 in the FA Cup final, and claimed their first-ever Champions League trophy with a 1-0 victory over Inter Milan. Erling Haaland’s record-breaking 52 goals spearheaded the attack and made him the signing of the season, with vital contributions from Kevin De Bruyne and Rodri behind him. This remarkable achievement established City as one of the world’s elite clubs, as the elusive European glory had been holding them back up until that point.

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7

Arsenal

2003-2004

The 2003–2004 season was a defining moment for Arsenal as they completed an unbeaten Premier League campaign, earning the moniker ‘The Invincibles.’ Managed by Arsene Wenger, the team was the culmination of modern European football truly infiltrating the English game, with Wenger often being credited as the man to change the culture of the sport in the region.

Key players included Thierry Henry, who was the league’s top scorer, alongside instrumental club Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, and Sol Campbell, whose controversial move from Tottenham paid dividends following this incredible success.

Many still view this collective as being one of, if not the greatest in Premier League history, but the fact that they only claimed one trophy over this period holds them back.

6

Spain

2008-2012

If you want to see what international domination looks like, look no further than Spain’s side between 2008–2012. Taking the tiki-taka style that a certain Pep Guardiola was beginning to make famous at Barcelona, La Roja were untouchable as the rest of the world succumbed to their possession game.

Spain won three major tournaments in a row: the UEFA Euro 2008, the 2010 FIFA World Cup, and UEFA Euro 2012 – placing themselves in a one-of-one club. They possessed the greatest midfield in the game, being able to pick any one of Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Cesc Fabregas, Sergio Busquets, Xabi Alonso and more. And with defenders like Sergio Ramos, Gerard Pique and Carles Puyol behind them, they had a defence that was just as difficult to get past.

5

Real Madrid

1955-1960

If there’s one team that defined European dominance in its early years, it’s Real Madrid between 1955 and 1960. Madrid won the first five European Cups in a row, a record that still stands to this day. Led by the legendary Alfredo Di Stefano, alongside Ferenc Puskas, Paco Gento, Raymond Kopa, and later Jose Santamaria, they played with flair, pace, and attacking brilliance.

The 1960 European Cup final—a 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt—is still considered one of the greatest performances in football history. This golden era made Real Madrid the face of European football and laid the foundation for their global legacy.

4

Liverpool

1975-1984

From 1975 to 1984, Liverpool built one of the most dominant dynasties football has ever seen. Under Bob Paisley and later Joe Fagan, the club mastered the art of winning with quiet authority and unmatched consistency, both domestically and in Europe.

In that time, Liverpool won six First Division titles, three European Cups (1977, 1978, 1981), a UEFA Cup (1976), and four consecutive League Cups.

Their squad was stacked with icons: Kenny Dalglish’s intelligence, Graeme Souness’s steel, Kevin Keegan’s drive, Ian Rush’s goals, and the defensive leadership of Alan Hansen and Ray Clemence. This Liverpool side didn’t just win. They defined an era, setting a standard few clubs have reached since.

3

Brazil

1970

The greatest national team of all time. If there’s a team that captured the pure joy of football, it’s Brazil in 1970. At a time where global football wasn’t as easily accessible as it is in the modern day, they lit up the World Cup in Mexico with attacking flair, technical brilliance, and unforgettable moments.

Brazil won all six matches to lift their third World Cup, beating Italy 4-1 in the final. The team was stacked with legends: Pele, Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino, and Carlos Alberto formed a fluid, attacking unit that overwhelmed opponents with skill and movement. Pele became the first player to win three World Cups, and Carlos Alberto’s goal in the final remains one of the most iconic ever. This was football at its most beautiful.

2

Barcelona

2008-2012

Under Pep Guardiola, Barcelona produced a style of play – tiki-taka – that combined relentless pressing, short passing, and positional mastery. It wasn’t just dominant. It was revolutionary and remains the standard bearer of football to this day.

During this era, Los Cules won three La Liga titles, two Champions Leagues (2009, 2011), two Copa del Rey trophies, and two FIFA Club World Cups. The team was built around a golden core: Lionel Messi at his unstoppable best, supported by Xavi, Andres Iniesta and other world-class talents. Their 2011 Champions League final win over Manchester United is still seen as one of the most complete performances in football history and the finest hour of an incredible team.

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1

Manchester United

1998-1999

Manchester City’s treble was fantastic, but Manchester United’s was the first and saw them overcome stiffer obstacles. While the Red Devils had been the best team in England for most of the decade, the level of competition in the English top flight was stiffer than when City claimed their title in 2023. But it was the European competition that Sir Alex Ferguson’s men had to overcome that made their achievement so special.

The Premier League was not the domestic superpower it is now. La Liga, Serie A and Bundesliga were all superior at the time. United had to topple Barcelona in their group, Inter Milan and Juventus in the knockout stages before beating Bayern Munich (who were also in their group) in one of the most memorable finals of all time. Their death-defying comebacks made them impossible to miss and have aided their position as the greatest team of all time according to the fans.