The longest unbeaten football runs of the 21st century | OneFootball

From Gibraltar to Germany, discover the ranking of the most spectacular unbeaten streaks since 2000.

The longest unbeaten football runs of the 21st century

In modern football, consistency is often the hallmark of an exceptional team. Beyond trophies and one-off victories, the ability of a team to string together matches without tasting defeat is a rare achievement. It demonstrates both tactical and technical dominance over opponents. It's the perfect illustration of the balance between individual talent, tactical cohesion, and mental strength—be it defensive solidity, attacking creativity, or collective resilience.In this article, discover a record ranking of unbeaten runs worldwide in the 21st century, based on the latest available data.

15 clubs with the longest unbeaten runs in the 21st century

The football unbeaten record is a measure of a club’s consistency and dominance over an extended period. These football unbeaten streaks are more than just a string of positive results—they represent true sporting hegemony. Such runs are typically defined by key moments: decisive goals, outstanding defensive displays, and impressive individual and collective performances. Here’s a detailed overview of the clubs that have left their mark on the global unbeaten football streak ranking since 2000.1. Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar, 2009-2014) – 88 matchesThe absolute unbeaten match record of the 21st century belongs to Lincoln Red Imps from Gibraltar, who achieved the extraordinary feat of remaining undefeated for 88 consecutive games between May 2009 and September 2014. This phenomenal run spanned 1,959 days—over five years—in the Gibraltar league. The Red Imps, the most decorated club in Gibraltar with 29 league titles, built this invincibility on a rock-solid defense and a unified squad. Their dominance came during a golden era, in which they won 14 consecutive titles from 2003 to 2016.

2. Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova, 2006-2008) – 63 matches

The Moldovan club Sheriff has dominated its league since the early 2000s, with 10 straight titles between 2001 and 2010. Especially between 2006 and 2008, Sheriff put together 63 consecutive official matches without defeat, mixing wins and draws. At the end of the 2006/07 season, the club became the first to clinch the national crown without losing a single game.

3. FC Porto (Portugal, 2010-2012) – 55 matches

The Portuguese Dragons set an unforgettable benchmark under André Villas-Boas and then Vítor Pereira. FC Porto enjoyed a golden period between 2010 and 2012, going 55 games unbeaten. Star forwards like Hulk (77 goals in all competitions from 2010-12), Radamel Falcao (32 goals in the 2010/11 season), and James Rodríguez (8 assists in 2011/12, 16 goals in all competitions from 2010-12) carried the team to domestic glory and helped secure the 2011 Europa League.

4. Bayern Munich (Germany, 2012-2014) – 53 matches

The Bavarian machine under Pep Guardiola, set in motion by Jupp Heynckes, etched its name into German football with its adapted tiki-taka. Manuel Neuer in goal, backed by an imperious defense of Philipp Lahm, Jérôme Boateng, and David Alaba, formed a nearly impenetrable wall. The attack, led by Thomas Müller (46 goals in all comps) and Franck Ribéry, was relentless. Together, they delivered a historic treble in 2013: Bundesliga, German Cup, and Champions League.

5. Bayer Leverkusen (Germany, 2023-2024) – 51 matches

The recent achievement of Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso stands as one of the most remarkable in Europe this century. Die Schwarzroten made history with 51 matches unbeaten. Victor Boniface (21 goals) and Florian Wirtz orchestrated the attack, while Edmond Tapsoba and Jonathan Tah formed a formidable defensive duo. The German club finished the season crowned Bundesliga and German Cup champions without losing a single match. This feat has been hailed as the longest unbeaten football run of our era.

6. Juventus (Italy, 2011-2012) – 49 matches

The renaissance of the Old Lady was cemented by this historic run under Antonio Conte. Serie A champions in 2011/12, Juventus set an unbeaten match record. Not a single Juve player ranked among the top 10 Serie A scorers that season. The secret lay in the emergence of an almost impenetrable defense, with Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci at its core. Andrea Pirlo, the top assist-provider during this stretch, constantly created chances that secured precious wins for his club.

7. Dinamo Zagreb (Croatia, 2014-2015) – 45 matchesThe Croatian club has always ruled its league with remarkable authority. Under Zoran Mamić, Dinamo Zagreb produced a campaign in 2014 and 2015 with a 45-game unbeaten streak. The country’s most decorated club (25 titles) and champions that season, they relied on a potent attack led by Henriquez Angelo (29 goals in all competitions) and Marko Pjaca (16 goals in HNL).

8. Liverpool (England, 2019-2020) – 44 matchesLiverpool enjoyed a long unbeaten run of 44 games, powered by intense pressing and a lethal attack led by Mohamed Salah (23 goals in all competitions), Sadio Mané (20 goals in all comps), and Trent Alexander-Arnold (13 Premier League assists), all of whom delivered decisive contributions. Jürgen Klopp’s Reds blended physical intensity with attacking flair, anchored by Virgil van Dijk’s solid defense. This streak paved the way for their first Premier League title in 30 years.

9. Celtic (Scotland, 2016-2017) – 42 matchesThe Celts pulled off the complete invincibles in Scotland during the 2016-17 campaign, clinching the league, Cup, and League Cup without a single loss. Under Brendan Rodgers, the team set the bar high from the start. Forwards Scott Sinclair (24 goals in all competitions), Moussa Dembélé (27 goals in all comps), and Stuart Armstrong (17 goals in all comps) kept the scoring pace, while the central defense was held together by Boyata and Touré.

10. Chelsea FC (England, 2004-2005) – 40 matchesJosé Mourinho’s first spell at Chelsea left a lasting mark. He delivered the Blues' first Premier League title in fifty years. The team won the 2005 English championship with just one defeat (1-0 at Manchester City). In reality, Chelsea barely lost at all, stringing together 40 official games unbeaten under the “Special One.” That run included 29 league wins (a record) and only 15 goals conceded. Frank Lampard shone brilliantly that season: Premier League top assist provider (18) and scorer of 13 goals.

11. Real Madrid CF (Spain, 2016-2017) – 40 matchesZinedine Zidane’s Real Madrid went 40 matches unbeaten in all competitions. This Real Madrid unbeaten streak began after a Champions League defeat to Wolfsburg (0-2) on April 6, 2016, and ended with a loss to Sevilla (1-2) in La Liga on January 15, 2017. During these 40 games, Los Merengues scored 115 goals and conceded just 40—a demonstration of perfect balance between attack and defense. The team netted 52 of their 115 goals in the final quarters of each half, proof of their ability to make the difference at decisive moments. This sequence allowed Los Blancos to surpass Barcelona’s previous record (39 matches) set the season before. That year, Real Madrid captured LA LIGA, the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and FIFA Club World Cup.

12. Barcelona (Spain, 2015-2016) – 39 matchesBarcelona started the 2015-16 season in top gear after winning the 2015 UEFA Champions League. Under Luis Enrique, the attack led by Lionel Messi (42 goals in all competitions), Luis Suárez (60 goals in all comps), and Neymar (31 goals in all comps) was devastating. Their offensive prowess even matched the Spanish record of 35 unbeaten matches set by Real Madrid in 1988-89. The Catalans went 39 official games unbeaten in a row. The streak ended on April 2, 2016, at Camp Nou in El Clásico against Real (1-2), but Barcelona still finished La Liga champions.

13. Inter Milan (Italy, 2006-2007) – 39 matchesAfter winning the 2006 Serie A title, Inter successfully defended their crown the following season. Led by Roberto Mancini, the club dominated the 2006-07 league campaign. That record-breaking season saw Inter notch up 17 straight wins, an unmatched feat. The team finished Serie A champions with 97 points, 22 ahead of runners-up Roma. With just one defeat in 38 matches (against AS Roma), Inter displayed exceptional consistency, clinching the title with five games to spare. Key players included Zlatan Ibrahimović (club top scorer in Serie A with 17) as well as Fabio Grosso and Maicon on the flanks.

14. Paris Saint-Germain (France, 2015-2016) – 36 matchesParis Saint-Germain set a Ligue 1 unbeaten record with 36 consecutive matches without defeat from March 20, 2015, to February 20, 2016. The run began after a defeat to Bordeaux in March 2015, followed by nine straight wins to end the season. The next season, Zlatan Ibrahimović and company remained unbeaten for 27 more games, including 23 wins. The Swedish superstar netted 46 goals during this campaign, 38 of them in Ligue 1. More recently, PSG set new away unbeaten records, going 39 matches without defeat outside the Parc des Princes from February 26, 2023, to April 22, 2025.

15. Manchester City FC (England, 2020-2021) – 29 matchesManchester City added to the record books with a 29-match unbeaten run across all competitions (between November 2020 and March 2021). That number coincided with their stunning 86 points in 38 games. The Sky Blues secured their seventh Premier League title with three games to spare. Under Pep Guardiola, City suffocated opponents with possession and the rotation of their stars Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gündoğan, Riyad Mahrez, and others.

These feats aren’t limited to Europe’s elite leagues. Teams like Lincoln Red Imps (Gibraltar), Sheriff Tiraspol (Moldova), Levadia Tallinn (Estonia) with 61 matches (2008-2009), and Shakhtar Donetsk (Ukraine, 55 matches from 2000 to 2002) have also shown that an invincible football record isn’t the preserve of Western giants.Analysis of these records shows that the longest unbeaten streaks have evolved over time. This ranking is a reminder that sustaining such runs requires a combination of individual talent, effective tactics, and a winning mentality. Contemporary teams like Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen prove that tactical innovation can still push the boundaries of collective performance.