Lamine Yamal Tops Global Valuation Rankings as Market Value Soars Ahead of World Cup 2026

BARCELONA — Lamine Yamal has further cemented his status as one of world football’s most exciting young talents after being ranked as the most valuable player in the game by the latest study from the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES).

According to the newly released report, the Barcelona star is valued at an estimated €358 million, placing him comfortably ahead of some of football’s biggest names. Manchester City striker Erling Haaland ranks second with a valuation of €227 million, while Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé occupies third place at approximately €166 million.

Yamal’s remarkable rise has been fueled by a breakthrough campaign that saw him emerge as a central figure in Barcelona’s success. Despite being only 18 years old, the Spanish international played a key role in helping the Catalan giants secure both the La Liga title and the Spanish Super Cup.

His individual numbers also reflected his growing influence. The forward finished the season with 24 goals, representing a significant improvement on the previous campaign and reinforcing his reputation as one of Europe’s most productive young attackers.

Barcelona’s presence in the valuation rankings extends beyond Yamal. Defender Pau Cubarsí has been valued at €124 million by CIES, making him the highest-rated centre-back in world football according to the report.

Real Madrid midfielder Arda Güler shares the same €124 million valuation and tops the rankings among players in his position. Meanwhile, Paris Saint-Germain goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma is listed as the world’s most valuable goalkeeper with an estimated market value of €79 million.

The CIES study also highlighted several notable shifts across the transfer market. Since the previous update in January, RB Leipzig winger Yan Diomande has recorded the largest increase in value, gaining an impressive €75 million.

At the other end of the spectrum, Liverpool forward Alexander Isak experienced the biggest decline, with his estimated market value falling by €54 million during the same period.

Looking at the past 12 months as a whole, Diomande remains the player with the most significant rise in value, having added €116 million to his market estimate. Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham, meanwhile, has seen the sharpest drop, with his valuation decreasing by €113 million over the course of the year.

With the 2026 FIFA World Cup approaching, Yamal’s position at the top of the valuation charts underscores both his rapid development and the growing belief that he could become one of the defining figures of the next generation of global football stars.