Minamino blow for Japan as Spain end 2025 atop FIFA men’s world rankings
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Spain players posing for a team photo before their World Cup qualifier against Turkey at the Estadio La Cartuja de Sevilla on Nov 18.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK – Japan international Takumi Minamino’s participation at the 2026 World Cup is in doubt after the midfielder’s club, AS Monaco, confirmed on Dec 22 that he had ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee.
The 30-year-old midfielder was injured during Monaco’s French Cup clash against Auxerre
The club did not mention when Minamino was expected to return, but the typical recovery timeline of six to nine months for an ACL injury would see the former Liverpool player miss the World Cup.
Minamino has made 73 appearances for the Samurai Blue and scored 26 international goals.
He played at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and has been an integral member of Hajime Moriyasu’s squad leading up to the next edition of the tournament.
Japan have been drawn to face the Netherlands, Tunisia and the winner of a European play-off in Group F.
The Samurai Blue are the top Asian side at 18th spot on FIFA’s world rankings, with the start of North America’s World Cup just over six months away.
Spain will head into the new year as the top-ranked team, with two of the three host countries for the 2026 tournament tightly bunched together.
The United States will end the year ranked No. 14, a rung above Mexico, while Canada are further down in 27th place.
Each of the three North American countries will play host to World Cup matches over the summer, with Mexico kicking off the tournament on June 11 against 61st-ranked South Africa in Mexico City.
The US will play their opening game against world No. 39 Paraguay in Los Angeles on June 12, the same day Canada begin their campaign in Toronto against a European play-off winner, who will be determined in March.
Reigning World Cup champions Argentina are second in the rankings while France, runners-up at the last edition in 2022, are third.
England and Brazil complete the top five, followed by Portugal, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany and Croatia in that order. The top 10 were unchanged from November’s rankings.
Morocco have created plenty of buzz heading into the World Cup year and will begin 2026 one spot outside the top 10.
Singapore rose three spots to 148th, their highest position in nearly 14 years but remain sixth in the South-east Asian region behind Thailand (96th), Vietnam (107th), Malaysia (121st), Indonesia (122nd) and the Philippines (136th).
FIFA will release its next updated rankings on Jan 18.
Meanwhile, Neymar has undergone successful surgery on his knee, his club Santos said on Dec 22, as the attacker bids to get back to full fitness and earn a place in the Brazil squad for the World Cup.
The 33-year-old returned to his childhood club Santos in January and played a key role in their survival in the Brazilian top flight, playing through pain and scoring five times in their last five matches.
In a statement on Dec 22, Santos said the surgery was performed by the Brazilian national team’s doctor Rodrigo Lasmar.
“An arthroscopy was performed to treat a medial meniscus injury. The surgery was a success, and the athlete is doing well,” the club added.
Santos did not provide a timeline for his return, though Brazilian news outlet Globo Esporte reported that his recovery would take up to a month.
Neymar, Brazil’s leading scorer with 79 goals, has not featured for the five-time World Cup winners since 2023 due to a succession of injuries.
In October, Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said he must be fit to earn a recall to the squad for the World Cup.
Brazil are in Group C for the tournament, where they will face Scotland, Haiti and 2022 World Cup semi-finalists Morocco. REUTERS, KYODO NEWS, AFP
