| IFFHS World's Best Man Club | |
| Sport: | Association football |
| Competition: | Association and confederation tournaments as well as FIFA Club World Cup |
| Givenfor: | Best performing man club of the calendar year |
| Presenter: | International Federation of Football History & Statistics |
| First: | 1991 |
| Number: | 33 |
| Firstwinner: | Roma |
| Mostwins: | Barcelona (5 awards) |
| Mostrecent: | Manchester City (1st award) |
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.
| National Leagues in Level 1 | 4.0 | 2.0 | |
| National Leagues in Level 2 | 3.0 | 1.5 | |
| National Leagues in Level 3 | 2.0 | 1.0 | |
| National Leagues in Level 4 | 1.0 | 0.5 |
| UEFA Champions League | 14.0 | 7.0 | |
| UEFA Europa League | 12.0 | 6.0 | |
| Copa Libertadores | 14.0 | 7.0 | |
| Copa Sudamericana | 12.0 | 6.0 | |
| CAF Champions League | 9.0 | 4.5 | |
| CAF Cup (defunct) | 7.0 | 3.5 | |
| AFC Champions League | 9.0 | 4.5 | |
| AFC Cup | 7.0 | 3.5 | |
| CONCACAF Champions League | 9.0 | 4.5 | |
| OFC Champions League | 5.0 | 2.5 | |
| FIFA Club World Cup (semi-finals) | 14.0 | 7.0 | |
| FIFA Club World Cup (final)[2] | 21.0 | 10.5 |
| Barcelona | 5 (1997, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015) | 2 (2001, 2019) | 4 (1993, 1996, 2010, 2016) | |
| Real Madrid | 4 (2000, 2002, 2014, 2017) | 5 (2003, 2011, 2013, 2016, 2018) | 1 (1992) | |
| Liverpool | 3 (2001, 2005, 2019) | 0 | 2 (2008, 2022) | |
| Bayern Munich | 2 (2013, 2020) | 3 (2008, 2010, 2014) | 3 (1998, 2001, 2005) | |
| Juventus | 2 (1993, 1996) | 3 (1995, 1997, 2015) | 0 | |
| Manchester United | 2 (1999, 2008) | 2 (2002, 2007) | 3 (2004, 2009, 2017) | |
| Milan | 2 (1995, 2003) | 2 (1992, 1993) | 2 (1994, 2007) | |
| Inter Milan | 2 (1998, 2010) | 2 (2005, 2006) | 1 (2023) | |
| Sevilla | 2 (2006, 2007) | 0 | 0 | |
| Palmeiras | 1 (2021) | 3 (1999, 2020, 2022) | 0 | |
| Manchester City | 1 (2023) | 0 | 2 (2019, 2021) | |
| Roma | 1 (1991) | 0 | 1 (2006) | |
| Ajax | 1 (1992) | 0 | 1 (1995) | |
| Paris Saint-Germain | 1 (1994) | 0 | 1 (2020) | |
| Atlético Madrid | 1 (2018) | 0 | 1 (2014) | |
| Valencia | 1 (2004) | 0 | 0 | |
| Atlético Nacional | 1 (2016) | 0 | 0 | |
| Flamengo | 1 (2022) | 0 | 0 | |
| Chelsea | 0 | 2 (2009, 2012) | 1 (2013) | |
| Boca Juniors | 0 | 1 (2004) | 2 (2000, 2012) | |
| Parma | 0 | 1 (1994) | 1 (1999) | |
| Red Star Belgrade | 0 | 1 (1991) | 0 | |
| América de Cali | 0 | 1 (1996) | 0 | |
| Vasco da Gama | 0 | 1 (1998) | 0 | |
| Galatasaray | 0 | 1 (2000) | 0 | |
| Grêmio | 0 | 1 (2017) | 0 | |
| Atlético Mineiro | 0 | 1 (2021) | 0 | |
| Marseille | 0 | 0 | 1 (1991) | |
| Borussia Dortmund | 0 | 0 | 1 (1997) | |
| Arsenal | 0 | 0 | 1 (2002) | |
| Santos | 0 | 0 | 1 (2003) | |
| Vélez Sarsfield | 0 | 0 | 1 (2011) | |
| Napoli | 0 | 0 | 1 (2015) | |
| Red Bull Salzburg | 0 | 0 | 1 (2018) |
| 13 | 5 | ||
| 7 | 4 | ||
| 6 | 3 | ||
| 2 | 2 | ||
| 2 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 1 | ||
| 1 | 1 |
Bold indicates the World's Best Man Club winner.
| Year | Confederation | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | UEFA | Bayern Munich[37] |
| CONMEBOL | Palmeiras[38] | |
| CONCACAF | UANL[39] | |
| CAF | Al Ahly[40] | |
| AFC | Ulsan Hyundai[41] | |
| OFC | Magenta[42] | |
| 2021 | UEFA | Manchester City[43] |
| CONMEBOL | Palmeiras[44] | |
| CONCACAF | Comunicaciones[45] | |
| CAF | Al Ahly[46] | |
| AFC | Ulsan Hyundai[47] | |
| OFC | Team Wellington[48] | |
| 2022 | UEFA | Liverpool[49] |
| CONMEBOL | Flamengo | |
| CONCACAF | Alajuelense[50] | |
| CAF | Al Ahly[51] | |
| AFC | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors[52] | |
| OFC | Auckland City[53] | |
| 2023 | UEFA | Manchester City[54] |
| CONMEBOL | Fluminense[55] | |
| CONCACAF | Club León[56] | |
| CAF | Al Ahly[57] | |
| AFC | Al Hilal[58] | |
| OFC | Auckland City[59] | |
In 2009, the IFFHS released the results of a statistical study series which determined the best continental clubs of the 20th century.[60] 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.[61]
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.[62] [63] [64]
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).[65]
| 1 | Barcelona | UEFA | 2,550 | |
| 2 | Manchester United | UEFA | 2,523 | |
| 3 | Liverpool | UEFA | 2,414 | |
| 4 | Arsenal | UEFA | 2,410 | |
| 5 | Inter Milan | UEFA | 2,358 | |
| 6 | Bayern Munich | UEFA | 2,315 | |
| 7 | Milan | UEFA | 2,296 | |
| 8 | Real Madrid | UEFA | 2,257 | |
| 9 | Chelsea | UEFA | 2,235 | |
| 10 | Boca Juniors | CONMEBOL | 2,095 |
| 1 | Barcelona[67] | Boca Juniors[68] | América[69] | Al Ahly[70] | Al-Hilal[71] | Auckland City[72] | |
| 2 | Manchester United | São Paulo | Guadalajara | Espérance de Tunis | Pakhtakor Tashkent | Ba | |
| 3 | Liverpool | River Plate | Cruz Azul | Étoile du Sahel | Al-Ittihad | Perth Glory | |
| 4 | Arsenal | Cruzeiro | Pachuca | ASEC Mimosas | Gamba Osaka | Waitakere United | |
| 5 | Inter Milan | Santos | Toluca | Coton Sport | Kashima Antlers | Pirae |
In 2021, Barcelona were recognised as the world's best club also for the second decade (2011–2020).[73]
| 1 | Barcelona | UEFA | 2,877 | |
| 2 | Real Madrid | UEFA | 2,782 | |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | UEFA | 2,594.5 | |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | UEFA | 2,357 | |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | UEFA | 2,302 | |
| 6 | Juventus | UEFA | 2,272 | |
| 7 | Chelsea | UEFA | 2,113 | |
| Manchester City | UEFA | |||
| 9 | Manchester United | UEFA | 2,020 | |
| 10 | Arsenal | UEFA | 2,016 |
| 1 | Barcelona[75] | Grêmio[76] | UANL[77] | Espérance de Tunis[78] | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors[79] | Auckland City[80] | |
| 2 | Real Madrid | Atlético Nacional | Monterrey | Al Ahly | Al-Hilal | Team Wellington | |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | River Plate | América | Étoile du Sahel | Ulsan Hyundai | Magenta | |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | Boca Juniors | Santos Laguna | Zamalek | FC Seoul | Hienghène Sport | |
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | Club Libertad | Cruz Azul | TP Mazembe | Al-Ahli | Tefana |
| IFFHS World's Best Woman Club | |
| Sport: | Association football |
| Competition: | association and confederation tournaments |
| Givenfor: | Best performing woman club of the calendar year |
| Presenter: | International Federation of Football History & Statistics |
| First: | 2012 |
| Number: | 12 |
| Firstwinner: | Lyon |
| Mostwins: | Lyon (7 awards) |
| Mostrecent: | Barcelona (3rd award) |
| Year | Rank | Club | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1st | Lyon | 132 |
| 2nd | 1. FFC Frankfurt | 96 | |
| 3rd | 1. FFC Turbine Potsdam | 32 | |
| 2013 | 1st | VfL Wolfsburg | 140 |
| 2nd | Lyon | 96 | |
| 3rd | Portland Thorns FC | 41 | |
| 2014 | 1st | VfL Wolfsburg | 189 |
| 2nd | Lyon | 73 | |
| 3rd | FC Kansas City | 48 | |
| 2015 | 1st | Lyon | 142 |
| 2nd | 1. FFC Frankfurt | 100 | |
| 3rd | Bayern Munich | 46 | |
| 2016 | 1st | Lyon | 241 |
| 2nd | VfL Wolfsburg | 101 | |
| 3rd | Bayern Munich | 34 | |
| 2017 | 1st | Lyon[81] | 303 |
| 2nd | Paris Saint-Germain | 79 | |
| 3rd | VfL Wolfsburg | 78 | |
| 2018 | 1st | Lyon[82] | 302 |
| 2nd | VfL Wolfsburg | 138 | |
| 3rd | North Carolina Courage | 37 | |
| 2019 | 1st | Lyon[83] | 284 |
| 2nd | Barcelona | 105 | |
| 3rd | North Carolina Courage | 36 | |
| 2020 | 1st | Lyon[84] | 360 |
| 2nd | Bayern Munich Paris Saint-Germain North Carolina Courage Chelsea Barcelona | 5 | |
| 3rd | – | ||
| 2021 | 1st | Barcelona[85] | 225 |
| 2nd | Chelsea | 40 | |
| 3rd | Corinthians | 30 | |
| 2022 | 1st | Barcelona[86] | 738 |
| 2nd | Chelsea | 546 | |
| 3rd | Lyon | 532 | |
| 2023 | 1st | Barcelona[87] | 609 |
| 2nd | Lyon | 434 | |
| 3rd | Corinthians | 384 | |
| Club | Wins | Years | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lyon | 7 | 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 | |
| Barcelona | 3 | 2021, 2022, 2023 | |
| VfL Wolfsburg | 2 | 2013, 2014 |
| 7 | 1 | ||
| 3 | 1 | ||
| 2 | 1 |
Bold indicates the World's Best Woman Club winner.
| Year | Confederation | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | UEFA | Barcelona[89] |
| CONMEBOL | Corinthians[90] | |
| CONCACAF | Portland Thorns FC[91] | |
| CAF | Hasaacas[92] | |
| AFC | Melbourne Victory[93] | |
| OFC | Southern United[94] |
| Year | Confederation | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | UEFA | Barcelona[95] |
| CONMEBOL | Palmeiras[96] | |
| CONCACAF | Chivas Guadalajara[97] | |
| CAF | Mamelodi Sundowns[98] | |
| AFC | Incheon Red Angels[99] | |
| OFC | Northern Rovers[100] |
| Year | Confederation | Winner |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | UEFA | Barcelona[101] |
| CONMEBOL | Corinthians[102] | |
| CONCACAF | América[103] | |
| CAF | Mamelodi Sundowns[104] | |
| AFC | Urawa Red Diamonds[105] | |
| OFC | Western Springs[106] Auckland United |
In 2021, Lyon were recognised as the world's best club for the second decade (2011–2020).[107]
| 1 | Lyon | UEFA | 178 | |
| 2 | VfL Wolfsburg | UEFA | 130 | |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | UEFA | 98 | |
| 4 | Paris Saint-Germain | UEFA | 97 | |
| 5 | Portland Thorns FC | CONCACAF | 87 | |
| 6 | Barcelona | UEFA | 74 | |
| 7 | Chelsea | UEFA | 69 | |
| 8 | North Carolina Courage | CONCACAF | 67 | |
| 9 | Manchester City | UEFA | 48 | |
| 10 | Rosengård | UEFA | 47 |