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·22 October 2025

Benfica top the ranking of the world’s best football academies

Article image:Benfica top the ranking of the world’s best football academies

The CIES Football Observatory has released its annual ranking of the best youth academies in the world, and Benfica takes first place for the second consecutive year.

Portugal has four clubs in this top 100. In addition to the top spot held by Benfica, Sporting CP stands out in 6th place. The list also includes FC Porto (59th) and SC Braga (95th).

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The study, which analyzes active homegrown players in 49 leagues, placed Barcelona in second and River Plate in third, completing the podium.

Among the countries, Argentina is the most represented, with 15 clubs, followed by Brazil, with 11 teams in the top 100.

See the full list:

  • SL Benfica (POR)
  • FC Barcelona (ESP)
  • River Plate (ARG)
  • AFC Ajax (NED)
  • Boca Juniors (ARG)
  • Sporting CP (POR)
  • Dinamo Zagreb (CRO)
  • Defensor SC (URU)
  • Real Madrid (ESP)
  • Vélez Sarsfield (ARG)
  • Crvena Zvezda (SRB)
  • São Paulo FC (BRA)
  • Dynamo Kyiv (UKR)
  • SC Corinthians (BRA)
  • CR Flamengo (BRA)
  • CA San Lorenzo (ARG)
  • Club Nacional (URU)
  • SE Palmeiras (BRA)
  • Paris St-Germain (FRA)
  • FK Partizan (SRB)
  • Manchester City (ENG)
  • Atlético Nacional (COL)
  • CA Lanús (ARG)
  • Rosario Central (ARG)
  • RSC Anderlecht (BEL)
  • Newell's Old Boys (ARG)
  • KRC Genk (BEL)
  • Cerro Porteño (PAR)
  • Danubio FC (URU)
  • PSV Eindhoven (NED)
  • Santos FC (BRA)
  • Independiente del Valle (ECU)
  • Grêmio FBPA (BRA)
  • Olympique Lyonnais (FRA)
  • Cruzeiro (BRA)
  • Club Libertad (PAR)
  • SC Internacional (BRA)
  • Fluminense FC (BRA)
  • RB Salzburg (AUT)
  • CA Peñarol (URU)
  • Club Estudiantes (ARG)
  • Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR)
  • AZ Alkmaar (NED)
  • Stade Rennais (FRA)
  • Argentinos Juniors (ARG)
  • Hajduk Split (CRO)
  • Racing Club (ARG)
  • Arsenal FC (ENG)
  • Envigado FC (COL)
  • Chelsea FC (ENG)
  • Feyenord (NED)
  • CF Pachuca (MEX)
  • Club Brugge (BEL)
  • Bayern München (GER)
  • CA Independiente (ARG)
  • Manchester United (ENG)
  • Olimpia Asunción (PAR)
  • Athletico Paranaense (BRA)
  • FC Porto (POR)
  • Club Guaraní (PAR)
  • Real Sociedad (ESP)
  • Sparta Praha (CZE)
  • Athletic Club (ESP)
  • Slavia Praha (CZE)
  • Atlético Madrid (ESP)
  • Valencia CF (ESP)
  • Independiente Medellín (COL)
  • FC Nordsjælland (DEN)
  • Montevideo Wanderers (URU)
  • CA Belgrano (ARG)
  • CA Banfield (ARG)
  • FK Vojvodina (SRB)
  • MŠK Žilina (SVK)
  • Deportivo Cali (COL)
  • Liverpool FC (ENG)
  • Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR)
  • FC Midtjylland (DEN)
  • AS Monaco (FRA)
  • RCD Espanyol (ESP)
  • Chivas Guadalajara (MEX)
  • Atlético Mineiro (BRA)
  • Deportivo Saprissa (CRC)
  • CA Unión (ARG)
  • Sporting Cristal (PER)
  • LDU Quito (ECU)
  • Standard Liège (BEL)
  • Juventus FC (ITA)
  • Internazionale (ITA)
  • Liverpool FC (URU)
  • Pakhtakor FK (UZB)
  • Villarreal CF (ESP)
  • Gimnasia La Plata (ARG)
  • Atalanta BC (ITA)
  • Colo Colo (CHI)
  • SC Braga (POR)
  • Lokomotiv Moskva (RUS)
  • FC København (DEN)
  • FC Basel (SUI)
  • Caracas FC (VEN)
  • Le Havre AC (FRA)

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.

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