Argentina’s men’s national football team, which won back-to-back Copa America titles, has been named AIPS Team of the Year 2024, while the Paris 2024 Olympic Games took home the AIPS Best Press Facilities award. This is the result of the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) poll, in which a panel of 518 journalists from 111 countries voted.
Football dominated the fiercely contested Best Team category, in which La Albiceleste received 579 points to win the award for the third consecutive time, beating Euro 2024 champions Spain (552 points) and Real Madrid (532 points), winners of the Champions League, LaLiga, UEFA Super Cup, Spanish Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup in 2024.
The Paris 2024 Olympic Games scored a total of 1,507 points in the Best Press Facilities poll, followed by Euro 2024 with 714 points and Wimbledon with 321 points in third place.
In 2024, Argentina successfully retained its place as the number one ranked men’s football team in the world after producing a series of impressive performances to win a record 16th Copa America title and maintain its lead in the CONMEBOL qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Thanks to an extra-time goal from substitute Lautaro Martinez, the reigning world champions ended Colombia’s 28-match unbeaten run in the Copa America 2024 final at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium on July 15 to claim their third consecutive major title. Martinez was the tournament’s top scorer with five goals, while Emiliano Martinez was the best goalkeeper.
Two months later, La Albiceleste would see their own 12-match unbeaten run come to a dramatic end as Colombia secured a 2-1 World Cup qualifying victory. Despite suffering two defeats and a draw in the 2024 qualifying schedule, Argentina still sit comfortably at the top of the table with 25 points from 12 matches.
Here is the Top 10
1. Argentina men’s national football team – Soccer – 579
2. Spain men’s national football team – Soccer- 552
3. Real Madrid men’s football club – Soccer – 532
4. USA men’s basketball team – Basketball – 360
5. Barcelona Women’s Football Club – Soccer – 278
6. Italy women’s national volleyball team – Volleyball – 219
7. Boston Celtics – Basketball – 184
8. USA Women’s Gymnastics Team – Gymnastics – 172
9. Manchester City men’s football club – Soccer – 170
10. Denmark men’s national handball team – Handball – 165