Yamal ranks ahead of Mbappe, Haaland as world's most valuable player (2026)

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has been ranked the most valuable footballer in the world in the latest CIES Football Observatory valuation released for January. 

CIES ranked Yamal as the most valuable player in the world, with an estimated market value of €343.1 million, well ahead of second-placed Erling Haaland (€255.1 million) of Manchester City and Kylian Mbappé (€201.3 million) of Real Madrid.

At just 18 years old, Yamal’s valuation dwarfs many established stars and reflects his exceptional impact at FC Barcelona, where he has steadily risen in profile since emerging from La Masia.

He played a central role in the club’s 2024/25 LaLiga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup success, while also starring for Spain internationally, winning the European Championship in the summer of 2024. 

CIES, part of the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) and renowned for its data-driven statistical models that factor in age, performance, contract length, consistency and long-term potential in calculating market values, placed Yamal comfortably above the rest of world football in this comprehensive ranking.

The CIES Football Observatory employs an advanced statistical methodology that combines on-field performance metrics, age, contractual situation, club influence, and future projection to estimate each player’s market value, rather than relying solely on transfer fees.

It is widely followed by clubs and analysts as an objective measure of a player’s standing and worth. While Yamal, Haaland and Mbappe hold the top three spots, the rest of the top 10 include Jude Bellingham (4th, €153.1 million), Michael Olise (5th, €136.9 million), Florian Wirtz (6th, €135.8 million), Désiré Doué (7th, €134.6 million), João Neves (8th, €130.6 million), Arda Güler (9th, €130.3 million) and Pedri (10th, €130 million).