It's been a wild year. But as we close it out in Rankingsville, two things remain the same: The No. 1 team is the one that ruled the roost last December, and Manchester United is at the summit of the English Premier League.
What's different? We've finally got a European champion as the Club World Cup title-holder, but it's one that's absent from the Rankings since it isn't even a factor in its own league, which further denigrates the credibility of FIFA's year-end event. In fact, you've probably already forgotten about it, haven't you?
So let's take a final look back at 2007. And since we're all busy people, we'll sum up the year of each team on this week's rundown in 20 words. Then we'll look ahead to '08 and pick the player to watch on each club. Happy New Year, footie freaks!
Note: All rankings, records and statistics are through Dec. 26.
| World Soccer Power Rankings |
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1 |
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Inter Milan
20-word recap: Rode record-breaking 17-game win streak to first outright Serie A title in 18 years; easy favorite for a third straight.
Player to watch in '08: Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Not exactly a surprising pick, but when the Swede is on, he's unstoppable. When he's rattled, things tend to fall apart around him. But he sums up his team perfectly: Inter has the talent to win everything -- Champions League included -- if it can maintain a level of consistency and avoid its annual choke job in the world's premier club tournament.
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| 2 |
2 |
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Manchester United
20-word recap: Consistency still the name of the game as United was reborn for a 16th Premier League title; back in first.
Player to watch in '08: Cristiano Ronaldo. Apologies to Wayne Rooney, but the Portuguese star has become the face of United. He has the skills to become one of the all-time greats of the game, and Alex Ferguson can help him get there.
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| 3 |
4 |
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Real Madrid
20-word recap: Weathered yet more drama to win La Liga (first trophy in three years) and sent David Beckham out a winner.
Player to watch in '08: Robinho. Raúl's fountain-of-youth routine is nice, but how long can it last? Meanwhile, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Júlio Baptista and Wesley Sneijder are all mercurial. Robinho, however, is still the most talented attacker on Real's roster. And even he ranges from brilliance to anonymity in the lineup. There's little reason the $30 million man can't dazzle on a regular basis -- if he choses to.
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| 4 |
3 |
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Arsenal
20-word recap: Thierry who? The kids' 28-game undefeated streak to open the season set England on its ear ... until Boxing Day.
Player to watch in '08: Kolo Touré. The talent at the Emirates isn't a question, but the maturity level is. If Arsenal can steal back the driver's seat in the Premiership and go the distance, it'll need the leadership of its veterans. The Ivorian center back is the only starter from both this squad and the '03-04 "Invincibles" -- the last time Arsenal won the title.
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| 5 |
8 |
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AS Roma
20-word recap: Became consistent challenger in Serie A, but looks destined for another runner-up spot; still stuck in an identity crisis.
Player to watch in '08: Francesco Totti. Who else? And it's for better or for worse, because it seems that as Totti goes, Roma goes. Who else in Serie A can seemingly turn it on when he feels like it and make such a difference at any given moment? The Giallorossi haven't lost a single game this season when Totti scores.
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| 6 |
5 |
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FC Barcelona
20-word recap: A year with no trophies? Ronaldinho ... expendable? Strange goings-on at the Camp Nou. Will the abundance of talent produce?
Player to watch in '08: Giovani dos Santos. Roni became a star and Lionel Messi followed in his footsteps. It's now the 18-year-old Mexican's turn to take center stage as the next Barça icon. We've seen glimpses of his insane talent -- now he has to make us believe he's a game-changer like his predecessors are.
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| 7 |
7 |
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FC Porto
20-word recap: Domestic title No. 21 means it's still the Portuguese powerhouse; can this version break through again at the European level?
Player to watch in '08: Ricardo Quaresma. Porto's Argentine duo of Lisandro López and Lucho González is supplying the punch, but the Portuguese winger is still the Dragons' most exciting and iconic player. Every year he looks closer to taking the next step; can he help Porto make a serious run at another Champions League title?
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| 8 |
10 |
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São Paulo
20-word recap: Muscled out second straight Brazilian League title with weeks to spare, but utter disappointment in Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.
Player to watch in '08: Adriano. If he can stick to his word and stay off the party circuit, the man they once called "The Emperor" has everything to gain during his six-month loan from Inter Milan. If he's motivated, he could guide São Paulo to another Libertadores title and dominate at this level -- and win back his spot at both Inter and the Brazilian national team.
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| 9 |
9 |
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Chelsea
20-word recap: You want pressure? A two-trophy season is "disappointing." Thanks for the memories, José Mourinho; apparently we'll win without you.
Player to watch in '08: Michael Essien. The do-it-all Ghanaian midfielder has emerged as Chelsea's most reliable performer, but like Arsenal's Touré, he'll also be one of four Blues missing for three weeks during the African Cup of Nations next month. That means "The Bison" will be eager to make up for lost time down the stretch -- but he could also be exhausted from representing his country on its own soil.
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| 10 |
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Liverpool
20-word recap: Just call them Rafa's Knockout Gang -- Reds seem built for Europe and not much else. They're heating up again.
Player to watch in '08: Fernando Torres. Does the Spanish striker look like he could be one of the world's elite players to you? His blend of speed, power and moves is often unstoppable -- he has 15 goals in the 18 games in which he's been a starter. Here's a suggestion for Rafa Benítez: Leave El Niño on the pitch.
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Honorable mentions: Celtic, Villarreal, Juventus, Bayern Munich, Fenerbahçe, Olympiakos, Colo-Colo
Dropped off: Argentina
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