TugaScout is an English-language site reporting on matters associated with Portuguese football by freelance writer Alex Goncalves, offering the latest news, reviews and opinions surrounding the Portuguese League and the Seleção players based abroad.

Latest FIFA World Rankings released

The latest set of FIFA World Rankings has now been released. 

After Portugal's latest tournament triumph, having just lifted the UEFA Nations League, Portugal have seen a slight rise in the rankings.

Last month, they sat in 7th place in the rankings, behind Belgium, France, Brazil, England, Croatia and Uruguay who occupied 1st to 6th respectively.

Now, however, Portugal have moved up to 5th, leapfrogging both Croatia and Uruguay after beating Switzerland (now ranked 9th after moving down a place) and The Netherlands (who are up two place to 14th after beating England in The Nations League).

Portugal remain below Belgium, France, Brazil and England, though the gap to England has closed to 21 points, having been 40 points below the World Cup semifinalists last month.

Portugal have actually closed the gap on all the teams above them, now 16 points closer to Brazil (who are now 50 points ahead of Portugal), 40 points closer to France who are 87 points ahead of the Seleção, and 15 points closer to Belgium who are 115 points ahead.

Croatia, Spain, Uruguay and Switzerland are the other teams in the top 10, with Germany in 11th and Argentina 12th.

Fernando Santos encourages João Felix to stay at Benfica

UEFA Nations League Team of the Tournament - How many Portuguese made it?