Kolkata: The Indian men’s football national team is on course to breaking a Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) world ranking record after registering a 1-0 win over Myanmar in Yangon. India, which is on 233 points, will shoot up to 331 ranking points thanks to two consecutive away victories against Cambodia and Myanmar. As per the prognosis tool offered on the FIFA website, the Blue Tigers will be tied on points with the likes of Nicaragua, Lithuania and Estonia. India is thus set for its best ranking since May ‘96, when it was ranked 101st. The leap is nothing short of miraculous as even two years ago, FIFA’s March 2015 rankings had India at 173.
While the exact ranking cannot be confirmed, it is very likely that the Indian football team will have a rank between 101 and 106. Bolivia’s victory over Argentina means the side will occupy the 100th spot in the April rankings. The latest result against Myanmar is another one to add to India’s ever growing list of victories. This was its first win over the host on its home soil in 64 years. The win comes hot on the heels of a brilliant 3-2 win against Cambodia in an international friendly, the team’s first away win in over 12 years. With six wins on the trot things are looking up for the national team under new coach Stephen Constantine.
The points now would be good enough for the 106th spot, currently occupied by Mauritania. The final spot would of course be determined by the results from the other teams around India. Another eye grabbing stat is that Indian Captain Sunil Chhetri is now joint fourth in the list of top goals scorers among active players. The list of highest goal scorers among active players for their country is led by Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo with 71 goals followed by Argentina’s Lionel Messi with 58, Clint Dempsey of USA with 56 and England captain Wayne Rooney and Chetri joint at number four with 53 goals.
Team India next plays an international friendly against Lebanon on June 7 which will be followed by an AFC Asia Cup qualifier against Kyrgyz Republic on June 13. Two positive results in these matches could help India to a double digit ranking.