National football teams are a source of pride for their countries, and throughout history, there have been several teams that have made a significant impact on the sport.
Below are the countries that have dominated the international football scene and are still regarded as the greatest national football teams today.
9. Hungary (1950-1956)
The Hungarian national football team of the 1950s is widely considered one of the greatest football teams of all time. Known as the "Mighty Magyars," the team dominated international football during their prime years, winning 42 out of 55 matches between 1950 and 1956.
8. Uruguay (1924-1934)
The Uruguay national football team of the mid-1920s and early 1930s is widely considered one of the greatest of all time, having won the first-ever World Cup in 1930 and the gold medal at the 1924 and 1928 Olympic Games. Led by the legendary player-coach Jose Nasazzi and featuring iconic figures such as Hector Castro and Pedro Cea, the team played with an attacking flair that was ahead of its time.
7. Netherlands (1972-1990)
The Netherlands national football team of the 1970s to 1990s is regarded as one of the greatest. Led by legendary figures such as Johan Cruyff, Marco van Basten, and Ruud Gullit, the team played an innovative, attacking style of football that came to be known as "Total Football." The team reached the World Cup final in 1974 and 1978 and won the European Championship in 1988.
6. France (1998-2000)
The French national team of the late 1990s and early 2000s won the 1998 World Cup and the 2000 European Championship. They were led by Zinedine Zidane, who scored two goals in the 1998 World Cup final.
5. Argentina (1978-1986)
The Argentine national team of the late 1970s and 1980s was led by Diego Maradona and won the 1978 World Cup and the 1986 World Cup. Maradona's performances in the 1986 tournament are still regarded as some of the greatest individual performances in football history.
4. Germany (1972-1974)
The German national team of the early 1970s is regarded as one of the greatest national teams in football history. They won the 1972 European Championship and the 1974 World Cup, led by Franz Beckenbauer and Gerd Muller.
3. Spain (2008-2012)
Spain's national team from 2008 to 2012 was one of the most dominant teams in football history. They won two European Championships (2008 and 2012) and a World Cup (2010), playing a possession-based style of football known as tiki-taka.
2. Italy (1934-1985)
The Italian team won four World Cup titles and one European Championship and finished as runners-up in several major tournaments between 1934 and 1985 and is considered one of the greatest national football teams ever. Their style of play was characterized by a strong defence and tactical discipline, which proved highly effective against the attacking styles of other teams.
1. Brazil (1958-1970)
The Brazilian national team of the 1960s is widely regarded as the greatest football team ever. The team, led by Pele, won three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1970) and featured some of the greatest players in football history, including Garrincha, Jairzinho, and Carlos Alberto.