It is very difficult to say which is the best soccer team in the world. The argument will never be settled, nor is there a definite answer.
The debate can never stop, and the different factions will never agree because soccer cannot be truly, definitively conquered by a team.
While there are established clubs in the world of soccer that are reputable for their consistency, each season (and year) is always unique.
With surprises, collapses, and upsets always on the cards; several teams are always in contention for the best in the world each year.
In this article, TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the top 10 best soccer teams in the world in 2023.
The biggest omissions from the list are Juventus, Chelsea, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Athletico Madrid, and two of last season’s surprise packages; Villareal and Eintracht Frankfurt.
Inter, AC Milan, Athletico, and Juventus are struggling and have been very inconsistent. Juve’s situation has been worsened by off-the-pitch scandals.
Chelsea are going through their worst period in a decade, while Frankfurt ( last season’s Europa League winners) and Villareal (surprise UEFA Champions League semi-finalists) have both failed to reach the heights of last season.
This list of the best soccer teams in the world is judged based on performances in the 2022/23 season.
1. Manchester City
Manchester City showed great determination to defend their English Premier League crown despite the best efforts of an unrelenting Liverpool side last season.
Pep Guardiola’s men dramatically won the league on the final day of the season.
But, they were unfortunate to have conceded a last-minute goal in the Champions League semifinals to eventual champions, Real Madrid.
While Man City played most of their matches last season without a recognised striker, the arrival of Erling Haaland has added more firepower to the team in 2023.
The Norwegian has already broken a 94-year record set by Tommy Johnson to become the club’s highest goalscorer in a single season, with 39 goals so far.
Manchester City are still in the Premier League title race, sitting just 5 points behind leaders, Arsenal.
Furthermore, they stand a great chance of winning a first-ever UEFA Champions League title this year, having already reached the quarterfinals — destroying RB Leipzig 8-1 on aggregate in the round of 16.
2. Bayern Munich
The Bavarian club have always been regarded as one of the best soccer teams in the world, probably due to the fact that they are one of the few soccer clubs that have won everything.
Bayern Munich were brilliant last season but fumbled when it mattered most when they shockingly lost to Villareal in the Champions League quarterfinals.
They also got eliminated from the DFB-Pokal but managed to win a historic 10th consecutive Bundesliga title.
Furthermore, they lost talismanic striker Robert Lewandowski to Barcelona in the summer.
But the likes of Sadio Mane, Jamal Musiala, Eric Choupo Moting, Thomas Muller, and Leroy Sane have stepped up in place of the Polish striker.
Bayern are on top of the Bundesliga table and have reached the quarterfinal of the Champions League after eliminating PSG in the last round.
3. Real Madrid
With the struggles of Barcelona last season, Real Madrid dominated Spanish football and won the La Liga and the Supercopa de Espana.
To cap off a brilliant campaign, Carlo Ancelotti’s side won a record-extending 14th UEFA Champions League crown.
This means they have won Europe’s premier club football competition 5 times in the last 9 seasons.
Furthermore, Madrid became the first club across all of Europe’s top five leagues to officially win 100 trophies in all competitions.
Although they have been inconsistent this term — largely due to the poor form of Karim Benzema — the Blancos, have already won the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
They are also through to the Champions Leagues quarterfinals.
Real Madrid are undoubtedly among the best soccer teams in the world today. They are one of the soccer clubs that have won the most trophies.
4. Napoli
Napoli last won the Serie A title 33 years ago. In the past 10 years, they have finished in second place four times.
They are set for Scudetto glory this year and currently lead Serie A with 18 points ahead of second-placed Inter Milan.
Furthermore, they have reached the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals as the best side in the competition this season.
They are currently the best football team on the planet.
Amazingly, Napoli sold their best players ahead of this season in the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Dries Mertens, Fabian Ruiz, and Kalidou Koulibaly.
But the acquisition of the likes of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Kim Min-Jae, Mathías Olivera, and Eljif Elmas has even made the team better.
Nigerian striker, Victor Osimhen, has taken his game to another level at Napoli this season.
5. Arsenal
Arsenal were the youngest team in the Premier League last season, with an average starting age of 24 years and 308 days.
This relative lack of experience eventually cost them as they finished 5th in the league, narrowly missing out on UEFA Champions League football.
Mikel Arteta’s men have significantly improved this campaign and currently lead the Premier League table with 5 points.
Should the Gunners maintain their current form, they are on course to win the league title for the first time in 20 years.
The arrivals of Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Jorginho, and William Saliba (back from loan) have helped the team.
At the same time, the likes of Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Thomas Partey have raised their game.
Even though Arsenal were eliminated by Sporting CP on penalties in the 2022/23 Europa League, it doesn’t take away the good season they are having.
6. Barcelona
Barcelona are gradually regaining their place among the elite clubs in the world this season.
Having faced both off-the-field and on-the-pitch calamities last season, Xavi’s side have fared much more better in 2022/23.
The arrivals of the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, and Pablo Torre boosted the team.
Although they have embarrassingly crashed out of European tournaments for the second season running, Barca have been consistent in La Liga and currently leads the table with 9 points.
Moreso, Barcelona have won their 14th Supercopa de Espana title — beating Real Madrid 3-1 in the final.
7. PSG
PSG fumbled again in the Champions League last season, which led to the dismissals of manager Mauricio Pochettino and Sporting Director, Leonardo.
Signing Kylian Mbappe to a new contract was a big win for the Parisians, while Christophe Galtier was appointed as the new manager.
This season, PSG have been eliminated from both the Coupe de France and the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16.
But they currently lead Ligue 1 with 10 points and are set to win a record-breaking 11th French league title.
8. Benfica
Like Napoli, Benfica are another club superseding expectations this season.
The Eagles finished 3rd in the Portuguese league in 2021/22 but currently lead with 8 points and are on course to win a record-extending 38th league title.
In fact, in 2022/23 season, among the top leagues in Europe, Benfica had the longest unbeaten run.
Furthermore, they topped their UEFA Champions League group ahead of Juventus and PSG and are already through to the quarterfinals.
Roger Schmidt’s side have lost some of their best players (notably Darwin Nuñez and Enzo Fernández), but they keep on getting better and better.
9. Liverpool
Liverpool won the FA Cup and League Cup last season but lost the UEFA Champions League final to Real Madrid.
The loss of Sadio Mane and several injury problems has hampered them this term, but Jurgen Klopp’s side still have a chance of making the top four and are still a force to reckon with.
They demolished Manchester United 7-0 in the Premier League, and still boast of some of the best soccer players in the world.
10. RB Leipzig
In the last decade, RB Leipzig have gradually established themselves among the best teams in Europe.
Their record of producing and developing brilliant young players is outstanding.
They finished 4th in the Bundesliga last season but won the DFB Pokal — beating Freiburg 4-2 on penalties in the final to win the title for the first time in their history.
Leipzig have maintained their modest form this season and currently sit 3rd in the Bundesliga, just 7 points below Bayern Munich.
