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Follow this link to see the 2017 IFFHS full list (it's in a table):
https://iffhs.de/the-strongest-national-league-of-the-world-spains-primera-division-again/
This is back from 2013, but it's a ranking from some think tank analyst firm called "Sporting Intelligence". The MLS made #7 on this list:
In fact, math nerd Nate Silver maintains a list of the top clubs (not leagues) in the world using his purely mathematical driven approach to these questions, and 23 of the MLS's teams make it on his list of 460 total clubs across the world (the highest, ironically, being the Canadian club Toronto FC appearing at #212):
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/global-club-soccer-rankings/
Come on. That's nearly the entire league, and this is just 460 teams. MLS teams compose 5%, or 1/12th, of the list.
Meanwhile, not that players are restricted to leagues of their national origin, but even using the purely mathematical ELO rankings of national teams in the world, right now, the USA is ranked at #29:
http://www.eloratings.net/
That's way down from our peak around #11 or so, IIRC, we might have broken into the top ten at one point in this ranking, but I'm not sure. I know we've gotten as high as #6 on the FIFA list, but that's bullshit.
In any case, even with male American soccer in such a state of disrepair, our national team itself is nowhere near #52, and despite the relative lack of interest in the sport in the USA, we are so wealthy that I find it impossible to believe we aren't in the Top 20 best-funded/highest-paying leagues in the world. That's what attracts talent.
What do you soccer nerds think? Is there a worse placement of a league on this list? What stands out to you?
https://iffhs.de/the-strongest-national-league-of-the-world-spains-primera-division-again/
The MLS is ranked at #52? Really? I know we aren't Tier 1, but that's hard to believe.
This is back from 2013, but it's a ranking from some think tank analyst firm called "Sporting Intelligence". The MLS made #7 on this list:
In fact, math nerd Nate Silver maintains a list of the top clubs (not leagues) in the world using his purely mathematical driven approach to these questions, and 23 of the MLS's teams make it on his list of 460 total clubs across the world (the highest, ironically, being the Canadian club Toronto FC appearing at #212):
https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/global-club-soccer-rankings/
Come on. That's nearly the entire league, and this is just 460 teams. MLS teams compose 5%, or 1/12th, of the list.
Meanwhile, not that players are restricted to leagues of their national origin, but even using the purely mathematical ELO rankings of national teams in the world, right now, the USA is ranked at #29:
http://www.eloratings.net/
That's way down from our peak around #11 or so, IIRC, we might have broken into the top ten at one point in this ranking, but I'm not sure. I know we've gotten as high as #6 on the FIFA list, but that's bullshit.
In any case, even with male American soccer in such a state of disrepair, our national team itself is nowhere near #52, and despite the relative lack of interest in the sport in the USA, we are so wealthy that I find it impossible to believe we aren't in the Top 20 best-funded/highest-paying leagues in the world. That's what attracts talent.
What do you soccer nerds think? Is there a worse placement of a league on this list? What stands out to you?
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its like MMA ratings from a few years back, you know who the real top 3 are, then you just put down anyone, in the order of who came to mind first.
.........almost a funny as when they claimed their centre half from the mid to late 90's Thomas Dooley was in the top 5 defenders in the world
