Lionel Messi’s Argentina reaches new FIFA Ranking record after wins over Brazil and Uruguay
Even without Lionel Messi on the pitch, the Argentina national team enjoyed a stellar international break in March, picking up back-to-back victories over South American powerhouses Brazil and Uruguay. As a result, La Albiceleste have achieved a new milestone in the FIFA Rankings.
Argentina opened the window with a 1-0 win against Uruguay at the Estadio Centenario, a result that helped secure their qualification for the 2026 World Cup. But the real statement came days later, when the reigning world champions thrashed Brazil 4-1 on home soil. These impressive results ensured that Argentina would reach a new record in the FIFA Rankings.
As of April, Argentina will celebrate two full years as the No. 1 team in the FIFA World Rankings. Though the updated ranking is set to be officially released on Wednesday, April 2, the team currently sits atop the table with 1,867 points. With no other top-10 team achieving equally dominant results, Argentina’s lead is all but confirmed.
Among their closest competitors, only England—ranked fourth with 1,814 points—managed to win both of their March fixtures, beating Albania 2-0 and Latvia 3-0. Meanwhile, other contenders like France and Spain dropped points, allowing Argentina to further widen the gap.
Argentina first claimed the top spot on April 6, 2023, following their triumphs at the 2021 Copa America and the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Their consistent performances since then—including a 2024 Copa América title—have helped them maintain the No. 1 ranking, now marking the fifth-longest tenure at the top since the rankings were introduced in 1993.
The longest reigns in FIFA Ranking history
Argentina’s current run at the top of the FIFA World Rankings is a remarkable achievement in today’s ultra-competitive international football landscape. However, they still have ground to cover to match the longest reigns in ranking history.
Spain holds the fourth-longest spell at No. 1, staying on top for 2 years and 9 months between September 2011 and June 2014—an era crowned by their World Cup and EURO triumphs. Belgium sits third, having led the rankings for 3 years and 4 months from October 2018 to February 2022, despite not lifting a major trophy during that time.
The top two streaks belong to Brazil. Their second-longest run lasted 4 years and 7 months, from June 2002 to January 2007. But it’s their record-setting reign—from July 1994 to April 2001, lasting 6 years and 8 months—that remains the gold standard and a difficult milestone for any team to match.