What Position Did Each of the Last Three World Cup Winners Hold in the FIFA Rankings Before Their Crowning Moment?
The FIFA World Cup trophy - Source: Pixabay
After their triumph at Euro 2024 two years ago, Spain will head to North America this summer as the favorites to win the FIFA World Cup. Led by a legion of young talent headlined by the likes of Lamine Yamal, Pedri, and Nico Williams, La Roja are certainly worthy of top billing. However, if they are to live up to the expectations and leave MetLife Stadium with the famous gold trophy on July 19th, then they will have to do something no team in history has ever done.
No team ranked at the top of the FIFA world rankings heading into a World Cup has ever managed to go on and lift the trophy. This summer, that onus will fall on Luis de la Fuente's men. The Spaniards currently top the world rankings ahead of reigning world champions Argentina and 2022's beaten finalists France. If one looks at both the latest betting odds and the current rankings, it's clear that Spain is the team to beat.
Of course, finding the favorite is one thing — finding genuine betting value is another. An expected value calculator allows you to assess whether Spain's current odds truly reflect their chances, or whether the market has simply priced in the hype surrounding Yamal and company. That distinction could make all the difference when deciding whether to back La Roja to reign supreme this summer, especially when so many historic jinxes are against them.
So, with that being said, what ranking did each of the last three World Cup winners hold in the FIFA rankings before embarking on their historic tournament triumphs? Let's take a look.
Argentina: 3rd
Before the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, Argentina were considered the third-best team on the planet, with both Brazil and reigning champions France ranked higher. Whether the rankings were a true reflection of each team's standing in the game at the time of the tournament, however, is up for debate. Lionel Messi's Albiceleste were 18 months removed from winning the Copa America, beating Brazil on enemy territory in the final, but they were still ranked behind their archrivals.
The bookies were seemingly in agreement with the rankings. They listed Brazil as the favorites to reign supreme in the Arabian Gulf, with Argentina narrowly behind. And when the eventual champions were stunned in their opening game by rank outsiders Saudi Arabia, the trophy couldn't have felt further away. As we all remember, though, Messi duly rallied the troops.
Argentina went on to recover from that stunning upset, resoundingly beating both Mexico and Poland in Group B. From there, they would dispatch Australia, the Netherlands, and Croatia to punch their tickets to the final, where they would face off against reigning champions France. Not even a hat trick from Les Bleus talisman Kylian Mbappe could stop Messi's date with destiny. His side triumphed on penalties after a thrilling 3-3 draw in Lusail, securing the little magician's spot as the greatest player that's ever lived in the process.
France: 7th
Heading into the 2018 World Cup, France was even further down the rankings. Didier Deschamps' men were considered the seventh-best team on the planet, with Germany, Brazil, Belgium, Portugal, Argentina, and, surprisingly, Switzerland all ranked higher. Les Bleus would beat two of those teams as they powered their way to the Moscow final.
With the teenage Mbappe announcing his arrival as a global superstar, France knocked off Argentina in the second round after a 4-3 slugfest. They would then edge out Uruguay and Belgium to secure their spot in the final. Their Les Bleus met underdogs Croatia and duly emerged with the title after winning 4-2, Mbappe duly getting himself on the scoresheet. It goes to show that the rankings count for little once the World Cup gets underway.
Germany: 2nd
Spain once again found itself as the number one-ranked team on the planet at Brazil 2014. And rightfully so. La Roja had won each of the last three major tournaments they had featured in, winning back-to-back European championships in 2008 and 2012, with their maiden World Cup triumph sandwiched between 2010.
Much like Luis de la Fuente's 12 years on, Vicente del Bosque's side were the number one-ranked team on the planet and the favorites to lift the trophy. But with France and Italy before them, La Roja would duly fall victim to the vaunted champions' curse. Defeats to the Netherlands and Chile, the former being a 5-1 humbling, saw the tournament favorites dumped out before they had even played out each of their group stage games, allowing Germany to take full advantage.
Spain beat Die Mannschaft en route to their Euro 2008 and 2010 World Cup triumphs. However, with them out of the picture, the number two-ranked team on the planet had a straight shot at the title. They thumped hosts Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals in arguably the most shocking game in World Cup history. They would then down Messi's Argentina in the final, with Mario Götze's extra-time winner handing the Germans their fourth title overall and first as a unified nation.