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10 Greatest Winning Teams in World Cup History Ranked By Shearer and Richards

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Ahead of the 2026 World Cup starting this June, there is no better time to reflect on those who have lifted football’s most prestigious trophy in the past. Brazil stand alone as the most successful nation, with five triumphs at the summit of the beautiful game, while Germany, Italy and Argentina are not far behind, having all won it more recently.

Indeed, the likes of England and Spain have also enjoyed their moments of glory. Alan Shearer and Micah Richards – both part of unsuccessful Three Lions squads themselves – went head-to-head in a BBC Match of the Day segment back in November 2022, ranking the 10 greatest nations to have ever won it all.

The timing of that discussion means Lionel Messi’s most recent triumph does not feature in their list, but their selections still make for fascinating reading. In particular, their differing takes on England’s 1966 side, as well as their contrasting views on Spain’s iconic 2010 team, stand out.


fifa world cup


13 Best Teams in World Cup History [Ranked]

England’s 1966 team feature, as does Italy’s 2006 squad and two different Brazil iterations.

Micah Richards’ 10 Greatest World Cup Winning Teams

Man City fans slam Micah Richards
Man City fans slam Micah Richards

The Beeb’s segment began with an early disagreement between Richards and Shearer, which appeared to set the tone for the entire programme. The first of several debates centred on whether France’s 2018 triumph was the weakest of the top nations put forward, or whether Argentina’s 1978 side deserved the 10th spot instead.

Richards placed France’s most recent win in 10th. They went unbeaten throughout the tournament and famously beat Argentina 4-3 in the last 16, in one of the World Cup’s greatest matches, but the former Manchester City defender justified his ranking by pointing to the presence of Steven Nzonzi, then a Stoke City player, in the squad – a factor he felt prevented it from ranking any higher.

The duo agreed on Italy 1982 coming in at eighth, with 40-year-old goalkeeper Dino Zoff becoming the oldest player to win the tournament, while Paolo Rossi took the Golden Boot as the Azzurri overcame both Brazil and Argentina on their way to the final.

Kylian Mbappe with the World Cup
Kylian Mbappe with the World Cup

However, ranking Spain’s tiki-taka side of 2010 in seventh would have raised eyebrows among Shearer and many viewers alike, as would Richards’ decision to place Brazil’s 2002 side just one place higher. Richards did, however, align with his colleague on West Germany’s 1990 team being placed fifth, despite what is often considered one of the least memorable finals in history, with them needing an Andreas Brehme penalty to edge past Argentina.

He ranked France’s first triumph in 1998 in third, above England’s sole World Cup win, though he was quick to pay tribute to the latter: “It is just the story of it and being at Wembley. It is the immortality of the whole thing and the players.” The pair were unanimous, however, in placing Brazil 1970 at the top, with “Maradona’s team” taking second place in Richard’s books.

Micah Richards’ Top 10 World Cup-winning Teams

10th

France (2018)

9th

Argentina (1978)

8th

Italy (1982)

7th

Spain (2010)

6th

Brazil (2002)

5th

West Germany (1990)

4th

England (1966)

3rd

France (1998)

2nd

Argentina (1986)

1st

Brazil (1970)


arsenal-1


20 Greatest Teams in Football History Ranked by Fans

These teams are among the most historic in the sport.

Alan Shearer’s 10 Greatest World Cup Winning Teams

Alan Shearer

After picking Argentina’s 1978 squad in 10th – a side that defeated Johan Cruyff’s Netherlands 3-1 after extra time in the final – Gary Lineker interjected Shearer’s decision, saying: “I loved this team, I remember Kempes winning the Golden Boot and cheering all the goals against Peru because I went with the host nation. It was a decent final, because that Dutch team were very strong.”

That didn’t stop him from placing them below France’s 2018 triumph, as Kylian Mbappé announced his talent to the globe, nor did it shift his stance on putting Italy’s greatest win in eighth. While Richards had Argentina’s 1986 side in second, Shearer explained his decision to rank them seventh, saying:

“I don’t think it’s fair to say he [Maradona] carried them though, they had some very good players. In that World Cup he was unbelievable, as good as any player had played in any World Cup in history. What a personality as well.”

Argentinian forward Diego Maradona celebrates

France’s first World Cup triumph comes in at sixth, while West Germany are placed fifth. In fourth, he said of Brazil 2002: “Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho. Brilliant team, they also had Carlos and Cafu. That Ronaldinho goal against England was a fluke though.”

But despite Scolari’s side winning seven games en route to gold, he still felt Spain 2010 were better. Richards argued the side’s constant 1-0 wins were too dull to rank that highly, but Shearer placed them inside the medal positions, just below England’s 1966 triumph.

Then, on naming Brazil 1970 top, he explained: “One of the easiest decisions even though I never saw them. The way people eulogise about them and the names they had, it had to be them.”

Alan Shearer’s Top 10 World Cup-winning Teams

10th

Argentina (1978)

9th

France (2018)

8th

Italy (1982)

7th

Argentina (1986)

6th

France (1998)

5th

West Germany (1990)

4th

Brazil (2002)

3rd

Spain (2010)

2nd

England (1966)

1st

Brazil (1970)

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F1 Driver Set to Lose Seat as With Team ‘Struggling’ to Afford Him

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One Formula 1 driver is facing a brutal situation ahead of the 2027 season as Max Verstappen and Fernando Alonso look set to play a huge role in the driver market.

Both men’s futures with Red Bull and Aston Martin, respectively, are currently up in the air. If they choose to stay with their current teams, there could be very little movement elsewhere.

However, Haas look certain to make a change to their line-up next year. Esteban Ocon is the driver at serious risk of losing his seat due to a worrying reason.

F1 Team to Drop Driver For 2027 Season

Esteban Ocon (Haas) REUTERS/Marton Monus

Since joining from Alpine in 2025, the French racer has struggled to deliver, with his teammate Oliver Bearman performing better so far in 2026. As a result, Ocon’s seat is in jeopardy.

There were even rumours of an explosive fallout with Haas team principal Ayao Komatsu. While those suggestions have been downplayed, Komatsu is believed to be disappointed with the driver’s performance and results.

Journalist Julianne Cerasoli has now claimed that Haas are working below the budget cap and may not be able to afford Ocon, even if there was a desire for him to keep his seat. Rafael Camara and Leonardo Fornaroli have both been linked with Haas for 2027.

Speaking on the UOL Esporte YouTube channel (per F1 Oversteer), Cerasoli said: “The spot at Haas is a little more complicated precisely because of Bearman’s presence there.

“Bearman is the guy with ties to Ferrari who has that spot on the grid, right? And there’s no precedent for them fielding two drivers with ties to Ferrari. Their situation is very hard to read right now, because it’s a team facing major budget problems.

“Even Cadillac is a team that’s already operating within the budget cap, meaning a team that brings in more money than it spends under the cap, which is the maximum you can spend on car development.”

Haas is reportedly the only F1 team working below the budget, as he continued: “Haas is the only team still operating below the cap, and there’s a lot of pressure on Ayao Komatsu to turn this situation around.

“So the drivers get caught up in this mix of possible solutions, and the thing about Ocon is that he’s an expensive driver. So that’s one of the points working against the French driver.

“But what more can Ferrari offer to help him secure that seat, right? Of course, the driver’s quality matters too, but we know that Formula 1 is a team effort, and within that team, the presence of the driver who’ll be sitting next to Ollie Bearman has to make sense.

“It has to make financial sense as well. Of course, Rafa has his business partners and his sponsors that can help, but there are also other drivers coming in with different ways to finance that seat.”

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Robbie Fowler on Liverpool’s New Era, Isak & Salah

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Robbie Fowler gives his verdict on Liverpool’s new era under Andoni Iraola, Alexander Isak’s potential and life after Mohamed Salah.

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Kyle Walker Slammed as Explosive Pep Guardiola Dressing Room Footage Emerges

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Footage has emerged of Kyle Walker raging at Pep Guardiola in the dressing room after a defeat to Liverpool, an exchange that left the Catalan manager in tears.

Guardiola, considered one of the greatest managers in football history, left Manchester City this summer following a highly successful 10-year spell.

However, despite all the success he had at the club, it wasn’t always plain sailing for Guardiola. The 2024/25 campaign was particularly difficult for the club.

In that season, Man City failed to win the Premier League as they finished third, they finished runners-up in the FA Cup, were knocked out of the EFL Cup in the fourth round and were eliminated from the Champions League at the playoff stage.

Tensions were high during the campaign and new footage has now emerged of Walker and Guardiola clashing in the dressing room.

Kyle Walker Hits Back at Pep Guardiola

Kyle Walker and Pep Guardiola REUTERS/Issei Kato

In December 2024, Man City were beaten by Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield. A new Amazon Prime documentary series titled ‘A Beautiful Obsession’, which follows Guardiola’s final two years at the club, captured the now 55-year-old clashing with Walker in the dressing room after the match.

In a clip that has gone viral on social media, Guardiola says to his players: “In that situation when Ruben [Dias] comes to the ball, you have to feel that if you lose the ball, it’s a goal. And when the ball comes to Kyle [Walker], Kyle has to know that if you lose the ball, it’s a goal.”

Walker then interjects: “I react to someone. If you keep saying my name in every meeting in every f****** thing, you’re going to get a reaction. Every f****** meeting it’s my name. I’ve reacted to someone else, I’ve lost the ball, you somehow bring my name into it.”

The Englishman then suggested that Guardiola did want him to be captain.

Guardiola replied: “But if you take it personally Kyle, I am sorry. It will be my defeat. After nine years together, with what we’ve won, in the good moments and the bad moments, it is my defeat. It is my defeat. Absolutely. More than anything else.”

He then struggled to hold back the tears as he added to the room: “If I am a problem, you have to tell me. I won’t stay here for the money or just for the fact of staying. I extended the contract because I want to be with you, I want to fight in that position.

“I don’t want you to feel like I’m leaving and running away from you. I don’t want to have the feeling that the pieces fall down. And I feel ‘No, I want to help you.’

“But if you feel, captains first and then the other ones, that there is a problem? Tell me. It’s not going to change the love I have for all of you. Not one second. But I want to fight. That’s all. I’m sorry.”

The clip then ends with Guardiola walking away from his players.

Pep Guardiola and Kyle Walker Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith

Walker completed a temporary move to AC Milan a few weeks later. He left the club on a permanent basis at the end of the 2024/25 season as he joined Burnley.

The 36-year-old is being blasted by football fans, with many thinking he showed disrespect to his manager.

One said: “Walker was such a bad captain. It is so upsetting to see him disrespect Pep like this,” while another commented: “Who does he think he is? Glad he got ran out the club.”

A third wrote: “I would have kicked Walker out.” A fourth stated: “Walker is the worst captain this club has ever produced”, while a fifth said: “What a disgrace Kyle is man.”

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