ENGLAND will leap back to third in the Fifa world rankings next month – despite only drawing in North Macedonia.

Gareth Southgate’s side are now back to equalling the Three Lions’ highest place in the rankings since they were introduced by Fifa in 1992.

England were fourth going into this month’s final Euro 2024 qualifier but jumped over Brazil – who dropped to fifth after losing to both Colombia and Argentina in their World Cup qualifying games.

Lionel Messi’s world champions retain top spot ahead of France but England are now within 45 ranking points of Les Bleus and a further 10 adrift of Argentina.

Southgate has publicly targeted top spot for the first time as a signal of England’s stature in the game.

England briefly reached third off the back of the delayed Euro 2020 final in the September 2021 ranking.

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They also reached that position for two months in 2012 under Roy Hodgson before dropping as low as 20th within two years.

Southgate inherited a side which stood 12th in 2016 but England have been a permanent presence in the top six since the 2018 World Cup run to the semi-finals.

However, fans were left baffled by their return to third place after an uninspiring 2-0 win over Malta and a 1-1 draw with North Macedonia.

One said: "This ranking is literally pointless. Pointless in the sense it makes no sense. At all."

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While another simply replied: "Lol what?!"

Brazil and Belgium, who moved above the South Americans into fourth and just two points behind England, will be the next opponents for Southgate’s men in back-to-back Wembley friendlies in March.

Of the other Home Nations, Wales drop one place to 29th, Scotland are down two to 36th and Northern Ireland up three to 72nd.

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