In its weekly letter, the CIES Football Observatory places Lamine Yamal on the throne of the most highly valued players on the planet. The FC Barcelona winger is estimated at 343.1 million euros.
The Spanish international is well ahead of the Norwegian Erling Haaland (255 million) and the Frenchman Kylian Mbappé (201 million). Paris Saint-Germain’s first player, Désiré Doué, comes seventh in this hierarchy.
The market now enormously rewards youth and projection. This explains why Lamine Yamal arrives well ahead of more accomplished players like his pursuers. At 18 years old, already with star status in a big club and a long contract, the native of Esplugues de Llobregat combines all the factors that make the value of a football player explode.
Top 10 most valued players according to CIES
1-Lamine Yamal — €343.1 million
2-Erling Haaland — €255.1 million
3-Kylian Mbappé — €201.3 million
4-Jude Bellingham — €153.1 million
5-Michael Olise — €136.9 million
6-Florian Wirtz — €135.8 million
7-Désiré Doué — €134.6 million
8-João Neves — €130.6 million
9-Arda Güler — €130.3 million
10-Pedri — €130 million
This ranking confirms the market’s shift towards creative and versatile profiles. Attacking midfielders and young wingers are widely represented. Conversely, even very high-level defenders or goalkeepers rarely achieve the same valuations. Indeed, the market is more favorable to players capable of stringing together goals and assists.
