Lamine Yamal's Spain have stormed back to the summit of international football, claiming top spot from Lionel Messi's Argentina in the latest FIFA men's world rankings for the first time since 2014. Their rise comes after victories over Turkey and Bulgaria in World Cup qualifying, ending the world champions' two-year reign at the top, as they slip to third following a costly defeat to Ecuador, with France moving up to second.
World Champions Argentina drop to third as Spain go top
Spain’s resurgence is a significant boost ahead of the 2026 World Cup, which they will enter as champions of Europe. For Argentina, losing their grip on the rankings doesn’t erase their status as holders, but raises questions about consistency heading into their title defence in North America next year. France’s steady climb keeps them within striking distance of overtaking La Roja in the coming months.
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England stay fourth while Portugal rise to fifth
Elsewhere, England stayed in fourth, while Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal climbed to fifth, overtaking Brazil, who now sit sixth after a series of poor results. Morocco and Japan remain the highest-ranked teams in Africa and Asia, reflecting their growing strength on the global stage. Mexico continue to lead CONCACAF, holding 14th place, ahead of the United States in 16th.
The full FIFA rankings (1-20)
Here are the top 20 FIFA men's teams, according to their rankings:
World ranking
National team
Points
1
Spain
1875.37
2
France
1870.92
3
Argentina
1870.32
4
England
1820.44
5
Portugal
1779.55
6
Brazil
1761.60
7
Netherlands
1754.17
8
Belgium
1739.54
9
Croatia
1714.20
10
Italy
1710.06
11
Morocco
1706.27
12
Germany
1704.27
13
Colombia
1692.10
14
Mexico
1688.38
15
Uruguay
1673.65
16
USA
1670.04
17
Switzerland
1648.30
18
Senegal
1645.23
19
Japan
1640.47
20
Denmark
1627.64
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Attention now on World Cup 2026 draw
Attention now turns to the November update of the FIFA rankings, which will determine the all-important seedings for the expanded 48-team World Cup. The draw for the tournament takes place on December 5 in Washington. With margins at the top razor-thin, the battle for supremacy remains far from settled.