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08-04-2023 Zurich
ZURICH: World Cup winners Argentina have returned to the top of the FIFA rankings for the first time in six years.
Lionel Scaloni’s side, which captured their third world title with a thrilling win against France in the Qatar World Cup final in December, won friendlies against Panama and Curacao during the March international break.
Captain Lionel Messi achieved two milestones in those fixtures, netting his 800th career goal in a 2-0 victory over Panama before reaching 100 international goals as he scored a hat-trick in a 7-0 rout of Curacao.
Argentina last topped the rankings in 2017, but La Albiceleste dropped as low as 12th the following year after an underwhelming campaign at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
Argentina replace rivals Brazil at the summit after the Selecao suffered a surprise friendly loss to World Cup semi-finalists Morocco in March, a result that sees them drop to third.
France are second in the rankings after their Euro 2024 qualification wins over the Netherlands and Ireland while the rest of the top 10 remains unchanged.
Belgium stay fourth, and England are fifth, followed by the Netherlands in sixth, Croatia seventh and Italy eighth. Portugal and Spain complete the top 10.
Morocco, which have joined Spain and Portugal in a 2030 World Cup bidding plan, stayed at 11 to lead the African teams.
The Central African Republic were the biggest movers in the latest rankings, jumping 10 places to 122nd.
The United States remained 13th, two ahead of regional rival Mexico.
Japan at 20 are the best of the Asian teams, and 2022 World Cup host Qatar fell to 61.
World rankings, top 10 includes Argentina, France, Brazil, Belgium, England, Netherlands, Croatia, Italy, Portugal and Spain. (Int’l News Desk)
