Stunning results are what the April 2014 FIFA Rankings have produced. World football has a new name in the Top 3 and it is Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal. The highest ranked South American nation is now Radamel Falcao’s Colombia as Lionel Messi’s Argentina have surprisingly gone three places down.
As the commencement of the 2014 FIFA World Cup approaches, hosts Brazil have something to smile about: the five-time world champions are now tied with Argentina. The rivalry between Pele and Maradona’s countries never ends!
FIFA World Rankings: A matter of national team pride. Blow your vuvuzelas!
Further down the Top 20, there is good news for Jurgen Klinsmann’s USMNT but Arjen Robben’s Netherlands have been hit hard with a four-rank slip. Meanwhile, Mexico are still 139 points behind bitter rivals USA but they are at least in the Top 20, just above Luka Modric’s Croatia.
Other remarkable changes include Ghana’s move three places down, Nigeria’s jump into 45th, Honduras’ move to 32nd and Iran’s breakthrough into the Top 40.
Let's take a look at April 2014's five best placed teams in each zone, lined up respectively (in brackets, their world ranking).
CAF’s Top 5: Ivory Coast (21st); Egypt (24th); Algeria (25th); Ghana (38th); Cape Verde Islands (42nd)
CONCACAF’s Top 5: USA (13th); Mexico (19th); Honduras (32nd); Costa Rica (34th); Panama (35th)
CONMEBOL’s Top 5: Colombia (4th); Uruguay (5th); Argentina (6th); Brazil (6th); Chile (14th)
OFC’s Top 5: New Zealand (111th); New Caledonia (136th); Tahiti (157th); Solomon Islands (172nd) Vanuatu (181st)
AFC’s Top 5: Iran (37th); Japan (47th); Uzbekistan (53rd); Korea Republic (56th); Australia (59th)
UEFA’s Top 5: Spain (1st); Germany (2nd); Portugal (3rd); Switzerland (8th); Italy (9th)
May 8, 2014 is the date set for the next FIFA Rankings. Where is your country ranked?
