Belgium takes outright lead over France in FIFA rankings, England climbs

Belgium now stands alone as the best national team, according to the latest men's rankings from FIFA, after previously sharing top spot with France.

Les Bleus are second, just one point below Belgium and 63 points above third-placed Brazil.

England, meanwhile, is in fifth place - its highest position for five years. Gareth Southgate's side sits below Croatia, its conqueror in the World Cup semifinals over the summer.

Uruguay, Portugal, Switzerland, Spain, and Denmark round off the top 10, with Colombia rising three places into 11th. The United States men's national team sits one slot below Tunisia and one above Austria in 23rd. Northern Ireland has endured one of the worst slumps in FIFA's grading - Michael O'Neill's squad dropped six rungs to 34th - after October's Nations League defeats to Austria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Top 20:

1. Belgium
2. France
3. Brazil
4. Croatia
5. England
6. Uruguay
7. Portugal
8. Switzerland
9. Spain
10. Denmark
11. Colombia
12. Argentina
13. Chile
14. Germany
15. Netherlands
16. Mexico
17. Sweden
18. Wales
19. Italy
20. Peru

Notable mentions:

23. United States
33. Republic of Ireland
34. Northern Ireland
40. Scotland
76. Canada