It’s been an exciting year for football, with a hard-fought UEFA Champions League and a
delayed Euro 2020 in the summer. We also saw a return to full capacity crowds in stadiums
around the world after the COVID measures of 2020. But which club was the best in 2021?
Chelsea are reigning champions of Europe, but that doesn’t automatically garner them top
spot. There are plenty of other factors to consider, and plenty of stiff competition for the West
London club, although all of it comes from the great leagues of Europe.
Let’s look at 8 of the best football teams in 2021 - in no particular order.
Chelsea
The reigning European champions have also made a strong start in the Premier League for the
2021/2022 season, currently sitting three points clear of Liverpool at the top of the table.
Thomas Tuchel rejuvenated the side when he replaced Frank Lampard, winning the Champions
League in his first season. Though not currently rated number one by UEFA’s coefficient system
(they trail compatriots and Champions League runner ups Man City and Bayern Munich),
Chelsea have a strong footing whenever considering the world’s best clubs.
Real Madrid
Despite a fairly tepid 2020-21 by their standards, finishing runners up to Atletico Madrid in La
Liga, a shock exit in the last 32 stages of the Copa Del Rey - third division side Alcoyano
sent them crashing out - and a semi-final defeat in the Champions League to eventual winners
Chelsea. But with Carlo Ancelotti taking over as head coach a couple of months ago - his second
stint at Real - and such luminaries as Karim Benzema and Luka Modrić in the side, you should
never count the Spanish giants out.
Liverpool
Jurgen Klopp has proved to be the breath of fresh air Liverpool needed. Despite some successes
in Europe over the years - the ‘Miracle of Istanbul’ springs to mind - the top-flight trophy hadn’t
returned to Anfield for 30 long years until 2020. Last season saw a slight dip in form as Man City
dominated the Premiership, but with players like Mo Salah (
often cited as the world’s best),
they look strong in the league so far this season and rank above Chelsea according to UEFA.
Bayern Munich
The Bundesliga is held up as one of Europe’s great leagues, and one team has dominated
proceedings in Germany over recent years. Bayern Munich have won nine - yes nine - titles in a
row, a fact which alone puts them in the running as best in the world, an opinion shared by
many in football. It will be interesting to see if new manager Julian Nagelsmann can continue
that streak.
Atletico Madrid
For years La Liga was dominated by Barcelona and Real Madrid, but since 2009, the third most
successful team in Spanish football history has made a resurgence. Atletico won La Liga last
season to take their tally of victories to 11, and recent successes in the Europa League and
European Super Cup give weight to their ranking as one of the world’s best. Head coach Diego
Simeone’s aggressive tactics and solid results make them favorites with bettors all over the
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world. Simeone’s style of play is personified by brilliant and controversial attacker Luis Suárez,
the epitome of skill and physicality.
Barcelona
Last season Barcelona didn’t perform well by their standards. Third in La Liga, out in the
Champions League round of 16, they only had a Copa Del Rey victory to console them - and star
striker Lionel Messi departed to PSG after 21 years with the club. But the club is still one of the
most feared and respected teams in Europe, and it’ll be interesting
to see who emerges from
Messi’s shadow.
Manchester City
Once regarded as Manchester’s second club, Man City have spent the last decade at the sharp
end of English football, overshadowing their traditionally more successful neighbors. Premier
League champions five times since 2011-12, including last season, they have an all-star line up
featuring the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and Raheem Sterling, and in Pep Guardiola a manager
who has kept them near the top of European football since he took over in 2016.
Paris Saint-Germain
Emerging as the dominant force in French football for the last decade, PSG have won 7 titles
since 2012, though they were second best to a resurgent Lille last season. Having signed Lionel
Messi from Barcelona for a spell in the twilight of his career, they also have a squad full of
talent, not least forward Kylian Mbappé. PSG will be looking to go one better than they did in
the 2020 Champions League final, where they lost out to Bayern Munich.
As long as there is football there will be a debate about the world’s best team, but the ferocity
of the debate just goes to show the heights that the elite game has reached.