The Ten Greatest Soccer Nations

The greatest soccer nations in the history of the sport, ranked by overall success on the world stage across generations. Rankings take into account World Cup, Confederation, Euro, Copa America, and Olympic finishes, as well as current FIFA ranking, famous countrymen, and national league prowess.

1) Brazil

Greatest Players: Pelé, Ronaldo, Garrincha, Zico, Jairzinho, Didi, Carlos Alberto, Romário, Rivaldo, Tostao, Gérson, Ronaldinho, Nílton Santos, Roberto Rivelino, Cafu, Vavá, Zizinho, Djalma Santos, Kaká, Leônidas, Falcão, Arthur Friedenreich, Roberto Carlos, Mario Zagallo

 

2) Germany
Current FIFA Ranking: 1
Hardware: 4 World Cups (13 semifinal appearances), 3 Euro Cups, 1 Olympic gold medal (East Germany)
Top Club League: Bundesliga

Greatest Players: Franz Beckenbauer, Lothar Matthäus, Gerd Müller, Paul Breitner, Gunter Netzer, Fritz Walter, Sepp Maier, Matthias Sammer, Karl-Heinz Schnellinger,Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Uwe Seeler, Oliver Kahn, Andreas Brehme, Helmut Rahn, Phillip Lahm, Miroslav Klose

 

3)  Italy
Current FIFA Ranking: 20
Hardware: 4 World Cups (8 semifinal appearances), 1 Euro Cup, 1 Olympic gold medal

Top Club League: Serie A

Greatest Players: Giuseppe Meazza, Giacinto Facchetti, Paolo Maldini, Gianluigi Buffon, Gaetano Scirea, Franco Baresi, Roberto Baggio, Dino Zoff, Paolo Rossi, Gianni Rivera, Fabio Cannavaro, Tarcisio Burgnich, Valentino Mazzola, Sandro Mazzola, Luigi Riva, Alessandro Del Piero, Giuseppe Bergomi

 

4)  Argentina
Current FIFA Ranking: 5
Hardware: 2 World Cups (5 semifinal appearances), 1 Confederations Cup, 14 Copa Americas, 2 Olympic gold medals

Top Club League: Argentine Primera División

Greatest Players: Diego Maradona, Lionel Messi, Alfredo Di Stéfano (played much of international career for Spain), Mario Kempes, José Manuel Moreno, Adolfo Pedernera, Ángel Labruna, Gabriel Batistuta, Daniel Passarella, Silvio Marzolini, Omar Sívori, Sergio Batista

 

5)  Spain
Current FIFA Ranking: 8
Hardware: 1 World Cup (2 semifinal appearances), 3 Euro Cups, 1 Olympic gold medal

Top Club League: La Liga

Greatest Players: Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Emilio Butragueno, Telmo Zarra, Luis Suárez, Amancio, László Kubala, Francisco Gento, Iker Casillas, Ricardo Zamora, David Villa, Carlos Puyol

6)  France
Current FIFA Ranking: 7
Hardware: 1 World Cup (5 semifinal appearances), 2 Confederations Cups, 2 Euro Cups, 1 Olympic gold medal

Top Club League: Ligue 1

Greatest Players: Zinedine Zidane, Michel Platini, Thierry Henry, Just Fontaine, Raymond Kopa, Marcel Desailly, Eric Cantona, Robert Jonquet, Frank Ribery, Lilian Thuram

 

7)  England
Current FIFA Ranking: 13
Hardware: 1 World Cup (2 semifinal appearances), 3 Olympic gold medals

Top Club League: Premier League

Greatest Players: Bobby Charlton, Stanley Matthews, Bobby Moore, Dixie Dean, Kevin Keegan, Jimmy Greaves, Gordon Banks, Stephen Bloomer, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Ashley Cole, Tom Finney, Wayne Rooney, Gary Lineker, Geoff Hurst, Paul Gascoigne

 

8)  Uruguay
Current FIFA Ranking: 17
Hardware: 2 World Cups (5 semifinal appearances), 15 Copa Americas, 2 Olympic gold medals

Top Club League: Primera División Uruguaya

Greatest Players: Obdulio Varela, Juan Alberto Schiaffino, Enzo Francescoli, Jose Andrade, Héctor Scarone, Luis Cubilla, Diego Forlán, José Nasazzi, Roque Máspoli, Luis Suarez, Alcides Ghiggia

 

9)  Netherlands
Current FIFA Ranking: 19
Hardware: 1 Euro Cup, 5 World Cup semifinal appearances
Top Club League: Eredivisie

Greatest Players: Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, Ruud Gullit, Ronald Koeman, Dennis Bergkamp, Johan Neeskens, Ruud Krol, Arie Haan, Frank Rijkaard, Johnny Rep, Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie, Frank de Boer, Wesley Sneijder

 

10)  Portugal
Current FIFA Ranking: 4
Hardware: 2 World Cup semifinal appearances, 2004 Euro Cup runner-up
Top Club League: Primiera Liga

Greatest Players: Eusébio, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luís Figo, Rui Costa, Mário Coluna