2026-06-17, 07:09 AM - Word count:
Last week I posted my premise for what the SSL MacGuffin is. You can check out the link for the full background and description. The short version is that the winner of the first ever SSL game is awarded the initial MacGuffin trophy, which is then passed on whenever the current title holder loses in competition play (Friendlies don't count). I will track how many games each team starts with the MacGuffin in order to determine the true best team in SSL history (because everyone knows MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).
Without further ado, let's dive in!
S1
First Game: Inter London @ Athenai F.C.
Winner: Inter London, 4-2
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 2-4 v Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 0-1 v Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-4 @ Inter London
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-3 v FC Rio
New Title Holder: FC Rio (later rebrand to Seoul MFC)
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Inter London - 5
2) Cairo City - 4
3) Athenai F.C. - 2
4) Tokyo F.C. - 1
T-5) FC Rio - 0
T-5) Hollywood FC
- 0
The SSL's inaugural season saw five of the six teams possess the MacGuffin trophy, though FC Rio only took it in the final match of the season. They'll own the trophy to start S2, but that doesn't help their total in S1. Cairo City and Inter London are off to strong starts. Early luck, or sign of things to come? Also of particular note, every regular season MacGuffin loss occurred at home. Both Cup losses occurred on the road, but still. I don't know how much homefield plays into the SSL sim compared to other sim leagues, but this strikes me as being an outlier result.
S2
Season Start: FC Rio
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-3 v Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 2-3 @ FC Rio
New Title Holder: FC Rio
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-2 @ Montreal United
New Title Holder: Montreal United
Total Games Held: 5
Next Loss: 0-2 @ Inter London
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 0-2 v Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-3 @ Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 3-4 @ CF Catalnya
Next Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Montreal United - 5
2) Hollywood FC - 4
T-3) FC Rio - 3
T-3) Athenai F.C. - 3
T-5) Tokyo S.C. - 1
T-5) Inter London - 1
T-5) Cairo City - 1
8) CF Catalunya - 0
Seeing a lot of parity in S1 is expected. There were only six teams. Having five of them hold the MacGuffin at some point during the season isn't too crazy. In S2, though, the SSL expanded to eight teams and promptly saw all eight possess the MacGuffin at various points. Even newcomers Montreal and Catalunya got in on the action, though with substantially differing results (Montreal held on for a killer five game streak midseason while Catalunya wasn't able to take control until the last game of the season). Still, the parity here is huge. Hard to say who will come ahead any given season so far.
All Time Standings:
1) Inter London - 6
T-2) Cairo City - 5
T-2) Athenai F.C. - 5
T-2) Montreal United - 5
5) Hollywood FC - 4
6) FC Rio - 3
7) Tokyo S.C. - 2
8) CF Catalunya - 0
Inter London and Cairo City didn't exactly capitalize on their S1 momentum going into S2, but they had enough points in S1 to remain at the top despite poor S2 showings. Athenai F.C. and Hollywood HC both caught up quickly, as did Montreal with their impressive debut. There hasn't been a huge shakeup yet, but it's also only been two seasons.
Without further ado, let's dive in!
S1
First Game: Inter London @ Athenai F.C.
Winner: Inter London, 4-2
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 2-4 v Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 4
Next Loss: 0-1 v Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-4 @ Inter London
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-3 v FC Rio
New Title Holder: FC Rio (later rebrand to Seoul MFC)
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Inter London
- 52) Cairo City
- 43) Athenai F.C.
- 24) Tokyo F.C.
- 1T-5) FC Rio
- 0T-5) Hollywood FC
- 0The SSL's inaugural season saw five of the six teams possess the MacGuffin trophy, though FC Rio only took it in the final match of the season. They'll own the trophy to start S2, but that doesn't help their total in S1. Cairo City and Inter London are off to strong starts. Early luck, or sign of things to come? Also of particular note, every regular season MacGuffin loss occurred at home. Both Cup losses occurred on the road, but still. I don't know how much homefield plays into the SSL sim compared to other sim leagues, but this strikes me as being an outlier result.
S2
Season Start: FC Rio
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-3 v Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 2-3 @ FC Rio
New Title Holder: FC Rio
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-2 @ Montreal United
New Title Holder: Montreal United
Total Games Held: 5
Next Loss: 0-2 @ Inter London
New Title Holder: Inter London
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Athenai F.C.
New Title Holder: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 0-2 v Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 1-3 @ Cairo City
New Title Holder: Cairo City
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 3-4 @ CF Catalnya
Next Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Montreal United
- 52) Hollywood FC
- 4T-3) FC Rio
- 3T-3) Athenai F.C.
- 3T-5) Tokyo S.C.
- 1T-5) Inter London
- 1T-5) Cairo City
- 18) CF Catalunya
- 0Seeing a lot of parity in S1 is expected. There were only six teams. Having five of them hold the MacGuffin at some point during the season isn't too crazy. In S2, though, the SSL expanded to eight teams and promptly saw all eight possess the MacGuffin at various points. Even newcomers Montreal and Catalunya got in on the action, though with substantially differing results (Montreal held on for a killer five game streak midseason while Catalunya wasn't able to take control until the last game of the season). Still, the parity here is huge. Hard to say who will come ahead any given season so far.
All Time Standings:
1) Inter London
- 6T-2) Cairo City
- 5T-2) Athenai F.C.
- 5T-2) Montreal United
- 55) Hollywood FC
- 46) FC Rio
- 37) Tokyo S.C.
- 28) CF Catalunya
- 0Inter London and Cairo City didn't exactly capitalize on their S1 momentum going into S2, but they had enough points in S1 to remain at the top despite poor S2 showings. Athenai F.C. and Hollywood HC both caught up quickly, as did Montreal with their impressive debut. There hasn't been a huge shakeup yet, but it's also only been two seasons.
![[Image: Barry-Mc-Glynn-Sig-2-0.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/C191CSW9/Barry-Mc-Glynn-Sig-2-0.png)
![[Image: Downscale-Final.png]](https://i.postimg.cc/nhC7B9bV/Downscale-Final.png)
![[Image: C95Q3Nq.png]](https://i.imgur.com/C95Q3Nq.png)
Courtesy of Mafx
