The All Whites have been the big movers in the world football rankings released today.
Following Their two World Cup qualifying match wins over Oceania rivals New Caledonia recently, New Zealand slotted in at No 54, up 57 places.
European champion Spain extended its lead as the world's No 1.
Italy and Germany remain second- and third-ranked. Brazil is South America's best, climbing two places to No. 4 overall, while pushing the Netherlands and Croatia down a place each. Argentina remains seventh.
The one change in the top 10 nations has Russia returning at No 9 at the expense of fellow Euro 2008 semifinalist Turkey, which drops three places to No 13.
The two traded places in the elite group last month.
Cameroon continues to rise as the leading African nation, climbing two places to No 12, two places above England.
Israel climbs three to reach its best-ever ranking of No.16.
The United States is once more best among CONCACAF countries, climbing seven places to No.21, while Mexico holds steady at No.24.
Japan leads the Asian Confederation at No.32.
Other nations rising to best-ever placings were Lithuania, up 17 places to No.37, and Macedonia, up 10 to No 46 after beating Scotland in a World Cup qualifier. The Scots suffered the biggestdrop in status among leading nations, down 10 places to No 26.
A total of 125 international matches played in the past month, including 106 qualifiers for the 2010 World Cup finals in SouthAfrica, counted toward the rankings.
The next standings are due Nov 12.
