The new FIFA men's rankings see the Three Lions climb up to third place for the first time since September 2012 and their highest position since the way the rankings were calculated was changed in 2018.
Another good international week for Gareth Southgate's side, with seven points taken from their three World Cup qualifiers, sees them edge ahead of France in the ratings.
The rankings have always been a source of some scepticism but England's third place now comes off the back of a World Cup semi-final, progress to the final stages of the Nations League and this summer's runners-up medal at Euro 2020, a hugely solid body of work from Southgate that he will hope to at least emulate in next year's World Cup.
Go back to September 2012 and even the most ardent of England supporters would find it hard to argue they were the third-best team in the world, coming off the back of a chastening defeat at the hands of Italy at Euro 2012.