Criteria
one selection from a country
Difficulty of achievement
Specific time span (four years)
Milestone
The world cup is the highest level of international football followed by the European championship, which is at par with the Copa America, the Olympics then a senior category tournament(until 1992)but played at amateur level and the defunct confederation cup is a level lower, the newly introduced euro nations league is the hardest to win from the elite group stage to the knockout stages, but the ranking is slightly below the established regional championship.
Stats or Intuition which criteria is needed for choosing the best at the highest level?
Before the 21st century football generally regarded Pele and Maradona as the greatest with the Brazilian slightly ahead of Maradona, both were ahead of Platini,Cruyff and Di Stefano.
Maradona was considered better even with the Brazilian Ronaldo`s statistically having more titles both at club and international level. another impression Zidane was regarded highly, more so, than Iniesta and Xavi or even Modric that were so dominant at club level, other factors were definitely regarded better than stats. such considerations will also factor in determining the ranking factors for this article.
10.Croatia(2018-22)
This team was greatly underestimated in terms of their achievement, but if you consider their population size, speed of reaching the top and teams they have beaten then a lot of context becomes significant.although they may not be at this list if other countries were picked several times.At the Russia 2018 world cup, they convincingly topped their group that had Iceland, Nigeria and Argentina, winning all their matches. They reached the finals by defeating Denmark and Russia on penalties and England 2-1 in extra time matching the tournament record of going beyond 90 minutes in three successive duels, Croatia lost to France after a grueling route to the finals. they reached the semi finals again 4 years later in Qatar 2022 by knocking out Japan and tournament favorites Brazil both on penalties, they lost to Argentina that went on to lift the title. in both world cups, they lost to the champions it is note worthy to mention that they defeated the south Americans four years earlier, a team that had Messi and capable of winning multiple world titles.
9.Hungary(1950-1954)
The magnificent Magyars left an imprint in history, they marked football with the tactics that was the basis for total football in the 1950s, winning the Olympics a joint record 3 times during their golden era, led by the Legendary Puskas, they went on an unbeaten run of 31 games which was a record as at that time(1950-1954), they were stopped by Germany in the world cup finals despite taking a two goal lead, a team that they had crushed at the earlier rounds by 8-3, they were also the first to defeat England at wembley trouncing them 6-3 and ending their 90 years unbeaten home record in 1953,Hungary were indeed the best within that period winning the Olympic gold in Helsinki 1952(their first gold medal) they defeated the Olympic champion Sweden 6-0 in the semi finals and Yugoslavia by 2-0. Hungary set the record for the highest ELO rating in football in 1954 with 2230 points after defeating defending world champions Uruguay in the semi finals 4-2. it was a high point in their history.
8.Netherlands(1974-78)
The Dutch were renowned for taking football to another level, they revolutionized everything football both at club and the international stage, Feyenoord won the champions league in 1970 and Ajax took it a step further by winning the next three, it was with this success that they went to the world cup with both Legendary coaches. they reached both world cup finals in succession and losing both to hosts Germany and then Argentina, both outstanding teams with a home advantage, such factors can also make a difference but football can never forget the oranje for their attractive brand of total football, Rinus Michels the coach from Ajax was at the dug out with Johan Cruyff pulling the strings on the pitch in 1974, they defeated the defending world champion Brazil and the future champions Argentina in the second group stage in between the world cups they finished third at the European championship losing to the Czechoslovakia in the semi finals, the champions of Europe. at the 1978 world cup Ernst Happel took them to the finals he had won the European cup with Feyenoord, he qualified for the finals by topping a group that had Italy,Germany and Austria winning two matches and drawing with the world champions. they lost in the finals to Argentina by three goals to one after extra time. the Dutch total football influenced winning teams across Europe winning the European championship in 1988 with Rinus and at club level Cruyff won Barcelona`s first champions league title in 1992 and his midfield general Guardiola went on to win two more titles for them in 2009 and 2011 and another with Manchester City in 2023. it was from this system that another outstanding football variation tiki taka evolved.
7.Uruguay(1926-30)
The south Americans were the first winners of the world cup, they were also double Olympic champions winning it back to back in 1924 and 1928, at the semi finals of the world cup they thrashed Yugoslavia 6-1 and in the finals defeated Argentina by 4-2, they were the best La Celeste were also Copa America champions finishing ahead of Argentina, Chile, Paraguay and Bolivia in a round robin tournament.
6.Italy (1934-38)
The Italians were the first team to retain the world cup following up with the victory as host in 1934 with another in 1938 in France, they also won the Olympic gold in between in Germany 1936,in all the finals they defeated European opposition Czechoslovakia 2-1 and Hungary 4-2 at the world cup and Austria at the Olympics 2-1 after extra time just like their first world cup final win.
The golden Transformation
International football was radically changed after the second world war (1939-45) and the introduction of the European club competitions especially the European cup now regarded as the champions league strengthened the quality of the world cup and its prestige also reduced the Olympics until it became an underage competition currently for players under 23 with the allowance of three over age players in Barcelona 1992 which Spain won with Kiko,Enrique,Guardiola and Abelardo. also, the reduction of boycotts of top teams from continental world cups for whatever reasons made it a more highly competitive event. It became more difficult to win and more participation allowed more diversity. Records took more significance and global viewership increased awareness and enhanced quality.
5.Germany(1972-74)
Germany became a byword for consistency and trophies, Bayern Munich dominated Europe taking control from Ajax in the 70s, when they won the European championship by a comprehensive 3-o defeat of Belgium, they became the second European team after immediate incumbent champion Italy to win both the world cup and the European titles, in defeating the Dutch in the history defining world cup final match in Germany two years later, they became the first European champions to win the world cup having both in succession. The Dutch had Cruyff in attack while they had Muller, Neeskens was in midfield while the Germans had Overath, in defense it was Krol and Haan while Germany had the inspirational Beckenbauer the encounter was settled in the first half with a 2-1 lead which the Germans held on until the end adding to their second title won twenty years ago when they defeated another historical opposition in Hungary, it was a victory over total football with an efficient and disciplined approach.
4.France(1997-2001)
It was a remarkable era for a team that initially failed to reach her potential they missed two world cup appearances in the 1990s after two semi final appearances in the 1982 and 1986 world cups, a first European championship title in 1984, they reached the semifinals of the European championship held in England 1996 with had an unbeaten run that lasted for 30 matches, the 1997 team had a team ethic built by Aime Jacquet with a combination of different generations of talents that made them invisible, as host they broke new grounds reaching their first world cup finals when they beat Croatia 2-1, in victory they became first time winners in twenty years after Host Argentina`s win, breaking the monopoly between Brazil, Germany and Argentina that had won it twice from 1970. With Italy as the only winners within that period. They defeated US 1994 finalists Italy in the quarter finals and defending champions Brazil in the finals, they matched a long-standing record when they defeated Italy two years later at the European championship by joining Germany, as holding the world and European champions title in succession. They were the first World champions to win the regional title. They added the confederation cup a year later. Zidane was the symbol and architect of this vintage performance, a legend in this golden generation of talents. this was the greatest French team of any era.
3.Spain(2008-2012)
La Roja, became the first side in Europe`s history to retain the championship a trend in victory that was prevalent in most of the other regional competitions, it was a precedent set with two major breeding centers complimenting each other. La Masia provided Messi, Iniesta, Xavi, Busquets, Pique, Alba, Fabrigas and captain Puyol while Ronaldo`s Real Madrid provided Casillas, Alonso, Ramos and Carvajal, the quality from both sides and the rivalry for excellence between Messi and Ronaldo on one side and coaches Zidane,Ancelotti,Mourinho against Guardiola, Enrique and even Xavi had a glorious effect on both International sides Spain and another, At the European championship in Austria and Switzerland, The Spanish Side grew in confidence, they defeated world champions Italy on penalties and Russia, the 1960 champions in the semifinals, their second time in the competition and then beat three time winners Germany in the finals, at the world cup in south Africa, they lost their first match against Switzerland but defeated Honduras and Chile to reach the knockout stage. Portugal. Paraguay, Germany and Netherlands were all defeated by a lone goal although it took them extra time in the finals to score the winning goal through Iniesta. Spain became the final member of the Big 5 in Europe with the world title, two years later they defended the European championship defeating Portugal on penalties in the semi finals and dismantling Italy 4-0 in the finals, it was a master piece against a team that they drew with at the group stage. They joined France in the record books as the second world champion to conquer Europe. tiki taka was used to dominate the opposition, this system had grit, ball possession and work ethic with the team chemistry shaped in the best league in football, it was a performance made in Spain.
2.Argentina(2020-24)
This Argentine side had two Lionel, Messi and Scaloni, the coach was finally able to unlock and unleash Messi`s strength to devastating effect at the international stage, it started in the home of football, defeating defending champion and host Brazil at the Maracanã stadium to win the Copa America, equaling Uruguay as the most successful team in this competition, they won the Finalissima against the European champions Italy, in that stretch they overcame Spain`s unbeaten run by a match but failed to equal Italy`s world record 37 match unbeaten run, losing to Saudi Arabia in their opening world cup match, it was a burden that was shedded at the right time, they defeated Mexico and Poland by 2-0 each, in the knockout stage they brushed aside Australia 2-1 and won an enthralling quarter finals on penalties against the Dutch despite losing a two goal lead, in the next match,they avenged Croatia by the same 3-0 score line in the semifinals, the finals was against the French led by Mbappe, Messi`s teammate at PSG, the winner will move ahead with three world titles, France were the defending champions and with a win will become only the third side in history to retain this title, it was a classic that is regarded as one of the greatest final matches. both scored a multiple time, Mbappe with a hat trick and Messi with a brace, both scored again in the ensuing penalty shootout with Emiliano Martinez the hero saving against Conman. France missed another kick, Argentina won the title after outscoring the champions by 4-2 and also broke the stranglehold of Europe which had won the last four world titles. They maintained south America`s stranglehold in Asia with two wins from two finals(Brazil won in Japan/Korea 2002) they also joined Brazil, Germany and Spain to win in a different continent, in fact their three titles were in south America, north America and now Asia, when they retained their Copa America crown by defeating the red hot Colombia(undefeated in 28 matches) they took sole ownership as the most successful team with 16 titles. Messi`s Argentina was the other team that immensely benefited from the club domination in La Liga.
1.Brazil (1958-62)
The Brazilian national team are the benchmark for every footballing performance at the international level. The comparative parameter for greatness. They came into the Sweden 1958 world cup rejuvenated, rebuilt from the catastrophe of missing a first world cup trophy at home, eight years ago when a draw against south American rivals Uruguay would have been enough. They came with talent, squad depth, detailed preparation and tactical revolution. In a group of death which had debutants and Olympic champion the Soviet Union, bronze medalists Austria and England they played the first goalless draw in the competition in their second match against England and won the other matches. in their quarter final match against Wales (a team that eliminated Hungary, Brazil`s conquerors from the previous world cup)won by a lone goal scored by Pele setting a record as the youngest goal scorer at 17 years 239 days old, at that point Brazil had not conceded a goal, in the semifinals they turned on the style a 5-2 thrashing of France with Pele scoring a hat trick, they defeated 1948 Olympic champion and host with another 5-2 routing with Pele scoring a brace. Interestingly, the team that started the final match had several changes with Pele, Garrincha, D.Santos and Vava providing a relentlessness to optimize performance with form preferred to established names, they had a 4-2-4 formation which became 4-3-3 when they were defending with Zagallo dropping deep, creating a balance and compactness that helped their creativity and solidity. they reached another finals at the Copa America with Pele the highest goal scorer and best player, three years later, in Chile they defended their crown, at the group stage they won two beating Mexico and Spain and drew one another goalless encounter, England that held them in Sweden four years ago was beaten 3-1 in the quarter finals, they played the host like in the previous edition and won 4-2 conceding two goals similar to the last world cup semifinals which was also the same number of goals conceded to the previous host, the final was a rematch of the group game drawn against Czechoslovakia but had a different outcome, Brazil won 3-1, they joined Italy in winning the competition back to back, and with Uruguay became multiple winners significantly Brazil became the first team to win outside the continent and was also the first time that the Host failed to win when they defeated the Swedish in their first title win. It showed their remarkable achievement which had great panache and records.
