Argentina remains second in FIFA’s October ranking

The official update

FIFA published the October update of its men’s ranking on Wednesday, October 7, 2026. The governing body listed Spain in first place, Argentina in second and France in third.

The ranking does not award a trophy or decide a competition by itself, but it is FIFA’s official reference for the order of men’s national teams. For Argentina, the key point in this publication is its place immediately behind Spain.

Context for Argentina

The update comes after Lionel Messi’s farewell in the Argentina shirt, a context recorded by AFA around the match against Benin. Without projecting unconfirmed sporting decisions, the ranking offers a concrete reference point for where the team stands internationally.

Spain’s lead also has recent background noted by FIFA: in July 2026, the governing body said Spain had returned to first place after beating Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the World Cup final. That is historical context, not a new October result.

The next reference point

FIFA said the next edition of the men’s ranking will be published on November 18, 2026. Until then, Argentina is listed second in the official ranking, with a new reference point scheduled for November.

The careful reading is limited: Argentina is not first in this update, but it appears immediately behind Spain in FIFA’s official list.