Portugal drop to seventh in FIFA rankings, Spain lead the way

Spain made history, but you stopped them once

Spain are world champions and now sit top of the FIFA rankings, riding a record 38-match unbeaten run (2). But here is the footnote that still stings for them: the last team to beat Spain was Portugal, on penalties in the Nations League final (2). That was your team. Jorge Jesus inherits a group that knows it can hurt the best.

Portugal slip to seventh in FIFA rankings

The World Cup round of 16 exit has consequences. Portugal dropped two spots to seventh in the latest FIFA rankings, with Spain now leading the table ahead of Belgium, Netherlands, Germany, and Paraguay (1) (5). Post-tournament rankings always overcorrect, but the direction is clear: the gap to the top has widened.

Jesus on Brazil: he would pick Pedro

Jorge Jesus has given his first real glimpse of how he thinks about squad selection. The new Portugal manager revealed he was once approached about pre-selecting Brazil's national team, and in a candid interview he said current Brazil striker Pedro, his former player at Flamengo, is the best number nine available right now (3). Jesus did not throw Ancelotti under the bus, but he made it known: he would have picked differently here and there (3).

World Cup final standings: 19 places above Cabo Verde

Portugal finished 19 places ahead of Cabo Verde in the final World Cup ranking (4). Not the table anyone wanted to be checking after a round of 16 exit, but it puts the tournament in blunt perspective.