Who are the Best Clubs in Europe According to UEFA? 

European football clubs are considered the best in the world, with other continents unable to compete either in terms of on-field talent or finances. The flagship UEFA Champions League is the proving ground for these heavyweights, and the 2025 installment of the competition is heating up. 

The tournament has reached the Round of 16 stage, and some mouth-watering contests are just around the corner. In the Spanish capital, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will do battle in a repeat of the 2014 and 2016 finals. 

Los Blancos won those two contests in Lisbon and Milan, and the sports betting providers make them the favorites once again. The latest sports betting online at Bovada odds currently make Carlo Ancelotti’s side a -170 to win the two-legged tie against their cross-city rivals. They also make them a +400 joint favorite to win the competition outright, level with arch-enemy Barcelona. And let’s face it… why wouldn’t they. 

Real Madrid are the reigning holders of the famous big0eared trophy after claiming a record-extending 15th crown with a 2-0 victory against Borussia Dortmund at Wembley last year. That victory catapulted Los Blancos to the top of UEFA’s coefficient table,  standings in which points are awarded to teams depending on how far they progress in continental competition. But which teams are in the top three? Let’s take a look. 

Real Madrid

Sitting proudly atop UEFA’s rankings is Real Madrid, and for good reason. Spain’s resident royal club continue to expand their unparalleled legacy in European football. Over the past 11 years, they have won the top prize on the continent a whopping six times, including a famous three-peat between 2016 and 2018, as well as two more titles in the last three years. 

The year 2024 was a historic one for them as they not only lifted the Champions League but also added La Liga, the UEFA Super Cup, the Spanish Super Cup, and the Intercontinental Cup to their already overflowing trophy cabinet. Adding more glitter to their legacy, Real achieved their 300th win in the Champions League in February 2025 with a dramatic victory over Manchester City at the Etihad, courtesy of Jude Bellingham’s injury-time winner. They then defeated the Blues once more in the return leg, marking the third time in four seasons in which Los Blancos have sent Pep Guardiola’s side packing. 

Manchester City

If Madrid are synonymous with heritage, Manchester City embody modern dominance. Despite their early exit from the Champions League this season, they remain the second-ranked team in UEFA’s eyes, although they could fall drastically once the current campaign draws to a close. 

The Blues were on top of the world just two years ago when they lifted the European Cup for the first time in history. Last season, they claimed the Premier League for a record-breaking fourth straight year. But since then, things have turned into a nightmare for Pep Guardiola. 

A season-ending injury to talismanic midfielder and reigning Ballon d’Or holder Rodri revealed cracks in his otherwise watertight City side. The Blues have already lost eight times in the league this season, the same amount as the last two seasons combined,

and it’s only March. They are currently languishing way down in fourth in the table, some 20 points behind runaway league leaders Liverpool. Add to that question marks over the future of the likes of superstars such as Kevin De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva, and a period of rebuilding could be just around the corner. 

Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich are Germany’s unquestionable number one. In recent years, they have reigned over their homeland with an iron fist, winning a mighty 11 titles in a row up until 2023. However, their streak of championships came to a screeching halt last season when they were usurped by Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen, with Die Werkself claiming the Meisterschale for the first time in history and doing so by completing the first perfect season in Bundesliga history. 

Despite that, the UEFA still makes the Bavarians the third-best team in Europe. Much of that is down to their Champions League triumph in 2020, where the goals of Robert Lewandowski propelled them to a stunning 8-2 victory against Barcelona in the quarterfinals, as well as a narrow 1-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the final. Last term, they were semifinalists once again, but this time around, they were controversially beaten by eventual champions Real Madrid. 

With England captain Harry Kane leading the line, Bayern are looking a surefire bet to reclaim their Bundesliga crown this season. They are some eight points clear of the reigning champions with just ten games remaining. They will also have the chance to exact revenge on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League, with the two teams set to square off in the Round of 16.