CIES Reveals Most Attacking Football Teams Worldwide

Bayern Munich has been ranked as the most attacking football team globally in the latest assessment from the CIES Football Observatory, released on Wednesday. The German champions lead the study’s annual ranking, which evaluates offensive prowess based on specific in-game metrics for the current season.

Paris Saint-Germain, champion of France’s Ligue 1, follows in second place. Spain’s Barcelona holds the third position, with Germany’s Bayer Leverkusen in fourth. Olympique de Marseille features at number ten. Notably, several teams from outside Europe’s ‘top five’ leagues feature prominently, including the United States’ Columbus Crew in fifth place—ranking above Denmark’s FC Nordsjælland (7th) and France’s AS Saint-Étienne (8th).

The ranking is derived from four key performance indicators. These are: the percentage of passes received on the ground in the opponent’s offensive third, average passing distance (with shorter distances favoured), passing rhythm during periods of possession, and the average duration of each possession. The combined data aims to measure a team’s capacity to maintain structured, progressive, and vertical attacking play.

The CIES Football Observatory, a renowned research centre affiliated with the International Centre for Sports Studies, compiles the data using its proprietary algorithm. The methodology prioritises controlled, build-up attacks over direct or counter-attacking styles, reflecting contemporary tactical trends that value possession and positional play.

This biannual ranking provides a statistical lens through which to compare offensive philosophies across different leagues. Bayern Munich’s top placement underscores their continued emphasis on high pressing and short, quick passing combinations. The strong showing of Columbus Crew highlights the progressive attacking structures also present in Major League Soccer.

The list serves as a benchmark for clubs evaluating tactical effectiveness. It moves beyond simple goalscorers or shot counts to analyse the systemic behaviours that create chances. The full ranking offers comparative insights for coaches, analysts, and fans interested in the evolving science of attacking football. Further monthly updates are expected throughout the season.