2026-07-01, 10:16 AM - Word count:
(This post was last modified: 2026-07-01, 12:22 PM by TubaDeus. Edited 1 time in total.)
For those who missed the premise of this series, you can find the full background here.
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 the MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).
You can see previous entries in this series here:
S1-2
S3
With the introductions out of the way, let's first see where we left off last time!
All Time Standings:
T-1) Sydney City
- 8
T-1) Hollywood FC
- 8
T-3) Cairo City
- 7
T-3) Athenai F.C.
- 7
T-5) Inter London
- 6
T-5) Montreal United
- 6
7) CF Catalunya
- 4
T-8) Seoul MFC
- 3
T-8) Tokyo S.C.
- 3
10) CA Buenos Aires
- 0
After three seasons, we're starting to see some stratification of the rankings. Really it's more of a split between Haves and Have Nots, with a set of six teams belonging to the former and four belonging to the latter. And once again, we're adding two new teams going into S4; Adowa Accra FC and AS Paris. Will the new teams explode onto the scene like Sydney City? Will they start slow like CA Buenos Aires? Something in between? Let's dive in and find out!
S4
Season Start: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-3 v Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 7
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Seoul MFC
New Title Holder: Seoul MFC
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-4 @ CA Buenos Aires
New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Montreal United
New Title Holder: Montreal United
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-7 v Sydney City
New Title Holder: Sydney City
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 1-2 v Adowa Accra FC
New Title Holder: Adowa Accra FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-3 v CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 v AS Paris
New Title Holder: AS Paris
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 3-5 @ Sydney City
New Title Holder: Sydney City
Total Games Held: 5
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Sydney City - 8
2) Tokyo S.C. - 7
T-3) Hollywood FC - 2
T-3) Adowa Accra FC - 2
T-3) CF Catalunya - 2
T-6) Athenai F.C. - 1
T-6) Seoul MFC - 1
T-6) CA Buenos Aires - 1
T-6) Montreal United - 1
T-6) AS Paris - 1
Several teams got a piece of the MacGuffin this season, but for most of them the achievement was fleeting. Sydney City and Tokyo S.C. stand tall as the giants of S4. Sydney City got there via a pair of strong win streaks while Tokyo knocked out all seven of their wins in a row. As a side note, both newcomers (AS Paris and Adowa Accra FC) managed to possess the MacGuffin at some point this season, and CA Buenos Aires made their first appearance as well after a sluggish premiere in S3.
All Time Standings:
1) Sydney City - 16
T-2) Hollywood FC - 10 -1
T-2) Tokyo S.C. - 10 +6
4) Athenai F.C. - 8 -1
T-5) Cairo City - 7 -2
T-5) Montreal United - 7
T-7) Inter London - 6 -2
T-7) CF Catalunya - 6
9) Seoul MFC - 4 -1
10) Adowa Accra FC - 2 New
T-11) CA Buenos Aires - 1 -1
T-11) AS Paris - 1 New
All hail the new king! Sydney City picked up right where they left off in S3, storming to another 8 games with the MacGuffin to bring their point total to a whopping 16. They're in a class of their own for now. Tokyo S.C. launched up the rankings with a strong season of their own. They're now tied for second with Hollywood FC. From there it's just a steady slide all the way down with no gaps of more than 2 points the entire way. I suppose you could draw a line between CF Catalunya and Seoul MFC if you really wanted to divide everyone into tiers. Final note worth mentioning, both of the new teams in S4 are already on the board. It's nice seeing no one with zero.
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 the MacGuffin points are the true measure of greatness).
You can see previous entries in this series here:
S1-2
S3
With the introductions out of the way, let's first see where we left off last time!
All Time Standings:
T-1) Sydney City
- 8T-1) Hollywood FC
- 8T-3) Cairo City
- 7T-3) Athenai F.C.
- 7T-5) Inter London
- 6T-5) Montreal United
- 67) CF Catalunya
- 4T-8) Seoul MFC
- 3T-8) Tokyo S.C.
- 310) CA Buenos Aires
- 0After three seasons, we're starting to see some stratification of the rankings. Really it's more of a split between Haves and Have Nots, with a set of six teams belonging to the former and four belonging to the latter. And once again, we're adding two new teams going into S4; Adowa Accra FC and AS Paris. Will the new teams explode onto the scene like Sydney City? Will they start slow like CA Buenos Aires? Something in between? Let's dive in and find out!
S4
Season Start: Athenai F.C.
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-3 v Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Tokyo S.C.
New Title Holder: Tokyo S.C.
Total Games Held: 7
Next Loss: 0-3 @ Seoul MFC
New Title Holder: Seoul MFC
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-4 @ CA Buenos Aires
New Title Holder: CA Buenos Aires
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 1-2 @ Montreal United
New Title Holder: Montreal United
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 0-7 v Sydney City
New Title Holder: Sydney City
Total Games Held: 3
Next Loss: 1-2 v Adowa Accra FC
New Title Holder: Adowa Accra FC
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 2-3 v CF Catalunya
New Title Holder: CF Catalunya
Total Games Held: 2
Next Loss: 0-1 v AS Paris
New Title Holder: AS Paris
Total Games Held: 1
Next Loss: 3-5 @ Sydney City
New Title Holder: Sydney City
Total Games Held: 5
Next Loss: 0-1 @ Hollywood FC
New Title Holder: Hollywood FC
Total Games Held: 0
Next Loss: N/A
End of Season
Season Standings:
1) Sydney City
- 82) Tokyo S.C.
- 7T-3) Hollywood FC
- 2T-3) Adowa Accra FC
- 2T-3) CF Catalunya
- 2T-6) Athenai F.C.
- 1T-6) Seoul MFC
- 1T-6) CA Buenos Aires
- 1T-6) Montreal United
- 1T-6) AS Paris
- 1Several teams got a piece of the MacGuffin this season, but for most of them the achievement was fleeting. Sydney City and Tokyo S.C. stand tall as the giants of S4. Sydney City got there via a pair of strong win streaks while Tokyo knocked out all seven of their wins in a row. As a side note, both newcomers (AS Paris and Adowa Accra FC) managed to possess the MacGuffin at some point this season, and CA Buenos Aires made their first appearance as well after a sluggish premiere in S3.
All Time Standings:
1) Sydney City
- 16T-2) Hollywood FC
- 10 -1T-2) Tokyo S.C.
- 10 +64) Athenai F.C.
- 8 -1T-5) Cairo City
- 7 -2T-5) Montreal United
- 7T-7) Inter London
- 6 -2T-7) CF Catalunya
- 69) Seoul MFC
- 4 -110) Adowa Accra FC
- 2 NewT-11) CA Buenos Aires
- 1 -1T-11) AS Paris
- 1 NewAll hail the new king! Sydney City picked up right where they left off in S3, storming to another 8 games with the MacGuffin to bring their point total to a whopping 16. They're in a class of their own for now. Tokyo S.C. launched up the rankings with a strong season of their own. They're now tied for second with Hollywood FC. From there it's just a steady slide all the way down with no gaps of more than 2 points the entire way. I suppose you could draw a line between CF Catalunya and Seoul MFC if you really wanted to divide everyone into tiers. Final note worth mentioning, both of the new teams in S4 are already on the board. It's nice seeing no one with zero.
