The CIES Football Observatory has published a new report updating the market values of the 100 most valuable footballers in the European leagues, with FC Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal leading the list with a market value of €402.3 million.
The latest ranking, coming after the conclusion of all domestic and continental competitions, reveals that six of the ten most valuable players in the world currently play in LALIGA. In just one year, he has exponentially increased his value to reach the very top of this prestigious list.
The report does not base its ranking solely on sporting performance, but rather on an algorithm that combines variables such as age, contract duration, recent performance, international status, growth potential, contract situation, and league level. In that regard, Lamine ticks every box: youth, potential, quality playing time, global visibility, and now, long-term commitment to an elite club until the early 2030s. For these reasons, the CIES considers the FC Barcelona winger to be currently the most important figure in European football.
Erling Haaland ranks second with a value of €239.6 million, followed closely by Jude Bellingham (€233.8 million), who previously topped this list but remains on the podium of the world’s most valuable players. Kylian Mbappé is fourth at €192.5 million, after winning the Golden Boot, while Jamal Musiala completes the top five with €154.8 million.
Three of the top five players belong to LALIGA EA SPORTS, and three more appear in the top ten. Pedri and Vini Jr. are sixth and seventh, valued at €143.7 and €130.4 million respectively. Julián Álvarez ranks ninth with a value of €126 million. Cole Palmer is eighth (€126.5 million) and Florian Wirtz rounds out the top ten (€122.3 million).
LALIGA remains the league of stars
Among the top ten most valuable players in the world, six play in LALIGA EA SPORTS. Expanding the scope to the top twenty, the Spanish league contributes eight players, meaning over 50% representation compared to other major European leagues. Among the world’s top 50, 15 LALIGA players are listed, and the number rises to 19 in the top 100.
Of the top seven in the ranking, only Haaland and Musiala do not play in LALIGA EA SPORTS. The remaining five—Lamine Yamal, Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Pedri, and Vini Jr.—all compete in the Spanish domestic championship. In terms of positions, Pau Cubarsí is the most valuable defender in Europe, Bellingham and Pedri top the midfield rankings, Lamine is the most valuable winger, and Mbappé is the second-most valuable striker, just behind Manchester City’s Norwegian frontman.
These market values are backed by on-field performance: Mbappé won the Golden Boot, Lamine Yamal is among Europe’s top assist providers, Raphinha finished as top scorer in the UEFA Champions League, and Pedri registered the best midfield statistics of the season.
These achievements reaffirm that LALIGA EA SPORTS is once again the competition where the majority of the world’s footballing stars play.
