Argentina Reclaims Top Spot in FIFA Rankings Amid Historic 'Curse'

Just days before the 2026 World Cup kicks off, Lionel Messi's Argentina has received a major boost, reclaiming the number one spot in the FIFA rankings.

The reigning world champions returned to the summit after France suffered an unexpected 2-1 defeat to Ivory Coast on Thursday night. Argentina had previously held the top spot for 893 consecutive days starting in April 2023, eventually losing it after a defeat to Ecuador in the September 2025 World Cup qualifiers.

Now, the South American giants are back on the throne.Following their loss, France dropped to third in the global rankings. Spain held onto second place despite a 1-1 draw with Iraq. The rest of the top six remains unchanged, with England, Portugal, and Brazil sitting in fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively. However, Argentina's return to the number one spot brings a strange historical 'curse' back into the spotlight.

Since the FIFA World Rankings were introduced in 1992, no team entering the World Cup as the top-ranked nation has gone on to win the tournament. Interestingly, Argentina was ranked third when they lifted the trophy at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This time, they will enter the tournament with a target on their backs as the world's top team.