Lamine Yamal becomes football's most valuable player with €358m valuation
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Lamine Yamal is now CIES's most valuable footballer at €358m.
- Erling Haaland ranks second and Kylian Mbappé third.
- Youth, contract length and future potential are driving player values.
The 18-year-old winger sits comfortably at the top of the global list, more than €130 million ahead of second-placed Erling Haaland, who is valued at €227 million.
Kylian Mbappé completes the top three with an estimated value of €166 million.
CIES calculates player valuations using a sophisticated statistical model that factors in performance levels, age, contract length, sporting impact and future market potential.
By those measures, no player currently matches Yamal's profile.
Yamal's remarkable rise
The latest ranking underlines the extraordinary rise of the Barcelona academy graduate, who has rapidly established himself as one of the game's elite talents despite still being in his teens.Yamal enjoyed another outstanding campaign, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists as Barcelona secured the La Liga title.
The Spain international, already a UEFA Euro 2024 winner, is also set to appear at his first FIFA World Cup this summer.
His long-term future at Barcelona is secured by a contract running until June 2031, whilst the club have protected their prized asset with a €1 billion release clause.
The teenager's growing influence was further reflected in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, where he finished runner-up to Ousmane Dembélé.
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Whilst Yamal leads the rankings by a significant margin, Haaland remains the only other player valued above €200 million.Behind the top three, several emerging stars dominate the list, highlighting football's increasing emphasis on youth and long-term potential.
Top 10 Most Valuable Footballers (CIES Ranking)
| Rank | Player | Estimated Value |
|---|---|---|
| #1 | Lamine Yamal | €358m |
| #2 | Erling Haaland | €227m |
| #3 | Kylian Mbappé | €166m |
| #4 | Michael Olise | €141m |
| #5 | Morgan Rogers | €137m |
| #6 | Désiré Doué | €133m |
| #7 | Kenan Yildiz | €133m |
| #8 | Nico O'Reilly | €125m |
| #9 | Arda Güler | €125m |
| #10 | Pau Cubarsí | €125m |
Seven of the top 10 players are aged 23 or younger, reinforcing the growing premium clubs place on young stars with long-term contracts.
Real Madrid and Barcelona well represented
Both Spanish giants feature heavily throughout the rankings.Alongside Yamal, Barcelona place several players among the world's most valuable talents, including Pau Cubarsí (€125m), Pedri (€121m) and Fermín López (€116m).
Meanwhile, Real Madrid boast four players inside the top 20. Mbappé is joined by Arda Güler (€125m), Jude Bellingham (€120m) and Dean Huijsen (€112m).
The rankings reflect Madrid's continued strategy of assembling one of Europe's youngest elite squads whilst maintaining world-class quality.
Bellingham and Vinícius see significant drops
Not every star enjoyed an increase in value.Vinícius Júnior has fallen from seventh place in last year's rankings to 50th, with his valuation dropping to €83.5 million.
Bellingham remains among football's most valuable players but has experienced one of the sharpest declines. Having ranked third in June 2025, the England midfielder's valuation has fallen by €113 million over the past year.
Biggest winners and losers
One of the biggest success stories in the latest update is Yan Diomandé.The 19-year-old recorded the largest increase in value since January, rising by €75 million to reach €119 million. Over a 12-month period, his valuation has surged by an impressive €116 million.
At the opposite end of the scale, Alexander Isak registered the biggest drop since January, with his estimated value falling by €54 million to €41 million.
The future of football's transfer market
The latest CIES rankings offer a clear indication of where football's transfer market is heading.Whilst performances on the pitch remain crucial, clubs are increasingly willing to pay a premium for youth, development potential and long-term contractual security.
These factors can be just as valuable as proven success at the highest level.
No player represents that trend better than Yamal.
At just 18 years old, the Barcelona winger is already one of the sport's biggest stars.
According to CIES, he is now more than that. He is the most valuable footballer in the world and the most valuable player ever recorded by their valuation model.
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