World Cup Power Rankings: Ronaldo Shines as Portugal Dominates

Cristiano Ronaldo has arrived at this World Cup at last, thundering in a double as Portugal tore Uzbekistan apart 5-0. England, by contrast, trudged through 90 goalless minutes against Ghana. Two very different nights. Neither enough to shake the established order at the top of these power rankings.

The heavyweights are dug in. It will take something seismic to move them now.

1. France

FIFA ranking: 3

France look built for the long haul. Since Michael Olise was moved into the No 10 role midway through the opener against Senegal, the world’s most expensively assembled attack has finally snapped into focus. He set up two more goals in the 3-0 dismantling of Iraq, adding to his decisive work on day one.

A storm delay in Philadelphia only seemed to sharpen Kylian Mbappe. Two more goals, same as in the first game, and France cruise into the knockouts. Norway await on Friday for top spot in the group. Didier Deschamps will miss that game after the death of his mother, but is expected back for the business end. This team looks ready for it.

2. Argentina

FIFA ranking: 1

Lionel Messi, 38 years old and still bending World Cups to his will. He has scored all five of Argentina’s goals so far, including both in the win over Austria that made him the tournament’s all-time leading scorer.

The back line can take some quiet pride in consecutive clean sheets, though Cristian Romero’s knee problem against Austria lingers as a concern. Argentina need someone — anyone — to share the attacking load. Right now, Messi is carrying the entire scoring burden. Again.

3. Germany

FIFA ranking: 10

The 7-1 demolition of Curacao was eye-catching. The 2-1 comeback against Ivory Coast meant more. Germany trailed for over half an hour, then Julian Nagelsmann turned to Deniz Undav and the game flipped.

Undav’s late brace, the winner arriving in added time from a slick Felix Nmecha pass and sharp turn-and-finish, sealed top spot in Group E and, crucially, their first progression from a World Cup group since 2014. Momentum is finally back in German colours.

4. Spain

FIFA ranking: 2

Humiliated by Cape Verde in their opener, Spain responded like a wounded giant. Saudi Arabia were swept aside 4-0 in one of the most one-sided performances of the tournament: 22 shots, 2.85 xG, and the sense they left goals on the table.

Lamine Yamal needed 10 minutes of his first World Cup start to score. Mikel Oyarzabal, who barely touched the ball for half an hour against Cape Verde, hit back with two goals. The reaction was emphatic. Beat Uruguay on Friday and Group H is theirs.

5. England

FIFA ranking: 4

The familiar England returned. After the breathless 4-2 win over Croatia, a flat, ponderous 0-0 against Ghana dragged the mood back to earth. The attacking verve vanished, the tempo dropped, and the old doubts resurfaced.

Even so, beat Panama in the final group game and England still march through as group winners. The margin for error, though, feels slimmer than it did a few days ago.

6. Netherlands

FIFA ranking: 8

The Netherlands sent a message with their dismantling of Sweden. Brian Brobbey bullied the back line, linking fluidly with Cody Gakpo and Crysencio Summerville as the Dutch attack cut through at will.

With Tunisia to come, and already reeling, the Dutch look set to top a group that looked awkward on paper. On grass, not so much.

7. Brazil

FIFA ranking: 6

Brazil needed a performance to settle nerves. Haiti provided the platform. A comfortable 3-0 win, far more assured than their opener, restored some order.

Matheus Cunha slotted more naturally into the front line than Igor Thiago, and the movement around him finally resembled a Carlo Ancelotti side. Tougher nights are coming, but another strong display against Scotland would lock down Group C and calm the noise.

8. Morocco

FIFA ranking: 7

Expectation in Morocco is sky-high after a 2022 semi-final and an AFCON title that still feels fresh. They’ve handled it well so far. A draw with Brazil, a win over Scotland, and both goals in the group from the composed Ismael Saibari.

To top the group, they may need to hammer Haiti, depending on Brazil’s result against Scotland. But the real job is almost done: reach the knockouts, then let the memories of Qatar take over.

9. United States

FIFA ranking: 17

When people start asking if the United States can actually win the World Cup, you know something is stirring. That talk is premature, but the signs are bright.

A 4-1 thrashing of Paraguay, followed by a controlled 2-0 win over Australia without Christian Pulisic, has lit a fire. Mauricio Pochettino’s side are bold, rotating their attacking cast and playing on the front foot. Already through as group winners, they can rest Pulisic against Turkey and quietly plot a deep run. The excitement back home is real.

10. Norway

FIFA ranking: 31

Dark horses? They look more like a stampede. Norway’s 3-2 win over Senegal pushed them into the knockouts and underlined their attacking bite.

They ripped at Senegal’s reshaped defence, creating chance after chance. Seven goals in two games tells its own story. So does Erling Haaland’s form: another double, another defence unable to contain him. The flaws are at the back, but so far they’ve simply outscored the problems.

11. Colombia

FIFA ranking: 14

Colombia have the points, if not yet the polish. Two wins from two, a perfect record on paper, but both matches carried a wobble: a nervy spell against Uzbekistan, then a tight 1-0 over DR Congo that never quite felt secure.

Still, they are into the knockouts with a game to spare. That takes the heat off before they face Portugal, though top spot is still in play with a draw.

12. Mexico

FIFA ranking: 13

Mexico became the first side to book a place in the last 32, edging South Korea 1-0 to back up their opening win over South Africa. Two victories, two clean sheets, and top spot in Group A guaranteed.

The football has been functional rather than electric, but the reward is huge: a third-placed opponent in the next round and back-to-back knockout games in Mexico City. For co-hosts, that matters.

13. Portugal

FIFA ranking: 5

Portugal finally showed their teeth. After an underwhelming draw with DR Congo, they tore into Uzbekistan 5-0 to ignite their campaign.

Ronaldo’s double did more than set another record — the first man to score in six World Cups — it quietened the debate around his starting place, at least temporarily. Yet Uzbekistan’s inexperience and nerves made them easy prey. Colombia will be a far sharper test of what this Portugal side really are.

14. Croatia

FIFA ranking: 11

Croatia survived. That’s often where their tournaments begin. They rode out serious scares against Panama before substitute Ante Budimir bundled in the decisive goal from close range in a 1-0 win.

This ageing golden generation has not impressed in its first two outings, but history screams one warning: never write them off.

15. Egypt

FIFA ranking: 29

At last, a World Cup win for Egypt. They had to sweat for it, coming from behind against New Zealand, but Mohamed Salah dragged them over the line with a goal and an assist.

They haven’t yet shown the depth or structure of a side likely to go deep. Beat Iran on Friday, though, and they top Group G and draw a third-placed team in the last 32. That’s a pathway Salah will fancy.

16. Japan

FIFA ranking: 18

Japan tore through Tunisia 4-0, a landmark night in multiple ways. It was the 1,000th World Cup match, Japan’s biggest-ever win at the finals, and the first time an Asian side has scored four in a single World Cup game. Ayase Ueda’s double capped it.

Tunisia are in disarray, so perspective is needed, but Japan’s identity is clear: speed, intensity, and a fierce press. Qualification is almost mathematically certain.

17. South Korea

FIFA ranking: 22

South Korea were flat, and the consequences could be severe. The 1-0 defeat to Mexico leaves them on the brink, with a must-win game against South Africa ahead.

They created almost nothing in Guadalajara. Son Heung-min was withdrawn before the hour mark, a symbolic change as much as a tactical one. The talent is there. The time for their stars to deliver is now.

18. Switzerland

FIFA ranking: 19

A new name has emerged. Johan Manzambi, 20 years and 247 days old, came off the bench and scored twice in a late 4-1 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina, becoming the youngest player to hit a double as a substitute at a men’s World Cup.

Switzerland face Canada next. A draw is enough to qualify. Win it, and they top the group.

19. Canada

FIFA ranking: 30

Canada didn’t just win their first World Cup game. They exploded. A 6-0 hammering of Qatar in Vancouver announced their arrival in brutal fashion.

Jonathan David’s hat-trick headlined a night when Jesse Marsch’s high-energy, aggressive blueprint clicked perfectly. Ismael Kone’s injury is the one dark cloud. A draw with Switzerland on Wednesday sends the co-hosts into the knockouts. Suddenly, that feels like the minimum.

20. Ghana

FIFA ranking: 73

Ghana’s week could hardly have gone better. A last-gasp win over Panama, then a gritty, disciplined 0-0 against England that showcased their organisation and threat on the break.

They might have had more: a swift counterattack, a possible penalty when Ezri Konsa clipped Prince Kwabena Adu — only for VAR to stay silent. Four points from two games all but guarantee a place in the knockouts. This is a team nobody will relish drawing.

21. Belgium

FIFA ranking: 9

The number next to Belgium’s name looks increasingly outdated. They racked up 23 shots, 1.82 xG and 70 per cent possession against Iran, yet still failed to win.

The numbers still love Kevin De Bruyne and Romelu Lukaku. The reality is uglier. Belgium feel like half a team, lacking bite and conviction. After failing to beat Egypt and Iran, even a win over New Zealand might not change the bigger question: how far can this version of Belgium really go? They badly need Jeremy Doku back and firing.

22. Ivory Coast

FIFA ranking: 33

Ivory Coast went toe-to-toe with Germany and led for more than 30 minutes. Their wide players, Yan Diomande and Amad, stretched the game and tormented full-backs.

They couldn’t quite close the deal, but the performance underlined their potential. The forecast model gives them a 95 per cent chance of making the knockouts for the first time. They’ve earned that position.

23. Uruguay

FIFA ranking: 16

The numbers are maddening: 44 shots, 3.88 xG, three goals, two points. Uruguay now must take something off Spain to survive. This is not Marcelo Bielsa’s script.

They arrived with a strong qualifying record but rotten recent form, and that inconsistency has followed them. The flimsy two-man wall that allowed Cape Verde’s 40-yard free kick to sneak in summed up their vulnerability. High-quality midfield, familiar flaws.

24. Algeria

FIFA ranking: 28

Algeria turned a game against Jordan on its head with two goals from corners, underlining how dangerous they can be from dead balls. Riyad Mahrez returned to the XI and knitted attacks together with his usual craft.

They face Austria on Sunday with second place on the line. Three points give them a shot at progressing as a third-placed side, but a minus-two goal difference leaves no room for a heavy defeat.

25. Sweden

FIFA ranking: 38

Sweden have lived both sides of a 5-1 scoreline. They crushed Tunisia, then were themselves dismantled by the Netherlands.

That contrast captures where they stand: good enough to overwhelm weaker teams with Viktor Gyokeres and Alexander Isak, but short of the top tier and exposed defensively when the level rises.

26. Senegal

FIFA ranking: 15

Two games, no points, six goals conceded. Senegal started brightly against France, but the tournament has unravelled quickly since.

Ismaila Sarr’s double against Norway and Ibrahim Mbaye’s strike versus France show they can hurt elite sides. Their defending tells a harsher story. Mistakes piled up against Norway, and only Edouard Mendy’s saves kept the score down before he went off injured. They now need a big win over Iraq and help elsewhere to sneak through as one of the best third-placed teams.

27. Australia

FIFA ranking: 27

Australia’s optimism after beating Turkey 2-0 took a hit against the United States. They struggled badly in the first half, unable to live with the tempo and movement.

Tony Popovic’s decision to leave out both scorers from the Turkey game, Nestory Irankunda and Connor Metcalfe, blunted their counter-attacking threat. Now it comes down to Paraguay for second place in the group.

28. Austria

FIFA ranking: 25

Ralf Rangnick shuffled his pack against Argentina, bringing in Kevin Danso at the back and Paul Wanner in midfield. The problem remains the same: plenty of good players, no clear edge.

They lack a prolific striker and don’t have a watertight defence, as Jordan already proved. Their meeting with Algeria on Sunday will decide who finishes second. Right now, Austria feel caught between identities.

29. Scotland

FIFA ranking: 41

Scotland’s calculators are working overtime. After scraping past Haiti 1-0 and then losing 1-0 to Morocco despite a spirited second half, they’re trying to work out how much damage Brazil can inflict while still leaving a path to the last 32 as one of the best third-placed teams.

The encouraging part? They showed enough against Morocco to believe they can trouble Brazil. Any positive result on Wednesday would send them into uncharted territory: a World Cup knockout stage.

30. Iran

FIFA ranking: 20

On paper, a draw with Belgium is a superb result. Iran created good chances and saw a clever free-kick routine narrowly ruled offside. Yet the bigger picture is bleak: no wins, and qualification hopes hanging by a thread.

Failing to beat New Zealand in their opener, and not capitalising when Belgium went down to 10 men, may haunt them. They must now hope Egypt ease off in their final Group G game.

31. Ecuador

FIFA ranking: 24

Ecuador arrived on a 19-match unbeaten run stretching two years. It has counted for nothing so far. A defeat to Ivory Coast, a draw with Curacao, and not a single goal from a combined 4.08 xG.

Enner Valencia, so prolific in Qatar 2022, has not found the same rhythm at 36. Now they face Germany on Thursday, needing a result and hoping Nagelsmann rotates with qualification already secure. Their margin for error is gone.

32. Paraguay

FIFA ranking: 40

This was the Paraguay many expected. A 1-0 win over Turkey, built on a fast start and rugged defending. Matias Galarza’s long-range strike after two minutes set the tone.

When Miguel Almiron became the first player ever sent off at a World Cup for covering his mouth while speaking to an opponent, Paraguay were forced into siege mode. They held. No goals conceded, no collapse. They’ll miss Almiron against Australia, and that absence could define the fight for second place.

33. Cape Verde

FIFA ranking: 67

Cape Verde are writing one of this World Cup’s great stories. A draw with Spain, then another with Uruguay, both former champions, and both earned with moments of audacity: a 40-yard free kick, then Helio Varela’s inspired finish off the bench.

Now comes Saudi Arabia. Win, and they may become the most unlikely knockout team the tournament has seen. Even a draw might be enough. For a nation of their size, this is already extraordinary.

34. Saudi Arabia

FIFA ranking: 60

Saudi Arabia soared with their draw against Uruguay, then crashed to earth in a 4-0 beating by Spain. It could have been worse than four.

Yet the equation is simple now. Beat Cape Verde, finish on four points, and they will likely sit at least third in Group H. They would have taken that scenario in a heartbeat before a ball was kicked.

35. New Zealand

FIFA ranking: 85

Stubborn, awkward, hard to break — New Zealand have looked a lot like the side that drew all three games in 2010. This time, though, the unbeaten World Cup run finally ended with a 3-1 defeat to Egypt, despite Finn Surman’s early goal.

They still have a shot at history. Beat a faltering Belgium on Saturday and they will almost certainly reach the knockouts for the first time. The task is daunting. The opportunity is enormous.

36. Czech Republic

FIFA ranking: 43

The Czech Republic struck the fastest goal of this World Cup — Michal Sadilek after five minutes and seven seconds — and looked in control against South Africa. They failed to finish the job.

A late equaliser left both sides frustrated. Now the Czechs must beat co-hosts Mexico on Mexican soil to reach the knockouts. Few assignments come tougher.

37. Bosnia and Herzegovina

FIFA ranking: 64

Bosnia and Herzegovina’s late collapse against Switzerland leaves them on the brink. Their final group game against Qatar in Seattle is now a straight shootout. Win, and they are almost certainly through on four points. Lose, and they go home.

38. DR Congo

FIFA ranking: 46

DR Congo have stood up well to the spotlight. A shock draw with Portugal, followed by a narrow 1-0 loss to Colombia, showed a team comfortable defending deep and springing forward through Yoane Wissa.

Beat Uzbekistan this weekend and four points should carry them into the knockouts. They’ve earned the right to believe.

39. Qatar

FIFA ranking: 56

Everything that could go wrong against Canada did. Six goals conceded, two red cards, and a humbling that shredded confidence.

Yet the path is still there. Beat Bosnia and Herzegovina in their final game and they will almost certainly reach the last 32 on four points. For a team in this position in the rankings, that would be a remarkable escape.

40. Curacao

FIFA ranking: 82

Eloy Room joined the list of World Cup goalkeeping cult heroes with a 15-save masterclass against Ecuador. His performance earned Curacao a point and kept their dream alive.

Beat Ivory Coast, and this debutant nation could still sneak into the knockouts. That prospect alone feels surreal.

41. South Africa

FIFA ranking: 61

South Africa improved against the Czech Republic and snatched a late equaliser, but a draw wasn’t enough. They needed a win.

Now they face South Korea, a side under pressure but brimming with attacking talent. Only an upset will do.

42. Iraq

FIFA ranking: 57

Iraq have run into a brutal schedule: Erling Haaland, then Kylian Mbappe. Unsurprisingly, they’ve struggled to lay a glove on either Norway or France.

Captain Aymen Hussein’s injury against France, after his goal versus Norway, only deepened the problems. They still have a mathematical route: hammer Senegal and hope. Realistically, it looks a distant prospect.

43. Uzbekistan

FIFA ranking: 50

Uzbekistan impressed against Colombia. Then came Portugal and Ronaldo, and the roof caved in. A 5-0 defeat, naïve defending, and tears from star man Abdukodir Khusanov at full-time told the story.

They weren’t expected to take points from their first two games, but the damage to goal difference and confidence is severe. Now they must beat DR Congo and pray the other numbers fall their way. It feels like a mountain.

The Eliminated

44. Panama

FIFA ranking: 34

Panama are out with a game to spare, after back-to-back 1-0 defeats to Ghana and Croatia. They competed, created chances, and will leave with regrets about the opportunities they let slip.

45. Jordan

FIFA ranking: 63

Jordan’s debut World Cup ends with two defeats, to Austria and Algeria. They scored in both games, but never found a way to suffocate opponents as other newcomers have managed through heroic goalkeeping or deep defensive blocks.

46. Haiti

FIFA ranking: 83

Haiti were the first team eliminated, but far from the worst. Dropped into a brutal group, unable to play at home due to political turmoil, they battled Scotland and might have deserved more from that game.

Brazil was always likely to be too much. Three goals conceded in the first half, then a 0-0 second half that showed their fight. They face Morocco next, still chasing a first World Cup point since 1974. That alone would be a precious prize.

47. Turkey

FIFA ranking: 23

Turkey’s World Cup has become a cautionary tale. On paper, they had one of the easiest groups. On grass, they are already out after two games, without a goal from 62 shots.

Kenan Yildiz, Arda Guler, Ferdi Kadioglu, Hakan Calhanoglu — the talent is undeniable. The execution has been disastrous. When you cannot score against a Paraguay side playing half the match with 10 men, you forfeit any claim to bad luck.

48. Tunisia

FIFA ranking: 45

Tunisia’s tournament never got going. A 5-1 thrashing by Sweden cost Sabri Lamouchi his job. Herve Renard arrived and promptly watched a 4-0 defeat to Japan.

Minus eight after two games, no team has fared worse. Their World Cup ends with a statistic no side wants to own — and a long look in the mirror before the next cycle begins.