Real Madrid boast five of the 15 most valuable players in football as of November, with their three most expensive assets costing €200 million or more.
- CIES published their latest figures for the most valuable players in football, as of November 2023
- Real Madrid have five players in the top 15
- Barcelona’s 2004-born Gavi is the youngest player in the top 10
Most Valuable Players in Football
The following list is courtesy of the CIES Football Observatory, and takes into account estimated values, remaining contract lengths and age – this is the most up-to-date version of their most valuable players report.
=3. Gabriel Martinelli (€150 million)
It is often easy to forget just how rare it is to witness a rise to prominence like Gabriel Martinelli’s.
Arriving on English shores as a little-known, incredibly raw but undoubtedly promising 18-year-old, he has blossomed under the guidance of Mikel Arteta.
Arsenal paid just £6 million for his signature in the summer of 2019, and 146 appearances later he is now listed as one of the most valuable forwards in world football. After enjoying his most productive season yet in Arsenal’s oh-so-nearly title charge last year – scoring a club-leading 15 goals – his market value has tripled.
Along with a long-term contract that currently ties him down until the summer of 2027, Martinelli’s true market valuation stands at €150 million according to CIES.
=3. Julian Alvarez (€150 million)
Speaking of shrewd pick-ups from South America, Manchester City‘s own Julian Alvarez has seen his stock rise immeasurably following one of the most decorated individual seasons of all time.
Not only did he lend a helping hand in City’s historic treble in his first season, but mid-way through the year he jetted off to Qatar to play a starring role in Argentina’s third World Cup win. In doing so he became the first player ever to achieve a continental treble and become a world champion in the same year.
A hugely fruitful year for the 23-year-old stretched his personal haul to 12 trophies, all of which have come in different competitions. He has continued where he left off last year, and has managed to benefit from Kevin De Bruyne’s long-term injury by featuring for the full 90 in eight of Manchester City’s 13 Premier League games this term.
14 goal involvements in 20 games in the process is testament to his growing influence, and with a contract that doesn’t expire for another four-and-a-half year, it is no surprise to see him make this list.
=3. Jamal Musiala (€150 million)
Jamal Musiala broke every England fan’s heart when he opted to represent Germany at international level. Since then, the former Chelsea youth product has proven himself to be one of finest technicians in Europe.
On average the 20-year-old registers around six successful dribbles per-game; his willingness to take people on is becoming an increasing rarity in the modern game.
In what is undoubtedly his most redeeming quality, his close control was on full display at last winter’s World Cup, where he was a shining light in an otherwise dismal tournament for Germany, completing 12 dribbles alone against Costa Rica – the most ever in the competition by a teenager.
Musiala already recreated Messi’s Ankara goalpic.twitter.com/AB4UcWnY9e https://t.co/P5TgeCSb9F
— Slixx🇧🇦🇱🇺 (@KingsleyEra) November 28, 2023
Now bridging the gap between the midfield and Bayern Munich’s shiny new recruit Harry Kane, Musiala has continued to impress this season in between sporadic injury problems.
Bayern will be eager to offer him an improved contract, with his current one ending after the 2025/26 season.
=3. Phil Foden (€150 million)
With Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City looking far more direct in attacking phases this year, Phil Foden has excelled in a fast and furious set-up.
Particularly in the Champions League, the England international has shone on the biggest stage of them all, scoring or assisting in all but one of their five games up to this point.
Now 23, the hope for Foden is he can begin to take up more of the mantle in terms of output and lock down a permanent role in the forward line, which appears to be what Guardiola leaning towards at this moment in time.
112 goals and assists at his age is staggering record for a player who largely operates as a creative midfielder.
=3. Gavi (€150 million)
The recent tear to Gavi‘s ACL left the Barcelona teenager in visible discomfort, and it couldn’t have come at a more unfortunate time in terms of his development.
That unfortunate chapter whilst away on international duty for Spain – with whom he already has 27 caps at just 19 – means he is ruled out for at least the next seven-to-10 months after undergoing surgery.
Nevertheless, the 2022 Kopa Trophy recipient has made quite the impact in his formative years, breaking the record for youngest player and goalscorer for the Spanish national team prior to teammate Lamine Yamal‘s record-setting 2023.
There is plenty more to come from one of La Masia’s finest products in recent years, and we hope to see him back sooner than expected.
=2. Kylian Mbappe (€200 million)
It goes without saying that one of only two players to score hat-trick in a World Cup can expect to find themselves in this list.
Even with less than a year left on his current contract, CIES value him at €200 million with all things considered. Whether he will continue his turbulent relationship with PSG beyond next summer is unclear, given he has performed multiple U-turns when it looked almost certain he would leave for Real Madrid.
Nothing reflects his star quality more than 339 goal involvements in 277 appearances for the Parisians – a quite astonishing feat. He is also just 10 behind Olivier Giroud in France’s all-time record scorers list.
=2. Bukayo Saka (€200 milllion)
There are simply not enough superlatives to describe Bukayo Saka. At 22 he is already one of the most effective wingers in the world and is backed by his own manager Mikel Arteta to win the Ballon D’or one day.
Double figures for goals and assists last term, all the while carried out with an infectious personality, has quickly made him one of the Premier League’s most likeable and widely-appreciated players.
Bukayo Saka hadn’t played a game in the UEFA Champions League three months ago.
Now after five group stage matches, he sits alone at the top for goal contributions in the competition so far this season.
Starboy is shining. 💫 #afc pic.twitter.com/ynp0pymUbU
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) November 30, 2023
There appears to be no ceiling for arguably Arsenal’s best player, who recently signed a new contract to remain in North London for the next three seasons at least.
=2. Rodrygo (€200 million)
The first of four Real Madrid players in the top 10 most valuable players in football, Rodrygo’s inherent knack of scoring crucial, match-saving goals has earned him the apt nickname of ‘Mr Clutch.’
He has quickly dispelled any doubts over his consistency in the league last year, clocking in with nine goal contributions in his last four appearances since agreeing to a lucrative contract the extension at the beginning of November.
Having single-handedly pulled Los Blancos through some strenuous Champions League ties to lift the trophy in 2021/22, the Brazilian continues to endear himself to the Bernabeu faithful.
=2. Jude Bellingham (€200 million)
It simply can not be understated just how mesmerising Jude Bellingham‘s start to life at Real Madrid has been.
Just three years ago, Birmingham-born Bellingham was impressing for his boyhood club in the Championship. Fast-forward to now, and he has 15 goals in 16 goals appearances since making the switch to the Spanish capital, breaking Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring record in his first 15 games at the club.
Do not be surprised to see this valuation skyrocket even more, with the Englishman widely-favoured to win the 2024 Ballon D’or across UK betting sites. The possibility of a club treble, along with international success at next summer’s Euro means there is plenty of chances for Bellingham to register his first career silverware.
=1. Vinicius Junior (€250 million)
Although Jude Bellingham has snatched all the headlines in Madrid as of late, Vinicius Jr continues to rack up the impressive numbers we have come to expect.
10 goal contributions in 13 appearances is a continuation of the 44 he clocked in with across 2022/23, which earned him a bumper new contract in October that will extend his already-five year stay at Los Blanos to 2027.
Even in the face adversity, the Brazilian has endured abhorrent abuse and preserved to become La Liga‘s most effective forward.
=1. Erling Haaland (€250 million)
If you’ve made it this far, there is only one name that could possibly be right up there alongside Vinicius as the joint-most valuable player in football.
Goalscoring records are getting eaten up by Erling Haaland like some sort of goal-hungry Pac-Man. After breaking both Mohamed Salah’s 32-game record and Alan Shearer’s/Andy Cole’s jointly-shared 36-game total last season, he has raced to 50 Premier League goals in just 48 games – which of course is a new record.
Fastest players to 50 goals in Europe’s top 5 leagues in the 21st Century:
• Erling Haaland – 48 games – Premier League
• Erling Haaland – 50 games – Bundesliga
• Cristiano Ronaldo – 51 games – La Liga
• Neymar Jr – 58 games – Ligue 1
• Luis Suarez – 59 games – La Liga
•… pic.twitter.com/6KblHdAhKI— Abdul 🈴 (@bagofnuts_) November 30, 2023
The Norwegian has already claimed the biggest prize in club football in his first season at Manchester City, and his exceptional record – 40 goals in 35 appearances – has continued into this current Champions League campaign.
Both he and his father have not shied away from admitting new challenges may await further afield in the future, but for now last season’s treble winners have him until the summer of 2027.
Top 15 Most Valuable Players in Football
- Eduardo Camavinga – €100m
- Marcus Rashford – €100m
- Pedri – €100m
- Fede Valverde – €100m
- Gabriel Martinelli – €150m
- Julian Alvarez – €150m
- Jamal Musiala – €150m
- Phil Foden – €150m
- Gavi – €100m
- Kylian Mbappe – €200m
- Bukayo Saka – €200m
- Rodrygo – €200m
- Jude Bellingham – €200m
- Vinicius Jr – €250m
- Erling Haaland – €250m
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