Soccer is serious business in most parts of the world, and nothing is taken more seriously than a team’s performance in the World Cup. By no means scientific, this article attempts to classify the World Cup success of soccer’s elite nations into the world’s greatest sporting event.
1. Brazil
Without question, any discussion of the most successful nations in World Cup history begins with Brazil. Having won a record 5 World Cup tournaments, the Brazilians are also the only team to have qualified for every World Cup since the competition began in 1930. Brazil has produced some of the best soccer players ever. have stepped onto the field. Football greats like Pelé, the only player to win the World Cup 3 times, and Ronaldo, the current World Cup all-time leading goalscorer, dressed for the Samba Kings.
two. Germany
Winning 3 World Cups themselves, Germany and West Germany before, they rank number two by virtue of having more results in the final four than any other team. It seems that in every tournament, even one like the most recent World Cup in 2010, in which they were not considered contenders, Germany finds a way to the semi-finals. An excellent player development program and fantastic training combined with a good structure and organization means that the Germans should never be underestimated in international competition.
3. Italy
Even though the Italians have won 4 tournaments, they are ranked behind the Germans by virtue of being much less consistent. Notoriously slow at the start, the Italians are known for their fantastic defensive play and generally find their game as the tournament progresses. However, they are unpredictable, often fighting and getting eliminated just as often in the early rounds of tournaments, having reached the tournament final four fewer times than Germany or Brazil.
Four. Argentina
The other Latin American power, Argentina, has won the World Cup 2 times and continues to be a huge influence in international soccer. While they don’t achieve the same level of international success as Brazil, they are generally grouped with their neighbors as perennial favorites in every tournament. Like Brazil, Argentina’s strength lies in the individual talent and skill of the players it produces, with reigning World Player of the Year Lionel Messi being the perfect example.
5. Uruguay
By virtue of having won two World Cups (albeit a long, long time ago in a very, very different era), Uruguay sits at No. 5 on this list. While the Uruguayans have been silent for what seems like forever, their recent trip to fourth place in the 2010 World Cup has shown that they still have the ability to succeed internationally.
honorable mentions:
The Netherlands
Possessing a vast legion of rabid fans from all corners of the world, the Netherlands are commonly referred to as “the best team to never win the World Cup”. The Dutch managed to reach the semi-finals 3 times, most famously during the 1970s when the Netherlands Total Soccer teams revolutionized the way the game was played.
Spain
Struggling internationally until very recently, Spain are slowly cementing their place as the best team currently on the planet. However, their past failures and disappointments mean that the Spanish still have a long way to go before they can reach the level of achievement that characterizes football’s elite teams. However, with the current level of skill in the Spanish national team, this may not take long.
