The Argentina national football team remains second in the official FIFA world rankings following the October 2026 international window, despite securing three consecutive victories, Infobae reported. Spain retained the top spot after winning four fixtures in the UEFA Nations League, widening its margin over the Albiceleste to nearly 40 points in the global standings.
The October 2026 Ranking Update and Spain’s Lead
FIFA published its updated world rankings on Wednesday, October 8, 2026, capturing the results of more than 300 international matches played across a three-week window. Spain secured the number one position with 2,011.57 points, extending its advantage at the summit. Argentina occupies second place with 1,972.80 points, according to data reported by Somos Jujuy. Spain, the champion of the recent World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, continues to lead the FIFA ranking, with Argentina situated in second place after losing the World Cup final, as noted by ESPN Argentina.
The governing body’s calculation methodology rewards teams for facing higher-tier opposition in competitive continental tournaments. While Spain collected four wins in the UEFA Nations League against formidable European sides, Argentina’s recent fixtures carried fewer ranking points due to the relative strength of their opponents, as detailed by Infobae and Clarin.
Argentina Wins Three Matches as Messi Says Farewell
Lionel Scaloni’s squad finished the international break with a perfect record of three wins, though against opponents ranked lower in the global system. The Albiceleste defeated Bolivia 3-0, routed Burkina Faso 7-0, and earned a 3-0 victory against Benin, according to Infobae’s match summaries. (Somos Jujuy reported the Bolivia score as 4-0.)
The fixture against Benin at the Estadio Monumental carried historical weight beyond the scoreline, marking the international farewell of Lionel Messi. Despite the emotional occasion and the three victories, the competitive weight of the matches left Argentina unable to close the gap on the European champions. Argentina comes into this period having suffered the departure of Lionel Messi, its great figure, as reported by ESPN Argentina.
Portugal Climbs Into the Top Five
Portugal registered the most significant movement within the top ten, climbing two spots to fifth place with 1,807.69 points, as reported by ESPN Argentina and Somos Jujuy. The Portuguese side secured the summit of Group A4 in the UEFA Nations League by defeating Wales, Denmark, and securing two wins against Norway. This rise came despite internal friction between Cristiano Ronaldo and head coach Jorge Jesus, according to ESPN Argentina.
Portugal’s ascent displaced Brazil (1,806.51 points) and Morocco (1,805.34 points), which dropped to sixth and seventh places respectively. France retained third position with 1,958.86 points after a campaign featuring three wins and a draw, while England stayed fourth with 1,925.59 points, according to records from Somos Jujuy and Infobae.
Shifts Across the Top Twenty and Global Competitions
Movement extended deep into the global rankings following simultaneous tournaments across three continents, including the UEFA Nations League, the CONCACAF Nations League, and qualifiers for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. Switzerland jumped two places to twelfth, moving ahead of both Germany and Croatia, which slipped due to inconsistent form in Europe, according to Clarin and ESPN Argentina.
African selections made notable gains lower down the table. Mali and South Africa each climbed six positions to reach 47th and 48th respectively, strengthening their standing inside the top 50. Conversely, Peru dropped three spots to 53rd, sliding out of the global top tier, as noted by Clarin.
Next Scheduled Ranking Update
The national teams will hold their current positions until the governing body releases its next official world ranking update on November 18, 2026.
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