There were a few continental milestones hit in 1988 with respect to the World Club Rankings annual rankings. One was a last, one was a first. The last was for CONMEBOL. Argentina’s Newell’s Old Boys became the final South American club to date to finish atop the World Club Rankings annual chart. The first was for the CAF as Egypt’s Al-Ahly, despite falling on penalty kicks in the semifinals of the African Champions Cup, became the first African club to finish in the WCR Top 25.
In Europe, Englad was in year three of five of its UEFA competition ban. The European Cup final in Stuttgart, West Germany saw PSV Eindhoven and Benfica play to a 0-0 draw through full time. PSV took the title with a 6-5 penalty kick victory following Antonio Velaso’s miss. The UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup title was taken by Belgium’s KV Mechelen, who defeated Ajax 1-0 in the final in Strasbourg, France. Finally, the UEFA Cup title went to West Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen who came back from a 0-3 first leg loss to Espanyol to score a 3-0 victory of its own at home and defeated the Spanish club 3-2 on penalty kicks.
In the western hemisphere, top-ranked Newell’s Old Boys made it to the finals of the 1988 Copa Libertadores, but lost 3-1 on aggregate to Uruguay’s Nacional for the title. Farther north, Olimpia, from Honduras, defeated Defence Force from the Trinidad & Tobago for the Copa de Campeones y Subcampeones title.
In Africa’s two major cups, Nigerian clubs fell in the finals of both. Algeria’s Entente Setif defeated Iwuan Yanwu 4-1 in aggregate for the African Champions Cup. In the African Cup Winner’s Cup, Tunisia’s CA Bizerte defeated Ranchers Bees in the final. Finally, the Asian Champions Cup went to Japan’s Yamiuri after Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal withdrew from the tournament prior to the final.
World Club Rankings – Top 25 Clubs in the World – 1988
1. Newell’s Old Boys (Arg) – Copa Libertadores- Runner-up; Final Number One Ranking for Non-European Club.
2. Benfica (Por) – Champions Cup- Runner-up; Highest Ranking since 1968.
3. PSV Eindhoven (Ned) – Champions Cup- Champions.
4. Steaua Bucuresti (Rom) – CC- SF.
5. Real Madrid (Esp) – CC- SF.
6. San Lorenzo (Arg) – CL- SF; Highest ever ranking.
7. Porto (Por) – EC- 2R.
8. AC Milan (Ita) – UEFA Cup- 2R.
9. Liverpool (Eng) – Fourteenth consecutive Top 25.
10. Napoli (Ita) – EC- 1R.
11. Dinamo Bucuresti (Rom)
12. Danubio (Uru)
13. Os Belenenses (Por) – UEFA- 1R; Highest ever ranking.
14. Manchester United (Eng)
15. Roma (Ita)
16. Sporting CP (Por) – CWC- QF.
17. Ajax (Ned) – CWC- RU.
18. Werder Bremen (FRG) – UEFA- SF.
19. Racing Club (Arg)
20. Real Sociedad (Esp) – CWC-2R.
21. Nottingham Forest (Eng) – Final ranking.
22. Victoria Bucuresti (Rom) – First ever ranking.
23. America de Cali (Col) – CL- SF.
24. Al-Ahly (Egy) – African Champions Cup- SF; First ever ranking for CAF club.
25. Boavista (Por) – First ever ranking.
Past Final Season Top 25s: 2008 ,2007, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978,1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970,1969, 1968, 1967, 1966,1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961,1960
In Europe, Englad was in year three of five of its UEFA competition ban. The European Cup final in Stuttgart, West Germany saw PSV Eindhoven and Benfica play to a 0-0 draw through full time. PSV took the title with a 6-5 penalty kick victory following Antonio Velaso’s miss. The UEFA Cup Winner’s Cup title was taken by Belgium’s KV Mechelen, who defeated Ajax 1-0 in the final in Strasbourg, France. Finally, the UEFA Cup title went to West Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen who came back from a 0-3 first leg loss to Espanyol to score a 3-0 victory of its own at home and defeated the Spanish club 3-2 on penalty kicks.
In the western hemisphere, top-ranked Newell’s Old Boys made it to the finals of the 1988 Copa Libertadores, but lost 3-1 on aggregate to Uruguay’s Nacional for the title. Farther north, Olimpia, from Honduras, defeated Defence Force from the Trinidad & Tobago for the Copa de Campeones y Subcampeones title.
In Africa’s two major cups, Nigerian clubs fell in the finals of both. Algeria’s Entente Setif defeated Iwuan Yanwu 4-1 in aggregate for the African Champions Cup. In the African Cup Winner’s Cup, Tunisia’s CA Bizerte defeated Ranchers Bees in the final. Finally, the Asian Champions Cup went to Japan’s Yamiuri after Saudi Arabian club Al Hilal withdrew from the tournament prior to the final.
World Club Rankings – Top 25 Clubs in the World – 1988
1. Newell’s Old Boys (Arg) – Copa Libertadores- Runner-up; Final Number One Ranking for Non-European Club.
2. Benfica (Por) – Champions Cup- Runner-up; Highest Ranking since 1968.
3. PSV Eindhoven (Ned) – Champions Cup- Champions.
4. Steaua Bucuresti (Rom) – CC- SF.
5. Real Madrid (Esp) – CC- SF.
6. San Lorenzo (Arg) – CL- SF; Highest ever ranking.
7. Porto (Por) – EC- 2R.
8. AC Milan (Ita) – UEFA Cup- 2R.
9. Liverpool (Eng) – Fourteenth consecutive Top 25.
10. Napoli (Ita) – EC- 1R.
11. Dinamo Bucuresti (Rom)
12. Danubio (Uru)
13. Os Belenenses (Por) – UEFA- 1R; Highest ever ranking.
14. Manchester United (Eng)
15. Roma (Ita)
16. Sporting CP (Por) – CWC- QF.
17. Ajax (Ned) – CWC- RU.
18. Werder Bremen (FRG) – UEFA- SF.
19. Racing Club (Arg)
20. Real Sociedad (Esp) – CWC-2R.
21. Nottingham Forest (Eng) – Final ranking.
22. Victoria Bucuresti (Rom) – First ever ranking.
23. America de Cali (Col) – CL- SF.
24. Al-Ahly (Egy) – African Champions Cup- SF; First ever ranking for CAF club.
25. Boavista (Por) – First ever ranking.
Past Final Season Top 25s: 2008 ,2007, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978,1977, 1976, 1975, 1974, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1970,1969, 1968, 1967, 1966,1965, 1964, 1963, 1962, 1961,1960
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