Lamine Yamal’s Spain has jumped to the top of the FIFA ranking, moving past Argentina and France. With 1875.37 points, La Roja now sits in first place after two strong Euro qualifying wins, including a 6-0 thrashing of Turkey. Brazil, on the other hand, slipped one spot to sixth, overtaken by Portugal, which has been riding a wave of confidence since winning the Nations League in June.
Spain back in the spotlight while Argentina slips
Spain’s rise is no accident. Luis de la Fuente’s squad looked sharp in September and is suddenly being talked about as a real contender again. Yamal, just 18, has quickly become the face of a group that blends raw talent with players who’ve been through it all. For a nation that hasn’t lifted a major trophy since 2019, getting back on top of the ranking feels like a sign that the rebuild is working.
France, led by Mbappé, sits right behind and continues to show the consistency that has made them so hard to beat. Argentina, despite being the reigning world champion, dropped to third. It’s not a crisis, but it is a warning. Their recent slip-ups cost valuable points and opened the door for others to climb. Even with Messi still around, the Albiceleste know that losing ground here only highlights the need to stay at full throttle.
Brazil pushed out of the top five and Portugal on the rise
Brazil is down to sixth with 1761.6 points, and that stings. The lack of titles since the 2019 Copa América keeps weighing on them, and the uneven performances on the field are clearly reflected in the table. The Seleção is still pumping out talent and remains a global reference, but being behind Spain, France, Argentina, England and Portugal is a tough pill to swallow for a nation used to ruling the game.
Portugal, by contrast, is enjoying the rewards of consistency. The Nations League title and solid wins in qualifying pushed them into fifth place, proving they can go toe-to-toe with the heavyweights. The top 10 also had some twists. Italy climbed back in after falling out in July, now sitting with 1710.06 points. Germany, meanwhile, continues to sink. The four-time world champions are down to 12th, trailing Morocco, in what feels like yet another chapter of the decline that started back in 2018.
The FIFA ranking doesn’t hand out silverware, but it shapes confidence and storylines. For Spain, sitting at number one is validation and motivation. For France, staying near the top reinforces stability. For Argentina, slipping to third is more of a reminder than a disaster.
At the end of the day, the ranking is nothing more than a snapshot. Still, it works like a thermometer, showing who’s heating up, who’s fading, and who needs to react fast. And here’s a curious twist worth remembering: no team that held the number one spot has ever gone on to win the World Cup.