Let’s start with a quiz question. What country has been crowned champions of South America the most times? Brazil? No, but good guess. Argentina? Try again. The answer is Uruguay, winners of a record 15 Copa America titles. Uruguay captured its latest trophy this past summer. A two-time World Cup champion, Uruguay is no longer a strong team of the past. They are, in my opinion, the strongest national team in the world at the moment. 

The Copa America victory was a confirmation of what Uruguay did at the World Cup the previous year when it finished fourth and played some of the best soccer at the tournament. With a population of just 3.5 million (and only 41,800 registered players), Uruguay has produced some of the best players of the past few years. Those players include Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez and Edinson Cavani. 

Uruguay was the first nation to excel at soccer on an international stage. Winners of the 1924 and 1928 Olympic gold medals, Uruguay took that success and carried it over to the World Cup, hosting and winning the first-ever tournament staged by FIFA in 1930. The team added a Copa America title to its trophy case in 1942, its fourth at the time, and another World Cup in 1950, but struggled from that point forward. The team did routinely qualify for the World Cup, but never came close to winning it again. The closest - before last year's fourth-place finish - was reaching the semifinals (and finishing fourth) in 1970. 

This current Uruguay squad is coached by 64-year-old Oscar Washington Tabarez, a manager and former teacher who has emerged as the world’s best tactician. Tabarez, who has been the national team coach for six years after managing them at the 1990 World Cup, is comfortable with both a traditional 4-4-2 and more-offensive 4-3-3 formation - giving his players the confidence to flood the midfield, use the wings and score goals. Forget Barcelona’s Pep Guardiola, Tabarez was the better coach in 2011. 

Although Tabarez has nurtured the country’s youth system, Uruguay is still an experienced team that will continue to threaten opponents leading up to the 2014 World Cup. Tabarez knows that if Uruguay wants to continue to succeed, the team will need to bring youngsters into the squad. 

World soccer may be a game dominated by talented individual stars like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but it still remains a team game. Given that it is also a great time for looking back, below is my list of year’s best teams. And Barcelona fans, please spare me the hate mail.   

1. Uruguay 

Winners of the Copa America, the Celeste played some of the most-entertaining soccer of the year and bested rival Argentina along the way. 

2. Barcelona 

No doubt the best club team on the planet, this star-studded roster captured the Champions League in May and FIFA Club World Cup with a 4-0 rout of Brazilian side Santos. 

3. Mexico 

Winners of the Gold Cup against the United States, El Tri are the odds-on favorites to be the first nation in the CONCACAF region to qualify for the 2014 World Cup. 

4. Mexico's Under-17 team 

Winners of the U-17 World Cup this year, this team of youngsters will supply valuable talent to the senior national team for the next decade. 

5. Manchester United 

Winners of the Premiership in 2011, Man U remain the best team in England and have the talent to repeat this spring. 

6. Spain 

Currently first in the FIFA world rankings, the reigning world champions are favored to repeat as European champions next summer. 

7. Germany 

The Germans finished Euro 2012 qualifying undefeated. Could winning their fourth Euro title be next? 

8. Los Angeles Galaxy 

David Beckham finally proved his worth by helping Landon Donovan and his teammates win the MLS Cup in November. 

9. Italy 

A rebuilt team that underachieved at the 2010 World Cup, the Azzurri are also eyeing the European crown, its first since 1968. 

10. Juventus 

This storied club finished the 2010-11 Serie A season in seventh place, but is currently in first this season under new coach Antonio Conte.