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FIFA, the world's governing body for football, is responsible for calculating the official standings of the national teams based on competitive results.
The likes of France and Germany, in recent times, have dominated these rankings and occupied the highest position based on their extraordinary results in major tournaments. Les Bleus have a UEFA Euro final appearance and a World Cup medal to show for in the last four years, while Die Mannschaft were one of the most consistent sides in international football over the last two decades.
However, a change in the ranking system after the FIFA World Cup 2018 finals saw a shake-up of the standings, with former world champions Germany dropping to 15th place at the time (currently 14th), below the likes of Croatia, England, and other nations that have done well in recent years.
Here, we take a look at the top ten nations in the current FIFA world rankings.
Note: India is currently ranked #108 as per the FIFA rankings.
#10 Colombia | Squad value: £268.27m | Points: 1631
CONMEBOL side Colombia kick off the rankings in tenth place and are the least-valuable side on the list. Fondly referred to as Los Cafeteros, the Radamel Falcao-led team have done relatively well in the last few editions of the Copa America, registering a third-place finish and three quarter-final finishes in the last four tournaments.
Carlos Queiroz's men also put up their best-ever performance at a World Cup as recently as 2014, when a side inspired by the heroics of former Real Madrid superstar James Rodriguez went up until the quarter-finals. The fact that Colombia managed this feat without their star man and skipper Falcao made it all the more impressive, and Rodriguez ended the tournament as the Golden Boot winner.
The current Colombia squad is blessed with a wide-ranging group of talented players apart from Rodriguez and Falcao, including the likes of Duvan Zapata, Luis Muriel, Alfredo Morelos, and presently their most valuable player, Davinson Sanchez of Tottenham Hotspur.
#9 Croatia | Squad value: £318.24m | Points: 1634
Croatia's run the 2018 World Cup in Russia is one that will be remembered for decades to come. The Vatreni, under the guidance of Zlatko Dalic, took on some of the most impressive footballing nations and made it all the way until the final of the tournament, but ultimately lost to Didier Deschamps' France.
Star man Luka Modric was the driving force of this inspiring underdog side, and the Croat metronome went on to win honours aplenty as a result of his displays, including the World Cup Golden Ball as well as the all-important Ballon d'Or. Their UEFA Nations League campaign has not gone the way they would have wanted it to, but Croatia will hope to replicate their 2018 heroics in the upcoming UEFA Euros in 2021.
They possess an impressive roster of players such as Mateo Kovacic, Marcelo Brozovic, and Andrej Kramaric to go with their experienced veterans and World Cup heroes such as Luka Modric and Ivan Perisic.
#8 Argentina | Squad value: £495.90m | Points: 1636
South American giants Argentina are one of the most intriguing sides in international football. On paper, they have often appeared to be a devastating unit in the past, which could in theory destroy opposition defences with ease given the firepower available to them. However, the two-time world champions have failed to win a single international trophy since the turn of the century.
La Albiceleste have finished as the runners up in four out of the last six editions of the Copa America and also have a third-place finish to show for in their most recent appearance. Lionel Messi and co came painfully close to replicating their success of 1978 and 1986 in 2014 as they faced Germany in the final of the World Cup, but were undone by a Mario Gotze wondergoal which was ultimately the deciding goal.
Despite their squad not having anywhere near the amount of stardust that previous groups have possessed, they still boast of a few impressive names to call upon. Apart from their mercurial skipper, Lionel Scaloni has the likes of Lautaro Martinez, Luis Ocampos, Papu Gomez, and other stars among his ranks.
Also read: 5 Most valuable defensive midfielders in the world
#7 Uruguay | Squad value: £274.32m | Points: 1637
The third of four CONMEBOL nations on this list, Uruguay continue to punch above their weight with their incredible might and fighting spirit. La Celeste remain the smallest-ever nation in terms of population to have ever won a World Cup, and by a significant margin.
The two-time world champions, under the experienced Oscar Tabarez, have put up a host of impressive displays and finishes over the last couple of decades. With the exception of one group-stage elimination in 2016 in the Copa America, Uruguay have a fourth-place finish, two quarter-final appearances, and a winners' medal from 2011 to show for in the South American tournament.
Perhaps their most impressive achievement in recent years came at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where Diego Forlan, Luis Suarez, Edinson Cavani, and other Uruguayan stars helped them to an impressive fourth-place finish — and their first semi-final appearance in the tournament in four decades. The Atletico Madrid and Manchester United forwards still remain at the forefront of Tabarez's attack.
#6 Spain | Squad value: £758.25m | Points: 1639
Next up on this list is arguably the most successful European side and possibly international side since the turn of the century, Spain. Despite being blessed with a host of star players through the years, La Roja failed to leave their mark on the international stage too often, with a number of group stage and quarter-final exits in major tournaments.
However, that all changed in 2008, when Spain made the world stand up and take notice of what was one of the greatest eras of any side in international football. Spain took Europe by storm by rioting their way to the 2008 UEFA Euros hosted by Austria and Switzerland under the guidance of the late Luis Aragones. His successor, Vicente Del Bosque, built on this platform by guiding La Roja to their first-ever World Cup title, and followed it up with another Euro title in 2012.
This golden four-year period of dominance was nothing short of breathtaking from Spain, who lost just one out of the combined total of 19 games in these tournaments during this era. As a result of their disappointing exits at this level in the last few years, current coach Luis Enrique would hope for a strong return in the upcoming Euro 2021.
#5 Portugal | Squad value: £686.25m | Points: 1661
Another European football giant, the Portuguese national team has seen some of the biggest names in football represent them, including perhaps one of the greatest players of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo. The Selecao had a superb run of impressive finishes in major tournaments in the 21st century which culminated in a landmark achievement.
After suffering heartbreak on their own soil in 2004 at the hands of Greece, Ronaldo and a new generation of Portuguese talents fired their nation to their first-ever piece of major international honours in 2016. They beat France in the final of the 2016 UEFA Euro on their own turf and etched their names into the history books. Portugal went on to win a second trophy in 2019 as they beat Netherlands in the final of the inaugural UEFA Nations League without a single defeat in their campaign.
The Selecao, led by top-scorer and highest-capped player Ronaldo, will look to defend their crown at the upcoming Euros under the tutelage of Fernando Santos. The legendary coach has a luxurious pool of talent to call upon apart from his star man, including Bruno Fernandes, Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, and a host of others.
#4 England | Squad value: £1.26bn | Points: 1669
England know all about what golden generations are. The Three Lions went into major tournaments in the past with the likes of Rio Ferdinand and John Terry at the back, Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard in the middle, and a host of other superstars including David Beckham, Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, and so on. Yet, they astonishingly returned empty-handed despite their numerous star-studded line-ups.
In 2018, Gareth Southgate took a relatively impressive side to Russia and was one win away from taking them to their first World Cup final since their historic win in 1966, but ultimately succumbed to Luka Modric's Croatia. However, this inspired run has instilled a new hope in the Three Lions for major tournaments in the future despite their rather underwhelming results in recent weeks.
The current generation of players available to call upon is absolutely stunning, including names such as Harry Kane, Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Jadon Sancho, and an endless list of superstars. England boast of, by far, the most valuable squad on this list and would hope to make their mark on the international stage in the coming years.
Also read: 10 Biggest Ballon d'Or wins in football history
#3 Brazil | Squad value: £917.1m | Points: 1725
The highest-ranked CONMEBOL side in the world, Brazil are currently the third-highest ranked side on the FIFA rankings. The Selecao are the most decorated side in international football with five FIFA World Cups to their name. Even after the famed Pele era of their history, Brazil established a period of surreal dominance with the likes of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, et al. and were one win away from having three World Cup titles in succession between 1994 and 2002.
Since their historic win in 2002, they've not been at their finest, with three quarter-final appearance and a fourth-place finish in 2014 to show for in World Cups. However, Tite's men were still dominant on the continental front with three Copas America to show for, with the most recent one coming on their own turf in 2019.
The quality in the current crop of players available for Brazil to call upon is simply astounding, and is led by the most expensive player in the history of the sport, Neymar. The PSG superstar is joined by the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Alisson Becker, and a host of established stars.
#2 France | Squad value: £931.95m | Points: 1752
Another one of Europe's most decorated footballing nations, France take the second spot on FIFA's list of highest-ranked countries in the world. Les Bleus were just one win away from sealing the Euros in front of their own fans in 2016 but were beaten in the final by Ronaldo's Portugal.
They've come close to reaching the latter stages of major tournament in recent years, but perhaps none of them barring the 2006 World Cup final appearance would have stung as much as their loss to Portugal in France. However, they put their heartbreak behind them with an incredible World Cup win in 2018. Didier Deschamps had one of the best squads in the sport at the time at his disposal and took Russia by storm, and won the final against Croatia.
The veteran French coach has a star-studded list of players to call upon for national duty. Les Bleus are truly blessed with a heap of players in almost every single position on the pitch with varying levels of experience as well. They would hope to extend their dominance in the coming years, and with their conveyor belt of wonderkids functioning at full flow, they could potentially do so.
#1 Belgium | Squad value: £634.41m | Points: 1765
Speaking of star-studded line-ups, Roberto Martinez is a man who would be spoilt for choice with the list of names available to him. The Belgian Red Devils have historically not been the most feared side in the sport but have grown into such a team over the last decade or so.
Belgium's golden generation is something truly magnificent, and their current group of players is undoubtedly the best they've ever produced. They were one of the favourites heading into the 2018 World Cup and ended the competition in third place after a loss to eventual champions France. They failed to qualify for any of the three UEFA Euros prior to the 2016 edition, but managed to reach the quarter-finals of the tournament in France.
With the likes of Eden Hazard, Romelu Lukaku, Thibaut Courtois and star man Kevin De Bruyne among their ranks, the Belgian Red Devils will undoubtedly hope to win their first-ever piece of international silverware. They currently top the FIFA world rankings and head into the upcoming Euros as favourites to win the tournament.
Also read: 10 Most expensive footballers from famous footballing nations
