It was a great development for the Indian football team as they jumped six places to the 166th spot in the global football rankings in the latest list released by FIFA on Thursday, while Belgium retained their top position after grabbing it for the first time last month.
Before the release of these rankings, India were 172nd in last month’s rankings after losing five consecutive 2018 World Cup qualifying matches.
But, the Stephen Constantine-coached side arrested the slide with a commendable 1-0 win against Guam in their last World Cup qualifier at Bengaluru on November 12.
On the other hand, Belgium will end the year as the world’s top-ranked team for the first time in their history.
World Cup 2014 runners-up Argentina moved up a spot to the second, displacing reigning world champions Germany from the spot, who dropped to fourth.
World Cup 2010 winners Spain claimed the third spot, up by three places.
Copa America 2014 victors Chile retained their fifth spot just before five-time world champions Brazil, who moved up two spots.
Portugal are at seventh, a dip of three places, but just ahead of Colombia, who dropped a spot.
Ninth-placed England and Austria at 10th, retained their slots.