The International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) has ranked just three Australian A-League clubs in the top 400 clubs worldwide. The list, compiled by the official body that records the statistics and history of football over the past year, has Central Coast Mariners as the leading A-League club at 261st, down from 238th.

The list recognises Brisbane Roar at 292nd, a fall from 271st at last count, and Melbourne Victory at 301st, an improvement from 376th.

The top teams were ranked as FC Barcelona, over Spanish rivals Real Madrid, the FC Porto third and Manchester United fourth.

The top 20:

1. (1.) FC Barcelona España/4 317,0

2. (2.) Real Madrid CF España/4 307,0

3. (3.) FC do Porto Portugal/3 291,5

4. (4.) Manchester United FC England/4 285,0

5. (8.) Manchester City FC England/4 254,0

6. (7.) Villarreal CF España/4 250,0

7. (5.) FC Internazionale Milano Italia/4 246,0

8. (12.) FC Dinamo Kyiv Ukraine/3 222,5

9. (15.) FC Schalke 04 Deutschland/4 218,0

10. (26.) CA Vélez Sarsfield Argentina/4 213,0

11. (13.) Liga Deportiva Universitaria de Quito Ecuador/3 211,5

12. (10.) Paris Saint-Germain FC France/4 210,0

13. (18.) Santos FC Brasil/4 208,0

14. (9.) FC Zenit St. Petersburg Russia/3 208,0

15. (25.) Lille Olympique Sporting Club France/4 206,0

16. (6.) SC Internacional Porto Alegre Brasil/4 204,0

17. (24.) FC Shakhtar Donetsk Ukraine/3 203,5

18. (20.) Liverpool FC England/4 202,0

19. (11.) FC Bayern München Deutschland/4 200,0

20. (19.) PSV Eindhoven Nederland/3 199,5

Chelsea FC are ranked 26th, AC Milan 28th, Tottenham 31st, Arsenal 37th

Full list available at IFFHS.