The world’s most valuable footballers: which Argentinians make the list | OneFootball

The CIES Observatory report placed Lamine Yamal at the top of the global valuation. He holds a record figure that distances him from Haaland and Mbappé, redefining the economic map of football.

The global football market was shaken by the publication of the latest CIES Football Observatory report, which valued Lamine Yamal at €343 million, an unprecedented figure. At just 18 years old, the Barcelona forward not only became the most expensive player on the planet but also tripled the average valuation of players under 20, far surpassing established figures like Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé.

The precocity of the Blaugrana winger further enhances the impact of the data. Yamal debuted in the first team in April 2023, at just 15 years old, and since then has established himself as an undisputed figure and MVP of the Catalan team. Under the leadership of Hansi Flick, his influence on and off the field has grown exponentially. CIES itself defines him as a player “destined to mark an era”, a projection also reflected in the media: he recently launched a YouTube channel that surpassed a million subscribers in a few days.

The Top 10 of the most valuable footballers confirms the dominance of the big European clubs. Real Madrid places three names among the top ten (Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Arda Güler), while Barcelona appears with Yamal at the top and Pedri González closing the list. Paris Saint-Germain is also present with Désiré Doué and João Neves, consolidating the hegemony of continental powers in terms of market value.

The Argentinian presence in the ranking is significant. Julián Álvarez, now at Atlético de Madrid, ranks 11th globally, followed by Lautaro Martínez (Inter) and Enzo Fernández (Chelsea). Further back are Franco Mastantuono, Alejandro Garnacho, and Giuliano Simeone, reflecting the vitality and projection of Argentinian talent on the international stage.

Outside the five major leagues, the highest-valued player is Brazilian Vitor Roque, currently at Palmeiras, accompanied by Samu Aghehowa (Porto) and Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP), the latter already transferred to Chelsea. Conversely, one of the most striking data points of the report is the absence of Ousmane Dembélé, the current Ballon d'Or winner and world champion with PSG, who was left out of the Top 100 due to his injury history and the competitive inconsistency of the last season.

Comparisons with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo inevitably arise, although Yamal himself makes a point of distancing himself. “I play for people to enjoy,” he recently stated, making it clear that his goal is to forge his own path. With record figures, unlimited projection, and an impact that transcends sports, Lamine Yamal is no longer just a promise: he is the new benchmark in world football.

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This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.