Palmeiras first Brazil team elected world’s number one

FIFA Club World Cup isn’t kicking off until February 3, but Palmeiras may already claim to be the planet’s number one team. The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) placed them atop their ranking for 2021. In 16 editions, this is the first time a Brazilian club bags the title. In 2020, Palmeiras ranked second, preceded by Bayern Munich.

The biggest winner is Barcelona (winner five times), followed by Real Madrid (4) and Liverpool (3). Manchester United, Sevilla, Inter Milan, and Juventus had it twice. Rome, Ajax, PSG, Valencia, Atlético Madrid, and Nacional Atlético Clube were elected once.

The ranking is said to name the strongest team across all competitions, both domestic and international. The result is based on the combined score from each competition, January through December. Palmeiras won the Copa Libertadores twice in 2021—the 2020 edition, against Santos at Maracanã as well as the 2021 edition, against Flamengo in Montevideo. The team also came out victorious from the 2020 Brazil Cup, in a final match against Grêmio in March 2021.

In addition to Palmeiras, other Brazilian teams made it to high positions on the list. Atlético Mineiro, Brazil’s number one and the winner of the Brazil Cup, came second. Pep Guardiola’s mighty Manchester City ranked third. Chelsea and Flamengo tied up in theC. Also remarkable was Athletico Paranaense, victor of the South American Cup, number ten.