In 1965, Internazionale won its second consecutive Champions Cup, defeating Benfica 1-0 in the final at the San Siro. It also marked the first time that Inter Milan finished at the top of the annual WCR Annual Top 25. (They are seeking to do it again in 2008 as they are the current number one in the weekly rankings.) The other semifinalists in the Champions Cup failed to make the final Top 25 due to poor showings in their domestic leagues. (Liverpool - 7th England, Gyori V.ETO - 5th Hungary)
Among the South American teams, repeat Copa Libertadores champions Independiente failed to make the list due to its 13the place finish in Argentina. Runner-up Penarol, however, finished in the Top 5, as did semifinalist Boca Juniors.
Other major Cup winners in 1965 were West Ham United, who took home the Cup Winners Cup and Ferencvarosi, who took home the Inter-CIties Fairs Cup. 1965 marked the fifth straight season that Benfica finished in the top four, the sixth straight season for Real Madrid in the top five and the sixth straight season for AC Milan in the top twenty. Below are the final season rankings along with how each team did in major cup competitions in 1965.
World Club Rankings - 1965
1. Internazionale (Ita) Winner - Champions Cup
2. Benfica (Por) RU - CC
3. Penarol (Uru) RU - Copa Libertadores
4. Boca Juniors (Arg) SF - CL
5. Real Madrid (Esp) QF - CC
6. Palmeiras (Bra)
7. AC Milan (Ita) 1R - Inter-Cities Fairs Cup
8. Porto (Por) 2R - Cup Winners Cup
9. Atletico de Madrid (Esp) SF - ICFC
10. Werder Bremen (FRG)
11. Manchester United (Eng) SF - ICFC
12. Torino (Ita) SF - CWC
13. GD CUF (Por)
14. Feyenoord (Ned)
15. FC Koln (FRG) QF-CC
16. Real Zaragoza (Esp) SF-CWC
17. Academica (Por)
18. Sparta Praha (Tch) 2R-CWC
19. RSC Anderlecht (Bel) 2R-CC
20. Fiorentina (Ita) 1R-ICFC
21. Leeds United (Eng)
22. Borussia Dortmund (FRG) 2R-ICFC
23. Valencia (Esp) 1R-ICFC
24. River Plate (Arg)
25. Nacional (Uru)
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