• It's finally his. Getty Images
    It's finally his. Getty Images
  • Argentina's captain and hero Lionel Messi celebrates with his family after winning the World Cup. AP Photo
    Argentina's captain and hero Lionel Messi celebrates with his family after winning the World Cup. AP Photo
  • Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove Award. AP Photo
    Argentina's goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez won the Golden Glove Award. AP Photo
  • Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and his loved ones cherish the moment. Reuters
    Argentina's Lisandro Martinez and his loved ones cherish the moment. Reuters
  • Former Argentina player Sergio Aguero celebrates with the team. PA
    Former Argentina player Sergio Aguero celebrates with the team. PA
  • Messi also picked up the Best Player Award. EPA
    Messi also picked up the Best Player Award. EPA
  • Messi received the award from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, were also on stage. EPA
    Messi received the award from Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar. Fifa president Gianni Infantino, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron, right, were also on stage. EPA
  • German Pezzella gets his hands on football's biggest prize. Getty Images
    German Pezzella gets his hands on football's biggest prize. Getty Images
  • Angel Di Maria, centre, was heroic for Argentina in the final. Getty Images
    Angel Di Maria, centre, was heroic for Argentina in the final. Getty Images
  • Argentina players celebrate Gonzalo Montiel's World Cup-winning penalty. Getty Images
    Argentina players celebrate Gonzalo Montiel's World Cup-winning penalty. Getty Images
  • Lionel Messi scored two goals and secured his first World Cup title. Getty Images
    Lionel Messi scored two goals and secured his first World Cup title. Getty Images
  • A penalty shoot-out has to be one of sport's cruelest moments. Getty Images
    A penalty shoot-out has to be one of sport's cruelest moments. Getty Images
  • It is Argentina's third World Cup triumph. Getty Images
    It is Argentina's third World Cup triumph. Getty Images
  • Tearful players collapsed on the pitch in celebrations. AP Photo
    Tearful players collapsed on the pitch in celebrations. AP Photo
  • The South Americans won 4-2 on penalties, after it finished 3-3 in extra time. Getty Images
    The South Americans won 4-2 on penalties, after it finished 3-3 in extra time. Getty Images
  • Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi embrace at the final whistle. Reuters
    Argentina's Lautaro Martinez and Lionel Messi embrace at the final whistle. Reuters
  • Heartbreak for the holders at Lusail Stadium. PA
    Heartbreak for the holders at Lusail Stadium. PA
  • Montiel celebrates scoring the winning goal. PA
    Montiel celebrates scoring the winning goal. PA
  • Some can't watch, others can. AP Photo
    Some can't watch, others can. AP Photo

Sport

Football

Brazil stay ahead of Argentina in Fifa world rankings as Morocco surge up table

Lionel Messi's World Cup triumph not enough to dislodge Selecao from No 1 spot

Dominic Hart

December 22, 2022

  • English
  • Arabic

Argentina have failed to knock Brazil from the top of the Fifa rankings despite their stunning World Cup win.

Lionel Messi's side have moved into second spot after their triumph in Qatar on Sunday, but the Selecao remain No 1, despite not having lifted the World Cup since 2002.

Beaten finalists France also climb one place to third, with Belgium dropping two rungs to fourth following their failure to get out of the group stage in Qatar.

England stay fifth after their quarter-final exit against the French, with Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Spain completing the top 10.

World Cup semi-finalists Morocco are up 11 places to No 11, and Australia, who won two matches in Qatar as they reached the last 16 and climb to 27th.

Wales drop nine places to 28 after a disappointing performance at their first World Cup for 64 years, their lowest position since being 37th at the start of April 2015.

Fifa top 20 men's rankings

1. Brazil

2. Argentina

3. France

4. Belgium

5. England

6. Netherlands

7. Croatia

8. Italy

9. Portugal

10. Spain

11. Morocco

12. Switzerland

13. USA

14. Germany

15. Mexico

16. Uruguay

17. Colombia

18. Denmark

19. Senegal

20. Japan

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Updated: December 22, 2022, 11:26 AM
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