2 points
Correct, notice my phrasing. They were third world countries, they became global superpowers. Never even used the phrase first world country.
7 points
Okay, I can see where you are coming from, but as far as I know, the terms “first/second/third world country” originate from the cold war, where USA (+Allies?) were named first world countries, USSR was second world and the rest was third world.
The usage of “third world” as derogatory is maybe a more recent thing, but it’s kinda ironic calling an original second world country a third world country