Yamal 5th, Rodri 11th & Palmer 20th – The 100 most valuable footballers in the world

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17 players worth €100m+ 

©TM/IMAGO

As the calendar year closes, Transfermarkt released its latest market value updates in December to reward those who had started the season in exceptional form, and adjust market values for many other reasons such as age, status and availability. Several youngsters enhanced their already blossoming reputations, including the supremely talented 17-year-old Lamine Yamal and Chelsea playmaker Cole Palmer. Whilst some of the very top superstars also went up and down in value.

Barcelona starlet Yamal lit up Euro 2024 with Spain and has started the new season in fine form for Barca, earning him a +€30 million upgrade in the latest LaLiga update to take his market value to €180m, and place the teenager as the third most valuable player in the world. But which players are still ahead of Yamal? And where are other top stars ranked? We have compiled a star-studded list of the 100 most valuable players in the world right now. If players have the same market value, the younger player ranks higher.

In first place, due to being nine days younger than second place, is Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland. Back in October, the 24-year-old Norwegian rose by +€20m to a new market value of €200m, and he already has 13 Premier League goals this season. In second is the only other player currently at the €200m mark, who also received a +€20m upgrade in October, in Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior. The Brazilian has been in fine form for Los Blancos, and many felt he should have won the Ballon d’Or. Next up is now Yamal worth €180m – he beats 21-year-old Real Madrid midfielder Jude Bellingham, who also has a €180m market value. Completing the top five is Bellingham’s 25-year-old teammate Kylian Mbappé who dropped by -€20m to €160m in the latest update.

In sixth position is Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, who rose to €150m this December. Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz takes seventh place at €140m, with Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala, a few months Wirtz senior, taking eighth, also at €140m – the duo both increased their value by +€10m this December. That pair are followed by 24-year-old Man City midfielder Phil Foden, whose value dropped by -€10m to €140m. Chelsea’s Palmer completes the top 10, after a huge +€40m rise to a new value of €130m this winter. Seven other players are worth €100m+. In the list of the top 100 world MVP’s, just four players feature for clubs playing outside of Europe’s top-five leagues – Galatasaray’s on-loan striker Victor Osimhen (39th at €75m), Sporting’s Viktor Gyökeres (42nd at €75m), Palmeiras’ Estêvão (95th at €50m) and Porto’s Samu Aghehowa (96th at €50m).

As illustrated in the graphic above, when it comes to teams with the most players to feature in the current 100 world MVP’s, Barcelona lead the way with nine stars within the top 100. They are followed by Manchester City, Arsenal, and Liverpool, whom all boast eight stars on the list. Real Madrid are next with seven players, but those stars combining for the highest total market value of €930m. Chelsea and Manchester United each have six players included, while Inter have five, and Bayern Munich have four.