However, the gap between the Red Devils, France (2nd, unchanged) and Brazil (3rd, unchanged) has narrowed over the past month.

Defeats in the UEFA Nations League for the leading duo resulted in both dropping six ranking points, while Brazil – while still 50 points behind France – added seven after wins over Uruguay (7th, down 1) and Cameroon (55th, down 4).

Portugal (6th, up 1) were the team to profit from Uruguay’s drop in the table, while the Nations League successes of group winners Sweden and the Netherlands (joint-14th, up 3 and 1 respectively) are reflected in their improved positions.

Back-to-back wins in the same competition also propelled Serbia (29th, up 6) and Czech Republic (42nd, up 6) to significant gains, although Morocco (40th, up 7) were the top 50’s biggest climbers after morale-boosting victories over Tunisia (26th, down 4) and the aforementioned Cameroon. The former result also benefited Senegal (23rd, up 2), who have replaced the Tunisians as Africa’s top-ranked team.

Further down the table, the big climbers included the African quintet of Mozambique (117th, up 5), Angola (125th, up 5), Sudan (127th, up 8), Comoros (143rd, up 5) and Gambia (166th, up 7).

The rise of Kosovo (131st, up 6) was also notable as it took them to their highest ranking position to date.