After the Eiffel Tower, Paris has gained another emblem — a footballing one. Paris Saint-Germain’s emphatic 4–0 win over Real Madrid in the Club World Cup semi-final propelled the French side to the summit of Opta’s global ranking, knocking Liverpool off the perch. The team from the banks of the Seine is now regarded as the benchmark of modern football excellence.
Semi-Final Rout as a Marker of Strength
By the 60th minute the Parisians had removed any doubt about the outcome: rapid vertical attacks, an immaculate press, and the forwards’ individual creativity left Real bewildered. Such a show of class earned extra points in the Opta algorithm, which measures not only the scoreline but also the quality of dominance — from expected goals (xG) to possession percentage.
Rating Mathematics: What Opta Values
Unlike conventional tables, the Opta index is a composite of efficiency metrics: attacking output, defensive reliability, squad depth, and consistency of form. The maximum is 100 points — a threshold PSG has reached for the first time, while Liverpool, who led for most of the season, has slipped to 99.27.
The Competitive Peloton of the Top Ten
Trailing the two leaders are:
- Arsenal (98.79) — Mikel Arteta’s young side keeps a high tempo;
- Manchester City (97.98) — statistically steady but has dropped points in head-to-head clashes with fellow giants;
- Barcelona (96.89) — relies on technical control;
- Real Madrid (95.41) — the defeat to PSG proved costly;
- Bayern, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Newcastle round out the top ten, separated by less than a point.
A Pressure-Free but Motivated Final
Intriguingly, even a potential defeat to Chelsea on 13 July would not alter PSG’s position: the gap to their pursuers is wide enough. Yet Luis Enrique’s men want to cement their success with the Club World Cup trophy, turning a statistical triumph into silverware — and definitively establishing the new global football hierarchy.
