The CIES Football Observatory (Centre International d'Etude du Sport) has estimated the market value of all the players called up to play in the 2022 World Cup, which will start in Qatar this Sunday, November 20.
In its latest report, the CIES reveals that by adding the value of the 831 players expected at the World Cup, we reach the astronomical bar of 15 billion euros.
That is an average value of €18 million per player.
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The CIES also ranked the 32 countries qualified for the World Cup according to the transfer value of their group of players.
Thus, England has the most expensive quota, with a total of 1.499 billion euros.
Brazil (1.455 billion) and France (1.337 billion) complete the podium.
Note that Spain, Portugal and Germany also exceed one billion, before a first gap widens with the 7th nation, the Netherlands, whose quota is estimated at 756 million euros.
Bellingham most expensive player, Mbappé on the podium
As for the players, it is the English midfielder of Borussia Dortmund, Jude Bellingham, who sits at the top.
The CIES estimates it at €202 million.
This is explained by his level of play, his age (19 years old) and his contract in Dortmund (until 2025).
The Brazilian striker of Real Madrid, Vinicius, is hot on his heels (200 M€).
Kylian Mbappé, linked to PSG “only” until 2024, is the most expensive Frenchman, valued at 185 M€.
Some players, like Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, are not taken into account because they are absent from the World Cup.
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For the rest of the ranking, it is interesting to see that the first African nations are Senegal and Morocco, whose groups are estimated at €315m.
Behind, in 17th place is the first Asian selection, that of Japan, with 205 M€.
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Finally, the good last in the ranking is Costa Rica, valued at 23 M€.
His most expensive player would be PSG substitute goalkeeper Keylor Navas (35, €4m).
This does not reflect the Fifa ranking where Costa Rica is 31st.
As an example, Ghana, the worst-ranked country (61st) among World Cup participants, ranks 19th in the CIES transfer value rankings.
Proof that money is not everything in football.