Portugal is the fourth most valuable team in the competition, but how much is the World Cup in Qatar worth?
If it was money that motivated FIFA to deliver its most important competition to Qatar, a country with no footballing tradition, it will be relevant to determine how much the World Cup in Qatar is worth. Although it will only be possible to ascertain the global commercial result of the 22nd edition of the world intake championship at the end of the race, which cost the State of Qatar 200 million euros, it is now possible to unravel the market value of the 32 stays and of the 832 athletes who will be in the race.
According to the Transfermarkt platform (until 8pm this Saturday), the global market value of the 32 entries amounts to 12.33 billion euros. This value should vary as the race progresses, through valuations or devaluations of the athletes in view of their sporting performance. However, on the day the world cup kicks off, the selection with the highest market value is England (1.26 million euros). Brazil (1.14 billion euros), defending champions France (1.03 billion euros) and Portugal (937 million euros) are just behind in the ranking.
The 26 chosen by Fernando Santos compete for the fourth most valuable selection in the Portuguese competition. The biggest contribution comes from Rafael Leão, whose market value today totals 85 million euros. Bernardo Silva (80 million), Bruno Fernandes (75 million euros), Rúben Dias (75 million euros) and João Cancelo (70 million euros) are the remaining athletes who made the biggest contribution to the national team’s stock exchange . The star of the company, Cristiano Ronaldo, is currently worth 20 million euros and the veteran Pepe is the least valuable of the entire squad, in terms of the market (one million euros).
closing the top 5 is in Germany. The German national team is worth 885.5 million euros, ahead of squads from Spain (877 million euros), Argentina (645.2 million euros), Netherlands (587.25 million euros), Belgium (563.2 million euros) euros) and Uruguay (449.7 million euros), which complete the top 10🇧🇷
Croatia is also highlighted. The Croatian team was the finalist at the World Cup in Russia (2018) and arrives in Qatar with a market value of 377 million euros. It is the 11th most expensive team in the 2022 World Cup.
The home team has the least valuable squad in the competition. The 26 footballers from Qatar accumulate a total market value of 14.9 million euros.
Observing each one of the more than 800 players called up for the World Cup, the top 3 of the most valuable is composed of an Englishman, a Brazilian and a Frenchman. At the top is striker Kylian Mbappé (France) who arrives at the World Cup in Qatar worth 160 million euros. Vinicius Jr follows. (Brazil), whose market value is €120 million, and Phil Foden (England), worth €110 million.
The German Jamal Musiala (100 million euros), the Spaniard Pedri (100 million euros), the English Jude Bellingham (100 million euros), the Uruguayan Fede Valverde (100 million euros), the English Harry Kane (90 million euros) and Bukayo Sako (90 million euros), and Spaniard Gavi (90 million euros), who won the Golden Boy award a month ago, completed the ranking of the ten most valuable athletes.
The 11th most valuable player to arrive in Qatar is the Portuguese Rafael Leão (85 million euros).
Proof that an athlete’s market value is less and less influenced by performance on the field is Karim Benzema. The Frenchman won the Ballon d’Or a month ago, but the player’s market value is just €35m. Such value demoted to position 109 in the list of the most valuable in this world championship.
And what about Leo Messi and CR7? At the age of 35, the footballer who has won the most Golden Balls (seven) is valued at 50 million euros. The Argentine’s market value puts him in 59th place. Cristiano Ronaldo, 37 years old, with five Golden Balls on his resume, is in 198th position (valued at 20 million euros).
The Transfermarkt platform also listed the eleven most valuable (from the start) of this World Cup. The composition of this cast will certainly be different when the test comes to an end. For now, highlight for the Portuguese Ruben Dias, who is the only Portuguese in the most valuable selection.
The most valuable eleven is made up of: Thibaut Courtois (60 million) in goal; Alexander-Arnold (70 million) at right back; Matthijs de Ligt (70 million) center back; Ruben Dias (75 million) central defender; Alphonse Davies (70 million) at left back; Phil Foden (110 million) at central midfielder; Fede Valverde (100 million) at central midfielder; Musiala (100 million) at offensive midfielder; Bukayo Sako (90 million) at right winger; Vinicius Jr. (120 million) on the far left; Mbappé (160 million) at striker. This squad totals 1,025 million euros, more than the selection of corners, the fourth most valuable at the start of the World Cup in Qatar.
Through Transfermarkt it is also possible to see that Barcelona (17), Manchester City (16), Bayern Munich (16), Al-Sadd (15) and Manchester United (14) are the most represented clubs in Qatar 2022, with into account the number of athletes from these emblems summoned by the respective sisters. Among these five clubs, Manchester City is the one that accumulates the highest market value because the 16 athletes summoned total 855 million euros. Bayern Munich (784 million), Barcelona (723 million), Manchester United (525 million) and Al-Sadd (11.48 million) follow.
The World Championship starts this Sunday. The opening game pits Qatar against Ecuador, a match scheduled for 4 pm (Lisbon time) and which will be broadcast by RTP. Portugal’s first game will be against Ghana, on the 24th of November, at 4pm, broadcast by TVI. The final of the competition is scheduled for the 18th of December.
