The latest FIFA World Rankings are out and Spain continues to be on the top spot. There is a bit of change in the top 5 as the Netherlands move up to 2nd and Germany moves down to 3rd. Brazil rounds out the top five by moving up two spots while fellow South American side Argentina jumps three spots to eighth place.

Overall, there’s not a huge difference in the rankings with most teams moving only a few spots or less. The teams making the biggest jump in the rankings are the USA who are now 27th (up 4 spots) and South Korea who moved up to 30th (up 4 spots). The top 30 of the rankings are below.

The next set of rankings will be released on April 11, 2012.

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FIFA World Rankings

Ranking	Team	Pts Jan 11	+/- Ranking Dec 10		+/- Pts Dec 10
1	Spain	1887	0		0
2	Netherlands	1723	0		0
3	Germany	1485	0		0
4	Brazil	1446	0		0
5	Argentina	1338	0		0
6	England	1195	0		0
7	Uruguay	1152	0		0
8	Portugal	1090	0		0
9	Croatia	1075	1		0
10	Egypt	1036	-1		-42
11	Greece	1016	0		0
12	Norway	995	0		0
13	Russia	982	0		0
14	Italy	965	0		0
15	Chile	950	0		0
16	Ghana	924	0		16
17	Slovenia	897	0		0
18	USA	867	0		0
18	France	867	0		0
20	Slovakia	854	0		0
21	Côte d’Ivoire	845	0		-1
22	Switzerland	841	0		0
23	Serbia	837	0		0
24	Paraguay	832	0		0
25	Montenegro	824	0		0
26	Australia	796	0		-19
27	Mexico	795	0		0
28	Denmark	790	0		0
29	Japan	776	0		0
30	Czech Republic	751	0		0
31	Turkey	741	0		0
32	Nigeria	730	0		5
33	Sweden	712	0		0
34	Ukraine	702	0		0
35	Republic of Ireland	681	1		0
36	Algeria	678	-1		-9
37	Belarus	660	1		0
38	Cameroon	650	-1		-20
39	Korea Republic	649	1		2
40	Gabon	640	-1		-8
41	Hungary	632	1		0
42	Burkina Faso	619	-1		-25
43	Northern Ireland	615	0		0
44	Tunisia	592	1		16
45	Bosnia-Herzegovina	582	-1		0
46	Austria	569	0		0
46	Guinea	569	0		0
48	Colombia	558	0		0
49	Bulgaria	555	0		0
50	Israel	551	0		0

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The latest FIFA World rankings are out with Spain on top followed by the Netherlands, Germany, Brazil, and Argentina. There are a few changes but not many as the top 20 teams remains about the same. The major move is Slovakia who are now 16th after jumping 11 spots.

Below are the latest rankings with the next list to be released on October 20, 2010.

FIFA World Rankings

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Some of the teams making the biggest moves up are Egypt (up 5 spots), Ghana (up 3 spots), while Romania (down 4 spots) and Bulgaria (down 3 spots) have dropped the most in the top 50. Below are the rankings for the top 50 and the full rankings can be viewed at FIFA’s official ranking website here.

FIFA World Rankings for December 16, 2009

Ranking	Team	Pts Dec 09	+/- Ranking Nov 09		+/- Pts Nov 09
1	Spain	1627	0		5
2	Brazil	1568	0		-24
3	Netherlands	1288	0		9
4	Italy	1209	0		-6
5	Portugal	1176	0		-5
6	Germany	1173	0		3
7	France	1117	0		-5
8	Argentina	1085	0		0
9	England	1076	0		13
10	Croatia	1042	0		-8
11	Cameroon	1035	0		0
12	Russia	1026	1		7
13	Greece	1016	-1		-12
14	USA	980	0		0
15	Chile	936	2		10
16	Côte d’Ivoire	934	0		7
17	Mexico	931	-2		0
18	Switzerland	924	0		0
19	Serbia	916	1		16
20	Uruguay	909	-1		8
21	Australia	863	0		0
22	Ukraine	848	2		6
22	Nigeria	848	0		0
24	Egypt	832	5		12
25	Czech Republic	828	-2		-15
26	Algeria	823	2		0
26	Israel	823	-1		-14
28	Denmark	820	-2		-15
29	Paraguay	806	1		-10
30	Bulgaria	801	-3		-26
31	Slovenia	767	2		11
32	Norway	760	-1		-20
33	Slovakia	752	1		-3
34	Ghana	747	3		8
35	Republic of Ireland	746	1		0
36	Romania	745	-4		-18
37	Honduras	738	1		0
37	Ecuador	738	-2		-12
39	Colombia	736	1		0
40	Northern Ireland	729	-1		-8
41	Turkey	728	0		-1
42	Sweden	721	0		-6
43	Japan	709	0		0
44	Costa Rica	701	0		7
45	Latvia	677	0		7
46	Scotland	665	0		0
47	Mali	662	0		0
48	Gabon	660	0		0
49	Burkina Faso	650	0		0
50	Venezuela	646	0		0

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Here are the latest FIFA World Rankings for October 16, 2009

Ranking	Team	Pts Oct 09	+/- Ranking Sep 09		+/- Pts Sep 09
1	Brazil	1632	0		28
2	Spain	1629	0		41
3	Netherlands	1340	0		-36
4	Italy	1215	0		29
5	Germany	1161	-1		-25
6	Argentina	1103	2		-10
7	England	1101	0		-26
8	Croatia	1087	1		-14
9	France	1049	1		9
10	Portugal	1042	7		162
11	USA	1025	0		51
12	Russia	982	-6		-147
13	Switzerland	961	2		63
14	Cameroon	949	15		130
15	Czech Republic	928	3		58
16	Greece	921	-4		-50
17	Chile	909	4		63
18	Mexico	904	6		69
19	Côte d’Ivoire	903	1		51
20	Serbia	892	-7		-24
21	Paraguay	879	2		37
22	Ukraine	857	3		28
23	Bulgaria	854	-4		-6
24	Australia	848	-10		-59
25	Uruguay	838	3		18
26	Israel	837	-4		-7
27	Denmark	830	-11		-62
28	Egypt	798	4		12
29	Algeria	781	15		74
30	Colombia	775	18		118
30	Northern Ireland	775	1		-20
32	Nigeria	763	2		-10
33	Slovakia	758	12		71
34	Republic of Ireland	755	4		12
35	Honduras	754	7		42
36	Romania	752	-10		-75
37	Norway	751	6		42
38	Ghana	746	-6		-40
39	Turkey	737	-12		-89
40	Japan	735	0		1
41	Sweden	728	0		5
42	Bosnia-Herzegovina	721	4		39
43	Costa Rica	707	-4		-28
44	Ecuador	697	-8		-52
45	Gabon	691	-10		-68
46	Scotland	687	-16		-117
47	Latvia	683	11		128
48	Korea Republic	671	1		30
49	Slovenia	663	5		87
50	Hungary	645	-3		-24

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Ranking	Team	Pts Sep 09	+/- Ranking Aug 09		+/- Pts Aug 09
1	Brazil	1604	0		-38
2	Spain	1588	0		-2
3	Netherlands	1376	0		-3
4	Italy	1186	1		5
4	Germany	1186	0		-9
6	Russia	1129	0		-32
7	England	1127	0		-8
8	Argentina	1113	0		33
9	Croatia	1101	1		70
10	France	1040	-1		-19
11	USA	974	1		-17
12	Greece	971	-1		-30
13	Serbia	916	1		-9
14	Australia	907	2		11
15	Switzerland	898	-2		-32
16	Denmark	892	-1		-17
17	Portugal	880	0		-1
18	Czech Republic	870	4		20
19	Bulgaria	860	4		21
20	Côte d’Ivoire	852	-2		-22
21	Chile	846	5		29
22	Israel	844	3		22
23	Paraguay	842	-3		-14
24	Mexico	835	6		36
25	Ukraine	829	-6		-40
26	Romania	827	1		13
27	Turkey	826	1		17
28	Uruguay	820	-7		-31
29	Cameroon	819	0		16
30	Scotland	804	-6		-33
31	Northern Ireland	795	1		11
32	Egypt	786	1		7
32	Ghana	786	3		14
34	Nigeria	773	0		0
35	Gabon	759	-4		-30
36	Ecuador	749	0		-19
36	Poland	749	4		43
38	Republic of Ireland	743	-1		-15
39	Costa Rica	735	-1		-7
40	Japan	734	-1		5
41	Sweden	723	0		21
42	Honduras	712	4		48
43	Norway	709	7		103
44	Algeria	707	3		46
45	Slovakia	687	-3		0
46	Bosnia-Herzegovina	682	-2		2
47	Hungary	669	-4		-12
48	Colombia	657	-3		-11
49	Korea Republic	641	-1		15
50	Tunisia	614	-1		0

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Ranking	Team	Pts Aug 09	+/- Ranking Jul 09		+/- Pts Jul 09
1	Brazil	1642	0		-30
2	Spain	1590	0		0
3	Netherlands	1379	0		0
4	Germany	1195	1		-12
5	Italy	1181	-1		-48
6	Russia	1161	0		0
7	England	1135	0		0
8	Argentina	1080	0		-11
9	France	1059	0		-23
10	Croatia	1031	0		0
11	Greece	1001	0		0
12	USA	991	0		8
13	Switzerland	930	0		0
14	Serbia	925	0		0
15	Denmark	909	0		0
16	Australia	896	0		10
17	Portugal	881	0		2
18	Côte d’Ivoire	874	0		0
19	Ukraine	869	0		0
20	Paraguay	856	2		10
21	Uruguay	851	-1		-9
22	Czech Republic	850	-1		0
23	Bulgaria	839	0		0
24	Scotland	837	0		0
25	Israel	822	0		0
26	Chile	817	1		6
27	Romania	814	-1		0
28	Turkey	809	0		0
29	Cameroon	803	0		0
30	Mexico	799	3		22
31	Gabon	789	-1		0
32	Northern Ireland	784	0		0
33	Egypt	779	5		25
34	Nigeria	773	0		0
35	Ghana	772	0		0
36	Ecuador	768	0		8
37	Republic of Ireland	758	0		0
38	Costa Rica	742	-8		-47
39	Japan	729	1		7
40	Poland	706	1		0
41	Sweden	702	1		0
42	Slovakia	687	1		0
43	Hungary	681	1		0
44	Bosnia-Herzegovina	680	1		0
45	Colombia	668	1		-7
46	Honduras	664	-7		-89
47	Algeria	661	0		0
48	Korea Republic	626	0		-8
49	Tunisia	614	0		0
50	Norway	606	0		0

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Ranking	Team	Pts Jul 09	+/- Ranking Jun 09		+/- Pts Jun 09
1	Brazil	1672	4		384
2	Spain	1590	-1		-171
3	Netherlands	1379	-1		-63
4	Italy	1229	0		-63
5	Germany	1207	-2		-171
6	Russia	1161	3		-6
7	England	1135	-1		-90
8	Argentina	1091	-1		-112
9	France	1082	1		15
10	Croatia	1031	-2		-169
11	Greece	1001	6		79
12	USA	983	2		36
13	Switzerland	930	3		-1
14	Serbia	925	6		55
15	Denmark	909	9		73
16	Australia	886	13		107
17	Portugal	879	-6		-125
18	Côte d’Ivoire	874	20		129
19	Ukraine	869	0		-22
20	Uruguay	860	-3		-62
21	Czech Republic	850	-6		-93
22	Paraguay	846	-9		-115
23	Bulgaria	839	0		1
24	Scotland	837	-2		-3
25	Israel	822	0		-5
26	Romania	814	2		24
27	Chile	811	10		65
28	Turkey	809	-16		-155
29	Cameroon	803	-8		-52
30	Costa Rica	789	11		95
30	Gabon	789	18		173
32	Northern Ireland	784	-5		-36
33	Mexico	777	-7		-45
34	Nigeria	773	-4		3
35	Ghana	772	1		22
36	Ecuador	760	8		74
37	Republic of Ireland	758	-3		-4
38	Egypt	754	2		35
39	Honduras	753	-4		-8
40	Japan	722	-9		-44
41	Poland	706	-2		-16
42	Sweden	702	-11		-64
43	Slovakia	687	-1		-6
44	Hungary	681	-1		-6
45	Bosnia-Herzegovina	680	-12		-83
46	Colombia	675	-1		-3
47	Algeria	661	19		171
48	Korea Republic	634	-2		-20
49	Tunisia	614	2		17
50	Norway	606	-3		-32

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Ranking	Team	Pts Jun 09	+/- Ranking May 09		+/- Pts May 09
1	Spain	1761	0		32
2	Netherlands	1442	1		82
3	Germany	1378	-1		16
4	Italy	1292	1		21
5	Brazil	1288	-1		7
6	England	1225	1		52
7	Argentina	1203	-1		8
8	Croatia	1200	0		49
9	Russia	1167	0		50
10	France	1067	0		-7
11	Portugal	1004	0		-9
12	Turkey	964	2		41
13	Paraguay	961	4		55
14	USA	947	1		28
15	Czech Republic	943	-3		-25
16	Switzerland	931	2		48
17	Greece	922	-4		-5
17	Uruguay	922	-1		13
19	Ukraine	891	3		59
20	Serbia	870	3		51
21	Cameroon	855	-2		-16
22	Scotland	840	2		25
23	Bulgaria	838	-3		-2
24	Denmark	836	5		46
25	Israel	827	-4		-9
26	Mexico	822	-1		19
27	Northern Ireland	820	0		25
28	Romania	790	0		-2
29	Australia	779	3		3
30	Nigeria	770	0		-11
31	Japan	766	4		17
31	Sweden	766	2		-3
33	Bosnia-Herzegovina	763	5		26
34	Republic of Ireland	762	0		1
35	Honduras	761	4		25
36	Ghana	750	-5		-29
37	Chile	746	-11		-50
38	Côte d’Ivoire	745	-2		2
39	Poland	722	1		-2
40	Egypt	719	-3		-23
41	Costa Rica	694	0		-27
42	Slovakia	693	5		67
43	Hungary	687	0		25
44	Ecuador	686	-2		-9
45	Colombia	678	-1		18
46	Korea Republic	654	0		13
47	Norway	638	-2		-4
48	Gabon	616	0		0
49	Finland	614	2		23
50	Burkina Faso	608	7		49

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Cristiano Ronaldo scooped the award with sheer ease for 2008, having scored a record breaking 42 goals as a winger inside the games toughest league- the Premier League. Messi was the closest challenger, however, the proximity of that challenge was nothing short of feeble. To be fair, Messi began his season injured, just as Ronaldo has this season, so if Messi were to win it this year the competition and resonating rivlary would be nothing more than even.

It is no coincedence that when Ronaldo was not playing at the beginning of the season, that Manchester United struggled to even win a match. What we witness today with Ronaldo is the beginning of a phenomenon, and in the other corner? His arch rival.

The constant ‘who is better’ arguement is strikingly similar to the never ending debate about hip hops illest: Biggie or 2pac? Each have their strengths and weaknesses, but at the end of the day the only thing seperating these two at the peak of their game is opinion. Where Ronaldo lacks ball control, he makes up for in speed; where Messi lacks in heading ability, he makes up for in extraordinary dribbling.

For the less informed, the pros and cons of the games two greatest modern day players follow an interesting concoction of strengths and weaknesses.

Lionel Messi: Without doubt, casts the greatest ball control and dribbling skills in the world. His heading ability is not so impressive due to his small size, but his shots on goal are frighteningly driven more so with accuracy rather than power. Messi doesn’t need to kick the ball the hardest, he simply aims the ball as though we were playing FIFA 09 on Playstation 3- his shots are artistically beautiful and his placement delicate. Coming to Barcelona FC, the legendary Ronaldinho took him under his wing and taught him every trick in the book- ’til this day, the two remain best of friends. On the not so glamorous side of things, Messi is injury prone, not the strongest player physically and often has trouble facing 2 or more defenders.

Cristiano Ronaldo: The boy from a small town in Portugal who has won virtually every single football award possible by the age of 23. Ronaldo possesses Bugatti-like speed, literally. There is a Youtube clip of the boy himself racing a mean Bugatti and coming out on top. His speed is so distinguished that the fastest man in human history, Usain Bolt, has volunteered to become his personal sprint trainer. Ronaldo scores as many 40 yard screamers and he does headers. His free kicks? The world has not seen the likes of his style, accuracy and skill since David Beckham. The part where he has one over Messi is he rarely gets injured, and can sprint through an entire backline of defenders like the TV Set is on fast forward. The cons? Due to his exceptional speed, when tackled he tends to fall down in a heap, but given how fast he is running it is seemingly impossible not to. This is an area where Usain Bolt has opted to help the Portugese maestro.

The Verdict: Messi may have scored more goals in La Liga this season than Ronaldo has in the Premier League, but one must intelligently take the situational factors into consideration. La Liga virtually employs a defensive-less backline in their games, and instead play attacking football. Naturally, the goal tally will be slighter higher than other leagues whom employ a tough defense, such as Serie A and the Premier League. Ronaldo has been an integral part in his side winning the Premier League for a third consecutive year in a row now, whilst Messi has recently won La Liga with Barcelona for a second year in a row. Ronaldo is the leading goal scorer for Manchester United, Messi is the second biggest goal scorer for his side, just behing Samuel Eto. All in all, the two players are even, except for when it comes to this seasons Champions League.

Messi is currently the top scorer in the Champions League, but most of these goals have come from weaker teams. In fact, Barcelona did not have to face any difficult matches until they ran into Chelsea, where Messi was no where to be seen. In all of the big Champions League matches, Messi has simply flopped; conversely, Ronaldo has prospered against his mythical ‘big game flop’ reputation and scored braces against the likes of Arsenal in the semi finals, amongst an array of game defining goals against extremely difficult teams. In fact, it would be fair to say that the only reason Manchester United have made it this far in the Champions League is due to Ronaldo’s superb goals in critical circumstances.

If we are forced to split the atom, then this is it: No matter what way you look at it, these two are equal in their accomplishments this season. What they’ve meant to each of their respective sides cannot be divided. Perhaps this is why this seasons Champions League final is so badly anticipated- it may just decide once and for all who deserves the World Player of the Year Award more.

Prediction: Barcelona will have a difficult time trying to put one past Manchester United, and if United create history by winning the Champions League title back-to-back for the first time ever, then one can rest assured that Ronaldo will have a defining part in it. If United win, then Ronaldo will surely lift the award once more.

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