What has been Malaysia's highest FIFA ranking?

Malaysia will look to improve their rankings by grabbing a win against India.

The Malaysian National team will go up against India in an international friendly in the ongoing international break. The match will be hosted at the Gachibowli Stadium in Hyderabad.

It will be India’s final assignment of the year and their best chance to get their first win of 2024 having failed to do so on ten occasions previously.

While India have struggled to put up convincing displays, Malaysia have enjoyed a much better run of form this year. The Malayan Tigers come into this game on the back of a humiliating 4-0 defeat to New Zealand in October.

They enjoyed a purple patch in September this year when they were crowned as the champions of the 2024 Merdeka Cup against the likes of Lebanon, Philippines and Chinese Taipei.

Highest FIFA ranking of Malaysia

Malaysia come into this fixture as the favorites although their FIFA ranking might not state so. They have been ranked lower than India, but are technically more capable than the Blue Tigers on the pitch.

The visitors are currently ranked 133rd in the latest FIFA rankings, eight places below hosts India. Their highest ranking to date is 75 and it dates back to 1993.

It was a period when they enjoyed a lot of regional success and were one of the best Asian sides. Malaysia’s highest ranking was the result of their dominant performances in the Merdeka Cup and various other tournaments.

ALSO READ: Indian football team’s FIFA ranking graph in 2024

However, they have experienced fluctuating rankings and have struggled to remain in the top 100 in the world.

They slipped down 42 places between 1993 and 1995 and found themselves at 117th in November 1995 before bouncing back to 84 in 1997. But, then came their downfall into the picture. Malaysia continued to drop their rankings and hit 169 in 2002.

After a few years of consolidation, they dropped down to 176th in 2016. They did bring things back on track to quite an extent in the next few months before hitting rock bottom in April 2018. 

Malaysia were ranked 178th in the World, their worst ranking to date. But, they slowly and gradually climbed up the stairs picked themselves up from the lowest of lows and saw an upward trajectory in their rankings.

Pau Marti Vicente’s men have been one of the most improved sides in International football in recent times and have jumped up 45 places in the last six years. 

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