But… who will the best in 2016 be?
The Portuguese National side had a brilliant season, arguably the best in their history, as they marched to their first ever FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup title, and on their home-sand no less, to go along with winning the Euro Beach Soccer League 2015 title in Pärnu. En route to their top ranking in 2015 they dethroned the previous leaders, and current Overall World Ranking Presented by Power Horse number 1, Russia. The Russians came up just short to the Portuguese in Portugal at the World Cup and in Estonia at the Superfinal.
Russia was able to maintain their overall ranking because they have won two of the past three World Cups, the Superfinal in 2014, and the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup Dubai 2015 had them on second position this year. The losses in the World Cup and Euro League dropped Russia from 1st to 2nd and they will take aim at the top position again in 2016. Even though the Russians did not win the World Cup, the gold in the European Games Baku 2015 and their reclaiming the Samsung Beach Soccer Intercontinatal Cup Dubai this season, as they were able to secure 3rd Place , secured Likhachev’s side the second place in the 2015 ranking.
Coming in 3rd Place in the 2015 Ranking is Tahiti, who took many by storm this year, however they had a spectacular run in the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti 2013, by finishing in 2nd Place to Portugal in this years’ final. 4th Place this season was earned by Italy who looked the favourites to win the World Cup this year while looking dominant all season, but they could not parlay those good showings into World Cup glory. The 5th best team in 2015 is no surprise, as they are almost always in the conversation of best around, the Godfathers of the sport, the winners of four FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups, Brazil. The South American side will not be satisfied with fifth best and they will be fighting for the Worlds’ Best in 2016.
