The best formation is that one which allows your players to reach 100% of their ability. If each team played at 100% of it's ability then it would have good chances to win everyone.

For barca, that means 4-2-3-1. For Roma, 4 years ago, was 4-5-1. For brazil 90 years ago was 1-2-7. For Arsenal at 20s was WM (3-2-2-3). For Holland at 50's was 4-3-2-1.

Football is evolving in cycles. I don't think you can find a "classic" best formation in that sense.

If I had to say 1 though, well I think the most suitable that doesn't suffer too much from great vulnerabilities, it would probably be 4-3-3 at offense /4-5-1 at defense. That's why it has been played by thousands club worldwide the last decade.

As a matter of taste, I really like 4-2-3W-1 (particularly the way Arsenal played it at 2001-4). Best football right now (and the whole last decade) is being played by teams which follow this kind of formations. Attacking, quick, dangerous at counterattack, almost strikerless, that's what a football fun want's to watch.

As a future prediction, 4-6-0 hybrids will be the next "best" formations in some years from now.


As for Top11, after only 8 seasons, I can say the best that worked (accidentally) for me, was 3-1-4-1-1.
It can modified to 3-3-3-1 (kinda 3-6-1) when you want to defend really strong and deep and can go to a solid 3-4-3 (3-4W-2W or N-1)when you really want to press higher and attack.

But I shouldn't recommend you to use it. For me it worked because it allowed my players to perform at 100% (or close to that). It could be a disastrous for you.

In short, you decide what's the best formation the very first moment you start to buy players. Find those ones who fulfill their roles requirements and there it is, the best formation ever.