Mamelodi Sundowns and Orlando Pirates are the two South African clubs ranked in the top 500 by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS).
IFFHS released a list of the strongest clubs in the world, taking the list to the top 700, and for South Africa, PSL champions Sundowns and Pirates are in the top 500, Stellenbosch FC just outside while Kaizer Chiefs are nowhere to be seen.
Sundowns are the highest ranked South African team, sitting in position 205, having dropped from 198 in the last ranking, while Pirates are in position 302, a massive jump from 345. Meanwhile, Stellenbosch are ranked 552, in improvement from 673 in their previous ranking.
Rankings reflect recent performances
The ranking reflects the performances of the three clubs in the last six months with Sundowns top of the PSL but having missed out on both MTN8 and Carling Knockout glory, while they waited until the final group match to make it to the CAF Champions League quarter-final.
Pirates, meanwhile, won the MTN8, have massively improved in the league to sit second on the PSL table, six points behind Sundowns with a match in hand, while they sealed a Champions League quarter-final ticket for the first time since 2013, and with a match to spare, before beating holders Al Ahly in Cairo, to finish top of their group unbeaten.
For Stellenbosch, an improvement in the league as well as reaching the MTN8 final, added to the fact that they are into the CAF Confederation Cup quarter-final, saw them improve their ranking.
How does it look in Africa & the world?
It is for this reason that Chiefs are nowhere in the top 700 despite being one of the biggest teams in the country with Amakhosi continuing to limp of the pitch as any sign of winning a trophy still look bleak while it is still not known if they will even finish in the top five in the PSL this season.
Meanwhile, Al Ahly are the top ranked African club, ranked 34th globally, followed by local rivals Zamalek (83) and Pyramids (99), with Morocco’s RS Berkane (131), Elias Mokwana’s Esperance in fifth place in Africa but 155th globally, followed by AS FAR (174), Raja Casablanca (193) and then Sundowns in eighth position on the continent.
Tanzanian giants Young Africans (207) and Khanyisa Mayo’s CR Belouizdad (225) complete the top 10 clubs in Africa while in the world, Real Madrid remains the top team, followed by Bayer Leverkusen, Atalanta, the Europa League winners, Liverpool and Brazilian side Botafogo complete the top five.
Manchester City, Barcelona, Flamengo, Atletico Madrid and Borussia Dortmund complete the top 10 best clubs in the world.
