The Maltese national football team has fallen to an inglorious 190^th place in the FIFA World rankings, with only 10 other nations featuring in a lower position.

The FIFA rankings published today put Malta in 190^th place, ironically just one place better than the worst ever position of 191^st registered last month.

Malta has the same points as Liechtenstein, and the only other European nations below are San Marino and Gibraltar.

The Maltese national side has been in a steady decline over the past months. Between March and June Malta was in 182^nd position. Malta had ended 2016 in 183^rd place, down from 162^nd in 2015, 147^th in 2014 and 132^nd in 2013.

Malta’s best ever position was 66^th in 1993.

Brazil is back on top of the FIFA rankings, replacing World Cup holder Germany.

Brazil hasn't played a game since June, while Germany was last in action a month ago when it beat Chile to collect the Confederations Cup in Russia. The FIFA rankings are based on results over a four-year period.

Argentina retained third place, Switzerland rose to fourth — its highest position since the first rankings 24 years go — and Poland moved into an all-time best fifth.

Italy are in 12th place, followed by England in 13th.