Lamine Yamal, Vinicius, and Erling Haaland included, but no Kylian Mbappe: Soccer’s most valuable XI sees major shift with Real Madrid star absent
The global soccer market has spoken again, and its message is both familiar and unsettling. In a landscape increasingly shaped by age curves, projection, and resale logic, reputations alone no longer guarantee a place at the very top. The latest update has produced a striking new picture: Vinicius Junior, Lamine Yamal, and Erling Haaland all make the cut—yet Kylian Mbappe does not. At first glance, it feels counterintuitive. Mbappe remains one of the most devastating forwards in the world, while the trio dominates for their respective clubs.
With Transfermarkt completing its winter evaluation across Europe’s top five leagues, a full recalibration of player values has emerged. Those numbers allow for a theoretical exercise: assembling a starting XI made up exclusively of the most valuable players in the world, chosen strictly by natural position. The rules are simple but ruthless. Players are selected based on their preferred role, and when two players share the same valuation, the younger profile gets priority. That single criterion explains much of what follows—and why some global superstars are left watching from the sidelines.
The combined value of the world’s most expensive starting XI now sits at $1.49 billion, a figure that reflects not only quality but projection. Between the posts stands Gianluigi Donnarumma, valued at $49 million. Still in his mid-20s, the goalkeeper remains one of the few “veteran” profiles in a squad otherwise tilted toward youth.
The back line tells a clear story: age and ceiling trump reputation. At full-back, Achraf Hakimi ($88 million) and Nuno Mendes ($82 million) represent the modern prototype—elite athletes who can dominate both phases of the game. In central defense, William Saliba leads the way at $99 million, partnered by Pau Cubarsi at $88 million. The exclusion of older elite defenders underlines how strongly the market now values composure, build-up ability, and long-term upside.
The midfield that defines the era and the new trident up front
The heart of this XI is where modern soccer’s economy becomes most obvious. Jude Bellingham sits at the center with a valuation of $176 million, embodying leadership, physical dominance, and versatility. Alongside him is Pedri, valued at $154 million, whose intelligence and control make him priceless in possession-based systems.
Ahead of them operates Jamal Musiala at $143 million, bridging creativity and directness in a role the modern game increasingly prizes. This trio alone accounts for $473 million, a reminder that midfielders who can dictate tempo and transition are now soccer’s most valuable currency.
The attack is where the statement becomes impossible to ignore. Leading the line is Erling Haaland, valued at $220 million. He remains the blueprint for the modern striker: physical, relentless, and statistically inevitable. To his left, Vinicius checks in at $165 million, no longer priced for flair alone but for end product, Champions League pedigree, and decisive moments.
On the right, the most eye-catching inclusion of all: Lamine Yamal, valued at $220 million. Still a teenager, His presence signals a dramatic shift in market behavior—future dominance is being priced now, not later.
The Mbappe question: Why he misses out
The absence of Kylian Mbappe is the defining talking point. Importantly, this is not a judgment on talent. Mbappe shares the same $220 million valuation as Haaland and Yamal. So why is he excluded? The answer lies in market mechanics. As per Transfermarkt, age matters more than legacy, which is why younger profiles with equal value are prioritized.
There is also the resale trajectory, which influences valuation rankings. At 26, Mbappe remains in his prime—but the market now favors players whose peak years still lie ahead. It is a subtle but powerful signal about how soccer’s economy is evolving.