April 3 – Argentina have strengthened their position at the top of the latest FIFA men’s world rankings after picking up 18 points in the last international window.
The reigning world champions now sit on 1,886 points, extending their lead after impressive wins away to Uruguay (1-0) and at home to Brazil (4-1). Even in the absence of Lionel Messi, Argentina dominated both matches, further cementing their status as the team to beat.
Spain have climbed into second place with 1,854 points after taking full advantage of France’s slip-up against Croatia in the Nations League quarter-finals. Les Bleus, who lost the first leg before recovering in the second, drop to third on 1,852 points.
England remain in fourth on 1,819, closing the gap on France after routine home World Cup qualifying wins over Latvia and Albania in their opening matches under Thomas Tuchel.
Brazil hold on to fifth with 1,776 points despite their heavy loss to Argentina, a result that deepened their crisis and triggered another managerial change, with Selecão coach Dorival Júnior losing his job.
The Netherlands, winless in their last two matches, have somehow leapfrogged Portugal into sixth, with the Dutch now on 1,752 points and Portugal just behind on 1,750.
Belgium (1,735), Italy (1,718), and Germany (1,716) complete the top 10, but they now have Croatia (11th, up two) and Morocco (12th, up two) closing in on them.
Further down the rankings, Mexico have climbed two places to 17th after winning the CONCACAF Nations League title, while beaten finalists Panama have moved up three spots to 33rd.
Norway (38th, up five), Czechia (39th, up three), and Côte d’Ivoire (41st, up five) have also made notable gains – as have Paraguay (48th, up five) and Tunisia (49th, up three), both of whom return to the top 50 after a recent absence.
Slovenia (51st, up four), Bosnia and Herzegovina (70th, up four) and Gabon (79th, up five) are among the other risers, while further down, the Kyrgyz Republic (103rd, up four), Vietnam (109th, up five), Zimbabwe (116th, up five), Sierra Leone (124th, up five), the Philippines (146th, up four) and Eswatini (155th, up four) have all made progress. The biggest climber of all, however, is earthquake-hit Myanmar, who have jumped seven places to 162nd.
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