The race for soccer’s most prestigious individual prize is already beginning to take shape, even with months of decisive action still ahead. As the season reaches its midpoint, familiar giants and emerging forces are once again dominating the conversation.&nbsp;Erling Haaland&nbsp;is surging with ruthless efficiency,&nbsp;Lamine Yamal&nbsp;continues his meteoric rise, and — in a twist few expected —&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lionel-messi/">Lionel Messi</a>&nbsp;has re-entered the debate entirely.



At a time when the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ballon-dor/">Ballon d’Or</a> era feels more open than it has in two decades, the mid-season picture hints at a generational handover that is far from complete. Power, youth, legacy, and timing are all colliding — and the outcome remains anything but settled.



Since the award shifted to being judged on&nbsp;seasonal performance rather than the calendar year, the Ballon d’Or has become more fluid and unpredictable. Domestic form, continental trophies, and — in 2026 especially — international tournaments now intersect more than ever. With the&nbsp;FIFA World Cup&nbsp;looming in North America and the&nbsp;UEFA Champions League&nbsp;reaching its sharpest stages in the spring, the current rankings are best viewed as a snapshot, not a verdict.



As&nbsp;Goal notes, this is a marathon, not a sprint. Ousmane Dembele, last year’s winner, only emerged as a serious contender midway through the campaign — and his absence from the current list underlines how quickly narratives can shift.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/09/23124718/Dembele-Ballon-DOr-1-1200x675.webp" alt="" class="wp-image-592683" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div><figcaption>Dembele won the Ballon D’Or 2025.</figcaption></figure>


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-kylian-mbappe-or-lamine-yamal-uefa-champions-league-winner-marco-van-basten-drops-shock-verdict-on-worlds-best-player/" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.worldsoccertalk.com%2Fwebp%2Ffull%2FWST_20251226_WST_612063_messi-ronaldo-mbappe.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The debate over who sits at the very top of world soccer has defined an entire generation.&nbsp;Cristiano Ronaldo,&nbsp;Lionel Messi,&nbsp;Kylian Mbappe, or&nbsp;Lamine Yamal—each name represents a different era, a different idea of greatness.
" title="Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, or Lamine Yamal? UEFA Champions League winner Marco van Basten drops shock verdict on world’s best player" publication_id="WST#/news/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-kylian-mbappe-or-lamine-yamal-uefa-champions-league-winner-marco-van-basten-drops-shock-verdict-on-worlds-best-player/"></div>


<h2>Who is the 2026 Ballon d’Or early favorite?</h2>



At the summit sits&nbsp;Harry Kane, whose scoring output for&nbsp;Bayern Munich&nbsp;and England has been nothing short of prolific. With&nbsp;35 goals already this season, Kane has paired elite finishing with trophies, silencing long-standing doubts about silverware and positioning himself as a complete Ballon d’Or candidate.



Just behind him&nbsp;sits <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/erling-haaland">Erling Haaland</a> of&nbsp;Manchester City. With&nbsp;38 goals in all competitions, the Norwegian is once again redefining physical dominance in the modern game. Crucially, Norway’s qualification for the World Cup — their first since 1998 — gives the Norwegian something he has never had before: a global international stage.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="675" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/10/24005337/kylian-mbappe-real-madrid-lamine-yamal-fc-barcelona-1200x675-1200x675.webp" alt="Kylian Mbappe (L) of Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal (R) of FC Barcelona." class="wp-image-599090" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure></div><figcaption>Kylian Mbappe (L) of Real Madrid and Lamine Yamal (R) of FC Barcelona.</figcaption></figure>



The presence of&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lamine-yamal/">Yamal</a>&nbsp;near the very top at just 18 speaks volumes. For&nbsp;Barcelona, he has become the creative and emotional center of the team, producing&nbsp;double-digit goals and assists&nbsp;while carrying responsibility far beyond his years. Concerns about workload and injuries remain, but few players combine flair, productivity, and audacity the way he does.



Meanwhile,&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/kylian-mbappe/">Kylian Mbappe</a>&nbsp;continues his long pursuit of soccer’s ultimate individual honor. At&nbsp;Real Madrid, he has shouldered a struggling side with&nbsp;34 goals&nbsp;already. History suggests that World Cups are where Mbappe truly shines — and another deep run with France could finally tip the scales in his favor.


 <div class="wp_fsn_relatedlinks" use="ALSO" link="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/lamine-yamal-vinicius-and-erling-haaland-included-but-no-kylian-mbappe-soccers-most-valuable-xi-sees-major-shift-with-real-madrid-star-absent/" image="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https%3A%2F%2Fimages.worldsoccertalk.com%2Fwebp%2Ffull%2FWST_20251223_WST_611588_haaland-mbappe-vinicius-yamal.webp&amp;width=200&amp;height=200" excerpt="The latest market update has produced a striking new picture:&nbsp;Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, and Erling Haaland all make the cut—yet Kylian Mbappe does not.
" title="Lamine Yamal, Vinicius, and Erling Haaland included, but no Kylian Mbappe: Soccer’s most valuable XI sees major shift with Real Madrid star absent" publication_id="WST#/news/lamine-yamal-vinicius-and-erling-haaland-included-but-no-kylian-mbappe-soccers-most-valuable-xi-sees-major-shift-with-real-madrid-star-absent/"></div>


<h2>The return no one expected</h2>



Perhaps the most intriguing storyline is the reappearance of&nbsp;Messi&nbsp;among the contenders. Many believed his Ballon d’Or chapter had closed, but his impact at&nbsp;Inter Miami&nbsp;has rewritten that script. With&nbsp;22 goals, 19 assists, and an&nbsp;MLS Cup triumph, Messi has proven that elite influence is not confined to Europe.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><div><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1920" height="1080" src="https://media.worldsoccertalk.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2025/12/06192842/messi-inter-miami-mls-cup-2-1920x1080.webp" alt="messi inter miami mls cup" class="wp-image-608624"></figure></div><figcaption>Lionel Messi #10 of Inter Miami CF lifts the Champion’s trophy</figcaption></figure>



As&nbsp;Goal&nbsp;notes,&nbsp;“The days of Messi even being nominated were thought to be behind us — but success at club level, combined with Argentina’s World Cup ambitions, has put him back in the frame.”&nbsp;Should Argentina defend its title, the narrative power alone would be immense.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><th>Rank</th><th>Player</th><th>Club</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>Harry Kane</td><td>Bayern Munich</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Erling Haaland</td><td>Manchester City</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Kylian Mbappe</td><td>Real Madrid</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Lamine Yamal</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Declan Rice</td><td>Arsenal</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>Vitinha</td><td>Paris Saint-Germain</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Michael Olise</td><td>Bayern Munich</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Luis Diaz</td><td>Bayern Munich</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Lionel Messi</td><td>Inter Miami</td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>Achraf Hakimi</td><td>Paris Saint-Germain</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Lionel Messi makes shock return among 2026 Ballon d’Or contenders: Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal surge ahead as early favorites emerge

Lionel Messi makes shock return among 2026 Ballon d’Or contenders: Erling Haaland and Lamine Yamal surge ahead as early favorites emerge - World Soccer Talk

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The stage is set in Paris&nbsp;as the world prepares to discover who will be crowned the best player on the planet. On Monday, the Theatre du Chatelet will welcome the sport’s biggest stars for the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony. This year’s race has been one of the most hotly contested in recent memory.&nbsp;With Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo no longer dominating the conversation, the field feels wide open&nbsp;— though two names have emerged as clear favorites. Will it be <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/barcelona/">Barcelona</a>’s teenage phenomenon, Lamine Yamal, or <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/psg/">PSG</a>’s treble-winning talisman, Ousmane Dembele, who takes home the golden ball?



The Ballon d’Or, awarded annually by&nbsp;France Football, is widely regarded as the most prestigious individual honor in football. The voting period for this year’s edition covered matches played between August 2024 and July 2025, including the Club World Cup.



Performances over that time were extraordinary:&nbsp;Mohamed Salah led Europe in goal contributions, Kylian Mbappe was the continent’s top scorer, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lamine-yamal/">Lamine Yamal</a> and Raphinha dazzled in Barcelona’s La Liga-winning campaign. But this year, all eyes are on two players who defined the 2024-25 season — one in Catalonia, one in Paris.



<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">Here are the 2025 Ballon d’Or nominees!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ballondor?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ballondor</a> <a href="https://t.co/tehmbU4R0j">pic.twitter.com/tehmbU4R0j</a>— Ballon d’Or (@ballondor) <a href="https://twitter.com/ballondor/status/1953448057237872779?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 7, 2025</a></blockquote></div>



<h2>The contenders</h2>



Here is an updated look at TNT Sports’ final Ballon d’Or Power Rankings:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><td>Power Rank</td><td>Player</td><td>Club</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>10.</td><td>Gianluigi Donnarumma</td><td>Manchester City</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Cole Palmer</td><td>Chelsea</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Kylian Mbappe</td><td>Real Madrid</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Nuno Mendes</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>Mohamed Salah</td><td>Liverpool</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Achraf Hakimi</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Raphinha</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Vitinha</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Lamine Yamal</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>1.</td><td>Ousmane Dembele</td><td>PSG</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Dembele’s season of destiny vs. Yamal’s historic rise</h2>



The revelation of the rankings confirmed what many suspected —&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ousmane-dembele/">Ousmane Dembele</a> has claimed the top spot. The PSG forward delivered the season of his life, scoring 35 goals and providing 16 assists across all competitions as the French giants completed a historic treble, including their first-ever UEFA Champions League title.



It was not just the numbers that impressed voters but his transformation under Luis Enrique, who used him as a hybrid No. 9.&nbsp;For the first time since his Rennes breakthrough season, Dembele hit double digits in league goals — finishing with 21 in Ligue 1 alone.



If there is a player who could have denied Dembele, it was Lamine Yamal. At just 18 years old, the Barcelona prodigy produced a campaign for the ages:&nbsp;18 goals, 21 assists, and a Champions League semi-final masterclass against Inter. Yamal’s performances have many believing that it is a matter of when, not if, he wins the Ballon d’Or.

Ousmane Dembele vs. Lamine Yamal: Who holds the edge in latest 2025 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings?

Ousmane Dembele vs. Lamine Yamal: Who holds the edge in latest 2025 Ballon d’Or Power Rankings? - World Soccer Talk

With the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/club-world-cup/">2025 FIFA Club World Cup</a> now concluded, the race for this year’s&nbsp;Ballon d’Or&nbsp;has entered its most intriguing and unpredictable phase. What once seemed like a clear battle between household names has suddenly shifted—Kylian Mbappe has suffered a significant drop, and&nbsp;a surprise name has emerged among the top three contenders. Meanwhile, fans are also asking:&nbsp;where do young sensation <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/lamine-yamal/">Lamine Yamal</a> and PSG’s dynamic winger <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ousmane-dembele/">Ousmane Dembele</a> stand?



The updated rankings from&nbsp;TNT Sports&nbsp;have stirred debate across the soccer world. With the&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/ballon-dor/">Ballon d’Or</a> ceremony scheduled for September 22, 2025, at Paris’ Theatre du Chatelet, attention is sharply focused on the final list of nominees, which will be announced on&nbsp;August 7. This year’s award is the fourth in a new format that tracks performance by&nbsp;season, not calendar year, covering&nbsp;August 2024 to July 2025.



The&nbsp;FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States, acted as the final major showcase before the voting began. For many top stars, it was a chance to either cement their status—or see their candidacy unravel.



“The performances on U.S. soil didn’t just crown new champions—they also shook up the list of favorites,”&nbsp;noted&nbsp;TNT Sports.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="Chelsea vs. PSG Final SHOWDOWN | FIFA Club World Cup Highlights" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ON18ItHo5YE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
</div></figure>



The competition’s global stage offered some contenders one last opportunity to impress. For others, it exposed vulnerabilities that voters may now weigh heavily.



<h2>Updated Ballon d’Or 2025 rankings: New frontrunner emerges</h2>



Now, with TNT Sports’ latest rankings in hand, the picture has become clearer:



<ul><li>A new name now leads the list.</li><li>Kylian Mbappe, once viewed as a top favorite after his move to Real Madrid, has dropped significantly.</li><li>A player not previously in the top 10 has catapulted into the top three&nbsp;after a stunning Club World Cup campaign.</li></ul>



So, who’s at the top?



<h4>The top contenders revealed</h4>



According to&nbsp;TNT Sports, the current top five are:



<ol type="1"><li>Lamine Yamal (Barcelona) The 18-year-old winger is rewriting history. With&nbsp;18 goals and 21 assists&nbsp;for club and country, he’s led&nbsp;Barcelona to a domestic treble&nbsp;and made decisive contributions in the&nbsp;UEFA Nations League. Despite&nbsp;missing the Club World Cup, his individual brilliance has been too dominant to ignore. “He’s only 18, but already competing with the elite,”&nbsp;TNT Sports&nbsp;wrote.&nbsp;“No one dares to rule him out.”</li><li>Vitinha (Paris Saint-Germain) PSG’s midfield metronome helped the French giants win a historic&nbsp;quadruple&nbsp;and also lifted the&nbsp;UEFA Nations League&nbsp;with Portugal. Previously ranked No. 1, he slips slightly but remains a strong contender.</li><li>Cole Palmer (Chelsea) The&nbsp;surprise of the season. Palmer was crowned&nbsp;best player at the Club World Cup&nbsp;and lifted Chelsea with dominant performances. His rise into the top three shocked many—he wasn’t even ranked last month.</li><li>Ousmane Dembele (Paris Saint-Germain) With&nbsp;33 goals and 15 assists, Dembele led PSG’s attack through their treble-winning run and helped the team to the Club World Cup final. However, his ranking has dipped slightly after a quiet showing in the final stages. “This one smells like destiny,”&nbsp;TNT speculated earlier this year when he was No. 1.</li><li>Raphinha (Barcelona) Another key figure in Barça’s resurgence. He was influential across competitions but didn’t feature in the Club World Cup, slightly dimming his chances.</li></ol>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-youtube"><iframe loading="lazy" title="It Was A Cold Summer For Cole Palmer" width="500" height="281" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EZ9uK9IVwmE?feature=oembed" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>
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<figure class="wp-block-table"><table><thead><tr><td>Power rank</td><td>Player name</td><td>Current club</td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td>1.</td><td>Lamine Yamal</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>2.</td><td>Vitinha</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>3.</td><td>Cole Palmer</td><td>Chelsea</td></tr><tr><td>4.</td><td>Ousmane Dembele</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>5.</td><td>Raphinha</td><td>Barcelona</td></tr><tr><td>6.</td><td>Nuno Mendes</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>7.</td><td>Achraf Hakimi</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>8.</td><td>Mohamed Salah</td><td>Liverpool</td></tr><tr><td>9.</td><td>Gianluigi Donnarumma</td><td>PSG</td></tr><tr><td>10.</td><td>Kylian Mbappe</td><td>Real Madrid</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<h2>Mbappe’s slide, and what it means</h2>



Perhaps the most surprising development is&nbsp;<a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/tag/kylian-mbappe/">Kylian Mbappe</a>’s fall. Despite a&nbsp;Champions League hat-trick&nbsp;and a high-profile transfer to Real Madrid, his&nbsp;loss to his former side, PSG, at the Club World Cup&nbsp;seriously damaged his campaign.



“Not even a Champions League hat-trick could save his bid,”&nbsp;TNT Sports&nbsp;remarked. The Frenchman now finds himself&nbsp;outside the top five, sitting in&nbsp;10th.

Ballon d'Or 2025 Power Rankings shake up after FIFA Club World Cup: Mbappe drops, big surprise in top 3 – Where are Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele?

Ballon d'Or 2025 Power Rankings shake up after FIFA Club World Cup: Mbappe drops, big surprise in top 3 – Where are Lamine Yamal and Ousmane Dembele? - World Soccer Talk

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Debating the best soccer leagues in the world can be a fun exercise. But beyond personal opinions, it’s possible to quantify the argument with some data to back it up. Thanks to the sports analytics gurus at Opta, we can do just that.



<a href="https://theanalyst.com/na" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Opta’s Power Rankings</a> assign an “ability score” of 0-100 to each club, based on a wide variety of factors and stats. On this scale, 0 is the worst team in the world and 100 is the best. Currently, the top-ranked club is Manchester City.



So, if you average the scores of all the teams in a league, you can compare them to see how each competition stacks up. And these are the numbers and rankings you see below, as of September 2023. 



<h2>30 best soccer leagues in the world</h2>



<ol><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/premier-league-tv-schedule/">English Premier League</a>&nbsp;87.66</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/bundesliga-tv-schedule/">German Bundesliga</a>&nbsp;84.04</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/serie-a-tv-schedule/">Italian Serie A</a>&nbsp;83.46</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/la-liga-tv-schedule/">Spanish La Liga</a>&nbsp;83.43</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/ligue-un-tv-schedule/">French Ligue 1</a>&nbsp;81.41</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/championship-tv-schedule/">English Championship</a>&nbsp;78.58</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/eredivisie-tv-schedule/">Dutch Eredivisie</a>&nbsp;77.24</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/primeira-liga-tv-schedule/">Portuguese Primeira Liga</a>&nbsp;77.20</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/belgian-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Belgian Pro League</a>&nbsp;77.19</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/brasileirao-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">Brazilian Serie A</a>&nbsp;76.43</li><li>Swiss Super League&nbsp;75.72</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/turkish-super-lig-tv-schedule/">Turkish Super Lig</a>&nbsp;75.65</li><li>Russian Premier Liga&nbsp;75.08</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/danish-superliga-tv-schedule/">Danish Superliga</a>&nbsp;75.00</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/mls-tv-schedule/">MLS</a>&nbsp;74.77</li><li>Austrian Bundesliga&nbsp;74.76</li><li>Spanish La Liga&nbsp;2 74.42</li><li>Polish Ekstraklasa&nbsp;73.88</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/superliga-argentina-tv-schedule/">Argentine Liga Professional&nbsp;</a>73.66</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/2-bundesliga-tv-schedule-and-streaming-links/">German 2. Bundesliga</a>&nbsp;73.62</li><li>Croatian HNL&nbsp;73.45</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/liga-mx-tv-schedule/">Mexican Liga MX</a>&nbsp;73.20</li><li>Cypriot First Division&nbsp;72.47</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/swedish-allsvenskan-tv-schedule/">Swedish Allsvenskan</a>&nbsp;72.30</li><li>Japanese J1 League&nbsp;72.16</li><li>South Korean K League 1&nbsp;72.09</li><li><a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/saudi-pro-league-tv-schedule/">Saudi Pro League</a>&nbsp;71.94</li><li>Israeli Premier League&nbsp;71.56</li><li>Romanian Liga I&nbsp;71.40</li><li>Norwegian Eliteserien&nbsp;71.33</li></ol>



It’s really no surprise at the top of the rankings, with Europe’s “Top 5” leagues in the top five spots. The Premier League sits at the pinnacle – they’ve got seven clubs in the top twenty in the overall team rankings. 



Germany’s Bundesliga, Serie A, La Liga, and Ligue 1 round out the top five. The strength of the English game is on display with the second-tier EFL Championship coming in sixth. That’s ahead of the Eredivisie, Primeira Liga, Belgian Pro League, and many other European first divisions.



The Brasileirão is the highest-ranked competition on the western side of the Atlantic, coming in tenth. Brazilian clubs have won four of the last five Copa Libertadores, and make up three of the four semifinalists in the ongoing 2023 edition. 



<h3>MLS on the move</h3>



Meanwhile, Major League Soccer has seen a jump, <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/mls-ranked-29th-strongest-league-in-the-world-per-opta-20230815-WST-450215.html">ranked 29th in August</a> but now up to 15th. That puts the American domestic top tier just ahead of the Austrian Bundesliga and Spanish second division. The influx of talent over the summer and the strong performance of MLS sides vs. Liga MX in Leagues Cup no doubt helped the league move up the rankings.



In the Middle East, the suddenly-star-packed Saudi Pro League ranks 27th, just behind the J League and K League from the far eastern reaches of the Asian confederation.



What do you think? Are these data-backed rankings on point, or is there more to it that stats? 



Photos: Imago

Best soccer leagues in the world according to Opta

What are the best soccer leagues in the world? Thanks to rankings created with data from analytics gurus Opta, we can get a clear idea.

Best soccer leagues in the world according to Opta - World Soccer Talk

The UEFA Champions League has finished its round of 16 with a few upsets but many of the favorites still remain. Barcelona dominated the second leg in a fantastic performance from Lionel Messi while Wayne Rooney scored four goals over two matches against AC Milan. In one of the upsets, Real Madrid was knocked out by Lyon and CSKA Moscow won at Sevilla in the second leg to advance. The one team that made the biggest splash was Inter Milan who knocked off Chelsea and are now looking like serious contenders.
The power rankings are through Thursday, March 18, 2010 and do not necessarily reflect each team’s domestic form. As with any list like this, it’s subjective so feel free to share your comments or your own power rankings at the end of the post.
<ol>
<li>FC Barcelona – They are the defending champions and are capable of making any defense look silly with their offensive capabilities. Messi continues to show why he’s the reigning player of the year and rising stars like Pedro have stepped up when given a chance. Ibrahimovic and Henry have not been in great form so it could be frightening if both play to their potential in the quarterfinals.</li>
<li>Manchester United – Another great performance from Wayne Rooney who could be the front-runner for 2010 Player Of The Year awards. Sir Alex Ferguson remains one of the best managers around that can get consistent performances out of his club. They are very experienced and are able to get results on the road. The only question is are they relying too much on Rooney to provide goals? If he’s injured are their chances all but over?</li>
<li>Inter Milan (Internazionale) – Jose Mourinho has his team prepared on Tuesday as they beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in a brilliant performance. This was the match the “Special One” was waiting for since he left the London club and he has Inter has a real contender. Wesley Sneijder controlled the midfield against Chelsea and is quickly become of the best midfielders in the world.</li>
<li>Arsenal – A dominating 5-0 performance in the second leg at the Emirates Stadium shows the Gunners are capable of shredding any defense in the world. They have an outside chance at reaching the final or winning it all but don’t seem to have quite enough as the top 3.</li>
<li>Lyon – Their defensive performance against Real Madrid, especially at the Bernabeu, was impressive. They are under the radar but their win over Real Madrid deserves a lot of credit. While they did knock out Real Madrid, they still don’t have quite enough quality to challenge for the title.</li>
<li>Bayern Munich – A team that has potential to reach the final but can be inconsistent. Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery make up a dangerous midfield that can give any defense trouble. A team that could play great or could undercheive and it’s hard to tell which Bayern Munich will show up.</li>
<li>Bordeaux – A solid performance from Bordeaux to advance past Olympiacos 3-1 on aggregate. They faced arguably the weakest team remaining so not much can be drawn from it. Not a serious contender but could reach the semifinals with a favorable draw.</li>
<li>CSKA Moscow – A great achievement for CSKA to reach the quaterfinals but they did face one of the weakest clubs in the round of 16. They will have a distinct home advantage with a stadium that has FieldTurf but will be lucky to advance into the semifinals. This is a sign that the Russian Premier League is starting to emerge as one of the top leagues and could be challenging for the Champions League title in a few years.</li>
</ol>
Jonathon Feyerherm is creator/editor of <a href="http://www.the90thminute.com" target="_blank">The 90th Minute Soccer Blog</a>, <a href="http://www.freesocerhighlights.com" target="_blank">Free Soccer Highlights</a>, and <a href="http://www.freelivesportstv.com" target="_blank">Free Live Sports TV</a>

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: Barca and Man U lead the way

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: Barca and Man U lead the way - World Soccer Talk

The UEFA Champions League is about to begin its knockout stage and it’s time to take a closer look at which teams are legitimate contenders to lift the trophy in May. Defending champions FC Barcelona continue to be the favorites but several other teams are not far behind. The rankings below are as of Sunday, February 14, 2010 and only include the top eight teams (out of the remaining 16).
<ol>
<li>FC Barcelona – They remain undefeated in La Liga and are the favorites to win the Champions League this season. The only thing that could deter Barca’s run to the final could be injuries.</li>
<li>Chelsea – They’ve been at the top of the EPL for most of the season and have made it to at least the semifinals of the CL the last two seasons.</li>
<li>Manchester United – They are not the team of two years ago when they won the CL but still consistently do well in the tournament. Wayne Rooney has been as good as any striker this season but needs someone else to step up if they want to challenge Barcelona.</li>
<li>Real Madrid – A team with as much talent as anyone but they’ve yet to reach their potential. Cristiano Ronaldo has a knack for scoring important goals in the CL. They are hard to predict and could lose in the round of 16 (against Lyon) or win the whole thing.</li>
<li>FC Porto – An underrated team from a smaller league (Portuguese Liga) who are capable of knocking off one of the larger clubs.</li>
<li>AC Milan – Milan have been inconsistent in the Serie A but showed good form in the group stage. A trip to the semifinals would be a stretch as they just don’t have the depth and talent as the other contenders.</li>
<li>Arsenal – Another club that has lots of talent but unable to win a trophy in recent years. They are a step below RM, Man U, Chelsea, and Barca but not by much.</li>
<li>Inter Milan – Inter hasn’t been able to duplicate their Serie A success in the CL. They will have to prove themselves because they can be taken as a legitimate</li>
</ol>
What do you think? Feel free to share your comments.
Jonathon Feyerherm is creator/editor of <a href="http://www.the90thminute.com" target="_blank">The 90th Minute Soccer Blog</a>, <a href="http://www.freesocerhighlights.com" target="_blank">Free Soccer Highlights</a>, and <a href="http://www.freelivesportstv.com" target="_blank">Free Live Sports TV</a>

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: Barcelona the team to beat

UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: Barcelona the team to beat - World Soccer Talk

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UEFA Champions League Power Rankings: Barcelona the team to beat