[Saba Sports News] All 48 participating nations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico have finalised their 26-man squads. Transfermarkt has compiled the tournament’s player market value rankings, with Spain’s Lamine Yamal, Norway’s Erling Haaland and France’s Kylian Mbappé sitting joint-top at €200 million apiece.
Notably, four players valued above €100 million by Transfermarkt will miss out on this World Cup. They include Georgian international Khvicha Kvaratskhelia (€140 million), England’s Chris Palmer (€110 million, overlooked for England’s squad), Spain’s Fermín López (€100 million, ruled out through injury) and Hungary’s Dominik Szoboszlai (€100 million).
By club affiliation, four of the top ten ranked players represent Real Madrid: Mbappé, Vinicius Júnior (€150 million), Jude Bellingham (€140 million) and Ernesto Valverde (€120 million). In total, 18 players on the full list carry a market valuation of €100 million or higher.
In my view, compiled by Transfermarkt and other institutions based on market statistics, the 2026 World Cup player value list reflects expected transfer prices rather than predictions of tournament success or genuine on-pitch ability. Its primary value lies in highlighting generational shifts within football and financial investment in young talent, rejecting the simplistic notion that higher market value equates to championship triumphs.