USMNT, Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal Learn First 2026 FIFA Men’s World Ranking

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, a host of nations were waiting to find out the updated world rankings. And, the United States men’s national team (USMNT) has suffered a downgrade unlike Lionel Messi’s Argentina and Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal.

USMNT’s First 2026 FIFA World Ranking Revealed

Earlier this Monday, January 19, FIFA updated its men’s world rankings list following the end of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The top seven teams remained unchanged, and the USMNT dropped by one spot to 15th after 2025 AFCON winner Senegal rose to 12th.

While 2024 UEFA European Championship winner Spain is atop the list, reigning FIFA World Cup champion and 2024 Copa America winner Argentina is in second spot. 2022 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2024 finalists France and England are third and fourth, respectively.

Meanwhile, Brazil is currently the fifth-best national team in the world, followed by Portugal in 6th place. The Netherlands, Morocco, Belgium, and Germany finish in the top 10.

In the recently released FIFA men’s world rankings, both Nigeria and Cameroon are the biggest climbers. While the former jumped by 12 places to 26th, the latter rose to 45th.

FIFA World Cup Winner Suggests Ronaldo Is Jealous of Messi

During a recent interview with GOAL, ex-Brazil and Manchester United midfielder Kléberson was asked whether Ronaldo is desperate to emulate Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

“Inside of him, he probably feels, ‘Gosh, I have to win the FIFA World Cup, I can’t finish my career like this.’ He has to work hard. It’s not just him; it’s other players as well. Neymar is also probably thinking, ‘Messi has a World Cup, I don’t.’ (Erling) Haaland as well, he might not get a World Cup. It’s inside players, inside these top players,” Kléberson replied.

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Kléberson, who started Brazil’s 2002 FIFA World Cup final triumph over Germany, used the example of former Inter Milan striker Adriano to claim that lifting the trophy is quite challenging.

“Look at Adriano… he’s a big name in Brazil. In Italy, he played at a great level, but he has not won the World Cup. The World Cup is sometimes fair, sometimes unfair. I believe those guys look at me and think, ‘Oh my gosh, I can’t believe Kléberson has a World Cup, and I don’t!’ I don’t have five Ballon d’Ors, but I have won the World Cup,” he added.

Ronaldo, 40, has bagged 8 goals in 22 FIFA World Cup games, across five editions. The Al-Nassr superstar has reached the quadrennial tournament’s semifinals once before.