Guess what, folks, it's a bonus Rankings during our usual off-week -- so pop that champagne. We're celebrating titles around the world as well as the virtual end to the club calendar for the summer as the international tournaments rage on. This will be it for us in Rankings-ville until August. So enjoy.
As we mentioned about a month ago, we're sticking with trophy-winning clubs and only trophy-winning clubs to close out the season. As for our debate last week on whether the Copa Libertadores champion should claim No. 1, well, we just couldn't do it. As we've said, the UEFA Champions League is the most prestigious club competition there is, and involves the most pressure, the largest TV viewership and the most money of any such contest.
But we'll revisit this again. As many of you pointed out, South American clubs have the edge over their European counterparts when they play each other at the Club World Cup (or Intercontinental Cup, Toyota Cup, Club World Championship -- take your pick of defunct predecessors). In fact, they've won 25 of the 46 competitions, including the last two years. You can bet AC Milan is going to be eager to get its revenge on Boca Juniors.
By the way, anyone else seeing remarkable similarities in the career arcs of David Beckham and Juan Román Riquelme? Give me your thoughts.
Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through June 20.
| World Soccer Power Rankings |
| 1 |
1 |
 |
AC Milan
Title won: UEFA Champions League
The Rossoneri were left for dead all season long, reeling from an eight-point penalty in the Calciopoli scandal and suffering from an aging team. Then Kaká caught fire, Andrea Pirlo was masterful and Pippo Inzaghi showed up at the right time as Milan won its seventh European Cup. Grade: A.
|
| 2 |
3 |
 |
Boca Juniors
Title won: Copa Libertadores
Four South American club titles in eight years is all you need to know about the dominance of los Xeneizes. What's amazing is that, with a few key changes here and there, this is mostly the same team that imploded last season. The addition of prodigal son Juan Román Riquelme not only gave the team direction, he was also the rudder and the heart and soul. Without him directing Boca's on-field symphony (and scoring eight goals in the tournament to boot), this team perhaps wouldn't have put forth its best performances in must-win games. This title was for him, and he'll be sorely missed next season. Grade: A-.
|
| 3 |
2 |
 |
Manchester United
Title won: English Premier League
The pacesetter in England all season, United had runs of mastery in the Champions League (see its 7-1 demolition of Roma) and crushing ineptitude (see its 3-0 demolition at the hands of Milan). But 2006-07 will be remembered as the year Man Utd reclaimed the Premiership title for the first time in four years, and the year Cristiano Ronaldo became arguably the best player on earth. Grade: B.
|
| 4 |
5 |
 |
Real Madrid
Title won: Spanish Liga
What's there to say that hasn't been said? The most successful club in the history of European soccer was in absolute ruin six months ago -- now it has finally won the trophy that has eluded it for four years. David Beckham had the perfect sendoff, throwing egg in the faces of all his doubters (most notably club president Ramón Calderón, who publicly bashed him, and manager Fabio Capello, who benched him and ignored him). Grade: B+.
|
| 5 |
4 |
 |
Chelsea
Titles won: English FA Cup, Carling Cup
The Blues went from challenging for a quadruple to merely "settling" for the double in a matter of two weeks. To be fair, the FA Cup is perhaps the most celebrated trophy around, but as we've said, Roman Abramovich didn't spend $1 billion just for that. But the $48 million he paid for Michael Essien? Worth every penny. Grade: C+.
|
| 6 |
6 |
 |
Inter Milan
Title won: Italian Serie A
A dominating year in Serie A that saw the Nerazzurri win 17 straight matches and claim their first outright title in 18 years by an insurmountable 22 points. Of course, Juventus was beating up on Serie B competition and most of Inter's rivals started their seasons with negative points. Big disappointment in both the Champions League and the Coppa Italia. Grade: C+.
|
| 7 |
7 |
 |
Sevilla
Title won: UEFA Cup
The most consistent performer of any Spanish team all season, Sevilla won its second straight UEFA Cup and managed to challenge for the Liga title until the final weekend of the season. Sevilla can add to its haul with a win over Getafe this weekend in the Copa del Rey final, and finally has a Champions League campaign to look forward to next season. Grade: A.
|
| 8 |
9 |
 |
Pachuca
Titles won: CONCACAF Champions' Cup, Mexican Clausura
Perhaps the most underrated story of '07. With their double-haul to end the season, los Tuzos capped a year that also included the '06 Clausura title and the Copa Sudamericana, becoming the first Mexican club to win a South American competition. Pachuca also finished runner-up in the Mexican '07 Apertura as well. Grade: A.
|
| 9 |
-- |
 |
AS Roma
Title won: Coppa Italia
The Giallorossi made the most of a borrowed season, parlaying an unexpected Champions League appearance into a run to the quarterfinals, including a demolition of pre-tournament favorite Lyon. Francesco Totti & Co. had Inter's number, too, knocking the Serie A champs out of the Coppa Italia on a 7-4 aggregate score. Grade: B+.
|
| 10 |
-- |
 |
Santos
Title won: Paulista Championship
The Fish won their second straight state title despite a push from São Paulo and a finals scare from upstart São Caetano. Then Vanderlei Luxemburgo's men blew through the Libertadores field without losing a single match -- until they were knocked out by Grêmio in the semis. Star Zé Roberto was the hired gun, inspiring Santos in his one-season return from Europe Like Riquelme at Boca, he'll be missed. Grade: B-.
|
Honorable mentions: Celtic, Olympique Lyonnais, FC Porto, VfB Stuttgart, San Lorenzo, PSV Eindhoven, Colo-Colo, Al-Ahly
Dropped off: Grêmio, FC Barcelona
|
|
