2 days ago
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Worth a combined €1.35b
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With the Serie A market value update published on Tuesday, Transfermarkt has now completed its evaluation of every player in Europe’s top five leagues and increased or decreased player market values in line with their form, fitness and overall standing in the game at this moment in time. While those new numbers have huge implications on a number of aspects within the sport, they also allow us to take a new look at the most valuable players in the world and break down where the top stars from across Europe would fit into a starting XI. With players only picked based on their preferred position and younger players ranked higher than older players when both have the same market value, let’s see who makes it into the starting XI of the most valuable players around the globe.
Starting from the back, Manchester City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma is the selected goalkeeper with a market value of €45 million. He anchors a defensive line worth a combined €325m, featuring Paris Saint-Germain duo Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi as the full-backs, valued at €75m and €80m respectively. In the heart of the defence, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarsí (€80m) partners Arsenal’s William Saliba, who commands a market value of €90m. The most valuable defender to miss out is Inter Milan stalwart Alessandro Bastoni, who is also valued at €80m but is eight years older than Cubarsí.
Moving into the midfield, we have a traditional trio in the centre of the park of two central midfielders and one No.10 through the middle. Barcelona’s Pedri features in the centre with a valuation of €140m, slotting in alongside Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, who is valued at €160m. Operating just ahead of them in the number 10 role is Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala; the German international holds a market value of €130m, linking the midfield to a formidable front line. This dynamic trio make up the three most valuable players in the world, with Cole Palmer, Federico Valverde and Declan Rice all narrowly missing out with market values of €120m.
The attack is spearheaded by the joint-most valuable players in the world. Man City striker Erling Haaland leads the line with a valuation of €200m. He is flanked by two of the game’s most exciting wingers: Madrid’s Vinicius Jr (€150m) on the left and Barca sensation Lamine Yamal on the right. Yamal matches Haaland’s €200m valuation, cementing the attack’s status as the most expensive component of this €1.35 billion XI.The obvious absence from this XI is of course Kylian Mbappé, who shares an impressive market value of €200m with Haaland, but is two years older than the Man City striker and as such missing out on a starting spot in the team.
