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Published 17:33 20 Jun 2026 BST
Updated 18:21 20 Jun 2026 BST

While yes, we are very much aware that the World Cup is a tournament competition, there is just something so satisfying about putting all the teams into ranking order based on their historical performances at the World Cup.
Of course, there remains only one ranking that matters - how many World Cups each nation has won.
However, not everyone is so lucky to have either had a football team when only 13 teams were competing (1930,1950) or have a super talented pool of highly fettled athletes like in 2026.
So, for some, it's just nice to see where their country would rank if every win at the World Cup was worth three points - including knockout games.
Luckily for us, this table exists and we can crown the most prolific World Cup nation - and let's just say the top five is no surprise, and it doesn't include England!
Matches that went to extra time are counted as draws.
Maradona in 1986. Credit: Getty.
As the nation of Maradona and Messi, it comes as no surprise that three-time winners Argentina are third on this list.
Playing in the competition since its inception in 1930, La Albiceleste have made 19 tournament appearances and have only missed four of them.
They've played 89 matches, won 48 games, drawn 17, lost 24 with a goal difference of 54.
In total they've collected the equivalent of 161 points.
Germany in 2014. Credit: Getty.
Never write off the Germans.
Germany make it into this one in second place, no surprise seeing as they've won the whole thing four times.
They've made 21 appearances (including West Germany), missing out just twice - 1930 because they didn't enter and 1950 because they were banned due to World War Two.
They've played 113 matches, won 69 games, drawn 21, lost 23 with a goal difference of 108.
In total they've racked up the equivalent of 228 points.
You could see this one coming a mile off.
The nation most associated with World Cup football. The five-time winners. Pelé, Joga Bonito, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and absolute samba.
They've played 116 matches, won 77 games, drawn 20, lost 19 with a goal difference of 132.
They sit 23 points clear at the top of the table with 251 points.
England have had some rollercoaster World Cups. Credit Getty.
In a fashion very much indicative of England's World Cup fortunes, the Three Lions sit just outside the top five - a top 5 who have all won the World Cup on multiple occasions.
To be fair to England, this isn't too bad of a record seeing as they didn't even bother with the World Cup until 1950, believing themselves to be better than FIFA and also disagreeing over the professional status of footballers.
In fact, a little fun titbit, England played Italy in the first match after Gli Azzurri had won the 1934 edition with the game dubbed 'The Battle of Highbury'.
Journalists in England called the match the 'real World Cup final' with England winning 3-2.
So, if you think about it, England have two World Cup wins! - Just don't think about it too hard.
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