Debate often reigns about which era of football produced the greatest team.
AC Milan in the late 1980s to early 1990s, Johan Cruyff’s Ajax team, Liverpool in the 1960s.
It’s an interesting question, but one not often asked is what is the greatest age-group football team to have ever existed.
Here are fives sides that were dominant during the short time they were together.
Argentina Under-20, 1979
Played: 6, Won: 6, Goals scored: 20, Goal Conceded: 2
Argentina boasts the most successful Under-20 record in the world. They have won six FIFA World Cups with 52 victories out of 72 matches. Superstars Lionel Messi (2005) and Sergio Agüero (2007) have won the Golden Boot award.
In 1979 Argentina won the tourney for the first time and boasted a brilliant team. Argentina’s greatest player Diego Maradona scored six goals and won the Golden Boot award as the best player at the tournament. Ramón Díaz, Jan Barbas, Juan Simon and Gabriel Calderon also represented Argentina at senior level.
Maradona scored in all the finals matches, including a goal in the 3-1 victory over the Soviet Union in a decider played in front of 52,000 people at the National Stadium in Tokyo.
Portugal Under-20, 1989-1991
Played: 12, Won: 11, Drawn: 1, Goals Scored: 15, Goal Conceded: 4
Portugal was the first team to successfully defend the FIFA Under-20 World Cup and they did it with a golden generation of players.
Jorge Couto, Paulo Alves, Vítor Baía, Nuno Capucho, Sérgio Conceição, Jorge Costa, Rui Costa, Fernando Couto, Manuel Dimas, Luís Figo, Nuno Gomes, Emílio Peixe, João Pinto, Ricardo Sá Pinto, Carlos Secretário, Paulo Sousa and Abel Xavier all represented Portugal at senior level and Figo later became FIFA’s World Player of the year.
Portugal was noted for its stingy defence. In the 1989 final they beat Nigeria 2-0. In 1991 they beat Brazil 4-3 on penalties.
Manchester United Youth Team, 1992
In 1992 United’s first team was pipped to the title by Leeds United, making it 25 seasons of sorrow since their last championship. In search of consolation, 14,681 fans went to Old Trafford to watch the second leg of the FA Cup Youth final against Crystal Palace. United won 3-2 and 6-3 on aggregate to commence an era of greatness.
‘The Class of ’92’ was a truly phenomenal side. Ryan Giggs, David Beckham, Gary Neville, Nicky Butt, Keith Gillespie and Robbie Savage all became internationals and figures who dominated the English game.
Virtually all the team of ’92 were eligible for the Youth Cup the following year and, surprisingly, they failed to win it even though another two future England internationals, Paul Scholes and Phil Neville, played in the final. Leeds won 4-1 on aggregate before crowds of 30,562 at Old Trafford and 31,037 at Elland Road.
Brazil Under-17, 1997-1999
Played: 12, Won: 10, Drawn: 2 Goals Scored: 29, Goal Conceded: 6
Since 1985 Brazil has won the FIFA Under-17 World Cup three times and fashioned a record of 35 wins, nine draws and 15 defeats in 59 matches. Brazil has scored 123 goals in the tournament and in 1997 and 1999 became the first and only team to defend the title.
The 1997 side was utterly dominant, outscoring their opposition 21-2.
In 1999, Brazil won the semi-final and final on penalties in Auckland. The final against Australia was a heart-stopper. Brazil won 8-7 in the shootout with Leonardo Santiago scoring twice. Flávio, Geovanni, Leo, Souza, Diego Cavalieri and Adriano Leite Ribeiro went onto represent Brazil at a senior level.
From the Australian team, Dylan Macalister, Scott McDonald, Jade North, Josh Kennedy and Adrian Madaschi represented the Socceroos
Ghana Under-20, 2009
Played: 7, Won: 6, Drawn: 1, Goals Scored: 16, Goal Conceded: 8
Ghana became the first team at any level from Africa to win a FIFA tournament when they won the Under-20 World Cup in 2009. Ghana played an attractive, attacking style of football that saw them score three or more goals in three games during the tournament.
In the final they beat Brazil on penalties after being tied 0-0 at the end of full-time and extra time. Dominic Adiyiah scored a tournament leading eight goals and won the Golden Boot award. Samuel Inkoom, Jonathan Mensah, Mohammed Rabiu, David Addy, Daniel Adjei and captain André Ayew have all represented Ghana at a senior level.
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