Surprise World Cup quarter-finalists Costa Rica have moved into the top 20 of the FIFA world rankings for the first time ever, occupying 16th place following a stellar performance at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.

Costa Rica had been drawn alongside former world champions Italy, Uruguay and England at the World Cup yet shocked the world to finish top of the group without defeat.

The Central Americans went on to beat Greece in the second round via penalties before succumbing to the Netherlands in a quarter-final match decided on penalties after a goalless 120 minutes.

World champions Germany meanwhile now lead the world rankings ahead of Argentina and Netherlands while 2014 World Cup hosts Brazil and former world champions Spain fell few places on the new rankings.

The Germans won the FIFA World Cup with a 1-0 win over Argentina after extra-time and have been rewarded with the number one position on the new rankings, displacing former world champions Spain as a result.

Spain, who disappointingly exit the World Cup from the group stage, fell seven places to eighth while host nation Brazil fell four places to seventh despite reaching the semi-finals at the World Cup.

Heavy defeats to Germany in the semi-final and to Netherlands in the third placed play-off meant Brazil was overtaken by World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia (4th), Belgium (5th) and even Uruguay that rose one place to occupy 6th position despite losing in the second round to Colombia.

Nigeria on her part rose 10 places to 34th on the rankings thanks to the Super Eagles reaching the second round at the World Cup before being knocked out by France in a 2-0 defeat.

The Super Eagles now rank third best among African nations on the rankings, behind Algeria that fell two places to occupy 24th on the world rankings and Cote D’Ivoire that dropped two places as well to occupy 25th on the rankings.

FIFA Top 10
Germany
Argentina
Netherlands
Colombia
Belgium
Uruguay
Brazil
Spain
Switzerland
France

African Top 10
Algeria (24th)
Cote D’Ivoire (25th)
Nigeria (34th)
Egypt (36th)
Ghana (38th)
Tunisia (42nd)
Guinea (51st)
Cameroun (53rd)
Burkina Faso (58th)
Mali (60th)