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 (IFFHS), 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 (including play-offs) and the most important national cup (excluding points won before the round of 16).
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. (win), 1.5 (draw) and 0 (lost), 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 +Criteria for national competitions:CompetitionPoints for a winPoints for a drawNational Leagues in Level 14.02.0National Leagues in Level 23.01.5National Leagues in Level 32.01.0National Leagues in Level 41.00.5 +Criteria for international competitions:CompetitionPoints for a winPoints for a drawUEFA Champions League14.07.0UEFA Europa League12.06.0Copa Libertadores14.07.0Copa Sudamericana12.06.0CAF Champions League9.04.5CAF Cup (defunct)7.03.5AFC Champions League9.04.5AFC Cup7.03.5CONCACAF Champions League9.04.5OFC Champions League5.02.5FIFA Club World Cup (semi-finals)14.07.0FIFA Club World Cup (final)Or Intercontinental Cup from 1991 to 2005.21.010.5
Men's winners
List of winners YearRankClubPoints19911st Roma347.52nd Red Star Belgrade344.53rd Marseille299.519921st Ajax3312nd Milan3303rd Real Madrid32319931st Juventus372.52nd Milan367.53rd Barcelona31919941st Paris Saint-Germain3342nd Parma332.53rd Milan31019951st Milan367.52nd Juventus3203rd Ajax30019961st Juventus3352nd América de Cali261.53rd Barcelona25619971st Barcelona3782nd Juventus3103rd Borussia Dortmund30819981st Inter Milan3262nd Vasco da Gama295.53rd Bayern Munich28819991st Manchester United3612nd Palmeiras2913rd Parma28920001st Real Madrid3272nd Galatasaray3223rd Boca Juniors29620011st Liverpool3582nd Barcelona2983rd Bayern Munich29220021st Real Madrid3122nd Manchester United3063rd Arsenal28920031st Milan2952nd Real Madrid2933rd Santos28420041st Valencia2742nd Boca Juniors2703rd Manchester United26520051st Liverpool3172nd Inter Milan3073rd Bayern Munich28120061st Sevilla2952nd Inter Milan2863rd Roma27720071st Sevilla3062nd Manchester United2813rd Milan28020081st Manchester United2922nd Bayern Munich2723rd Liverpool26720091st Barcelona3412nd Chelsea2923rd Manchester United29120101st Inter Milan3002nd Bayern Munich2683rd Barcelona26620111st Barcelona3672nd Real Madrid3123rd Vélez Sarsfield27120121st Barcelona3072nd Chelsea2793rd Boca Juniors27820131st Bayern Munich3702nd Real Madrid2903rd Chelsea27320141st Real Madrid3812nd Bayern Munich2763rd Atlético Madrid26720151st Barcelona3792nd Juventus2863rd Napoli26820161st Atlético Nacional3832nd Real Madrid3103rd Barcelona28020171st Real Madrid3282nd Grêmio2863rd Manchester United28420181st Atlético Madrid2892nd Real Madrid2843rd Red Bull Salzburg27820191st Liverpool3162nd Barcelona2933rd Manchester City28420201st Bayern Munich2602nd Palmeiras2303rd Paris Saint-Germain22620211st Palmeiras3222nd Atlético Mineiro3133rd Manchester City30020221st Flamengo2992nd Palmeiras2843rd Liverpool27320231st Manchester City3592nd Real Madrid3323rd Inter Milan28920241st Real Madrid4412nd Bayer Leverkusen3843rd Atalanta38020251st Paris Saint-Germain6132nd Real Madrid4713rd Chelsea447
Statistics +Winners (1991–present)ClubWinsRunners upThird place Real Madrid5 (2000, 2002, 2014, 2017, 2024)7 (2003, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2023, 2025)1 (1992) Barcelona5 (1997, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015)2 (2001, 2019)4 (1993, 1996, 2010, 2016) Liverpool3 (2001, 2005, 2019)02 (2008, 2022) Bayern Munich2 (2013, 2020)3 (2008, 2010, 2014)3 (1998, 2001, 2005) Juventus2 (1993, 1996)3 (1995, 1997, 2015)0 Manchester United2 (1999, 2008)2 (2002, 2007)3 (2004, 2009, 2017) Milan2 (1995, 2003)2 (1992, 1993)2 (1994, 2007) Inter Milan2 (1998, 2010)2 (2005, 2006)1 (2023) Paris Saint-Germain2 (1994, 2025)01 (2020) Sevilla2 (2006, 2007)00 Palmeiras1 (2021)3 (1999, 2020, 2022)0 Manchester City1 (2023)02 (2019, 2021) Roma1 (1991)01 (2006) Ajax1 (1992)01 (1995) Atlético Madrid1 (2018)01 (2014) Valencia1 (2004)00 Atlético Nacional1 (2016)00 Flamengo1 (2022)00 Chelsea02 (2009, 2012)2 (2013, 2025) Boca Juniors01 (2004)2 (2000, 2012) Parma01 (1994)1 (1999) Red Star Belgrade01 (1991)0 América de Cali01 (1996)0 Vasco da Gama01 (1998)0 Galatasaray01 (2000)0 Grêmio01 (2017)0 Atlético Mineiro01 (2021)0 Bayer Leverkusen01 (2024)0 Marseille001 (1991) Borussia Dortmund001 (1997) Arsenal001 (2002) Santos001 (2003) Vélez Sarsfield001 (2011) Napoli001 (2015) Red Bull Salzburg001 (2018) Atalanta001 (2024) +Wins by countryCountryTotalClubs14574632221211111
Continental rankings
Bold indicates the World's Best Man Club winner.
YearConfederationWinner2020UEFA Bayern MunichCONMEBOL PalmeirasCONCACAF UANLCAF Al AhlyAFC Ulsan HyundaiOFC Magenta2021UEFA Manchester CityCONMEBOL PalmeirasCONCACAF ComunicacionesCAF Al AhlyAFC Ulsan HyundaiOFC Team Wellington2022UEFA LiverpoolCONMEBOL FlamengoCONCACAF AlajuelenseCAF Al AhlyAFC Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsOFC Auckland City2023UEFA Manchester CityCONMEBOL FluminenseCONCACAF Club LeónCAF Al AhlyAFC Al HilalOFC Auckland City2024UEFA Real MadridCONMEBOL BotafogoCONCACAF AlajuelenseCAF Al AhlyAFC Al HilalOFC Auckland City2025UEFA Paris Saint-GermainCONMEBOL FlamengoCONCACAF Cruz AzulCAF PyramidsAFC Al HilalOFC Auckland City
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 (except in the Oceania's club ranking due to limited editions held under OFC club competitions), 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. +Continental rankingsRankEuropeSouth AmericaCONCACAFAfricaAsiaOceania1 Real Madrid Peñarol Saprissa Asante Kotoko Al-Hilal South Melbourne2 Juventus Independiente Olimpia Al Ahly Yokohama F. Marinos Sydney City3 Barcelona Nacional Comunicaciones Zamalek Esteghlal Marconi Stallions4 Milan River Plate Municipal Canon Yaoundé Persepolis Wollongong Wolves5 Bayern Munich Olimpia Transvaal ASEC Mimosas Seongnam FC University-Mount Wellington6 Inter Milan Boca Juniors Alajuelense Hearts of Oak Al-Nassr Melbourne Knights7 Ajax Cruzeiro Necaxa Espérance de Tunis Pohang Steelers Adelaide City8 Liverpool São Paulo Cruz Azul Hafia FC Tokyo Verdy Napier City Rovers9 Benfica América de Cali Alianza Africa Sports Liaoning Tafea10 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 (2001–2010). +Top 10 clubsRankClubConfederationPoints1 BarcelonaUEFA2,5502 Manchester UnitedUEFA2,5233 LiverpoolUEFA2,4144 ArsenalUEFA2,4105 Inter MilanUEFA2,3586 Bayern MunichUEFA2,3157 MilanUEFA2,2968 Real MadridUEFA2,2579 ChelseaUEFA2,23510 Boca JuniorsCONMEBOL2,095 +Top 5 continental clubsRankEuropeSouth AmericaCONCACAFAfricaAsiaOceania1 Barcelona Boca Juniors América Al Ahly Al-Hilal Auckland City2 Manchester United São Paulo Guadalajara Espérance de Tunis Pakhtakor Tashkent Ba3 Liverpool River Plate Cruz Azul Étoile du Sahel Al-Ittihad Perth Glory4 Arsenal Cruzeiro Pachuca ASEC Mimosas Gamba Osaka Waitakere United5 Inter Milan Santos Toluca Coton Sport Kashima Antlers Pirae
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 (2011–2020). +Top 10 clubsRankLeagueConfederationPoints1 BarcelonaUEFA2,8772 Real MadridUEFA2,7823 Bayern MunichUEFA2,594.54 Paris Saint-GermainUEFA2,3575 Atlético MadridUEFA2,3026 JuventusUEFA2,2727 ChelseaUEFA2,113 Manchester CityUEFA9 Manchester UnitedUEFA2,02010 ArsenalUEFA2,016 +Top 5 continental clubsRankEuropeSouth AmericaCONCACAFAfricaAsiaOceania1 Barcelona Grêmio UANL Espérance de Tunis Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Auckland City2 Real Madrid Atlético Nacional Monterrey Al Ahly Al-Hilal Team Wellington3 Bayern Munich River Plate América Étoile du Sahel Ulsan Hyundai Magenta4 Paris Saint-Germain Boca Juniors Santos Laguna Zamalek FC Seoul Hienghène Sport5 Atlético Madrid Club Libertad Cruz Azul TP Mazembe Al-Ahli Tefana
The World's Best Men Club of the Month
MonthYearClubRef.2023.12023 Porto2023.22023 Real Madrid2023.32023 Feyenoord2023.42023 Real Madrid (2)2023.52023 Inter Milan2023.62023 Flamengo2023.72023 Corinthians2023.82023 Palmeiras2023.92023 Barcelona2023.102023 Bayern Munich2023.112023 PSV Eindhoven2023.122023 Manchester City2024.12024 Juventus2024.22024 Feyenoord (2)2024.32024 Milan2024.42024 Manchester City (2)2024.52024 Atalanta2024.62024 Internacional2024.72024 FCSB2024.82024 Sparta Prague2024.92024 Corinthians (2)2024.102024 Fiorentina2024.112024 Atlético Madrid2024.122024 Real Madrid (3)2025.12025 Arsenal2025.22025 Real Madrid (4)2025.32025 Barcelona (2)2025.42025 Barcelona (3)2025.52025 Paris Saint-Germain2025.62025 Fluminense2025.72025 Chelsea2025.82025 Flamengo (2)2025.92025 Bayern Munich (2)2025.102025 Arsenal (2)2025.112025 Atlético Madrid (2)2025.122025 Paris Saint-Germain (2)2026.12026 Bayern Munich (3)
Women's winners
List of winners YearRankClubPoints20121st Lyon1322nd 1. FFC Frankfurt963rd 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam3220131st VfL Wolfsburg1402nd Lyon963rd Portland Thorns FC4120141st VfL Wolfsburg1892nd Lyon733rd FC Kansas City4820151st Lyon1422nd 1. FFC Frankfurt1003rd Bayern Munich4620161st Lyon2412nd VfL Wolfsburg1013rd Bayern Munich3420171st Lyon3032nd Paris Saint-Germain793rd VfL Wolfsburg7820181st Lyon3022nd VfL Wolfsburg1383rd North Carolina Courage3720191st Lyon2842nd Barcelona1053rd North Carolina Courage3620201st Lyon3602nd Bayern Munich Paris Saint-Germain North Carolina Courage Chelsea Barcelona53rd–20211st Barcelona2252nd Chelsea403rd Corinthians3020221st Barcelona7382nd Chelsea5463rd Lyon53220231st Barcelona6092nd Lyon4343rd Corinthians38420241st Barcelona3242nd Lyon2563rd Chelsea22820251st Barcelona3292nd Real Madrid2383rd Bayern Munich233
Statistics +Winners (2012–present)ClubWinsYears Lyon72012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 Barcelona52021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 VfL Wolfsburg22013, 2014 +Wins by countryCountryTotalClubs715121
Continental rankings (women) Bold indicates the World's Best Woman Club winner.
YearConfederationWinner2021UEFA BarcelonaCONMEBOL CorinthiansCONCACAF Portland Thorns FCCAF HasaacasAFC Melbourne VictoryOFC Southern United
YearConfederationWinner2022UEFA BarcelonaCONMEBOL PalmeirasCONCACAF Chivas GuadalajaraCAF Mamelodi SundownsAFC Incheon Red AngelsOFC Northern Rovers