England go to Qatar 2022 with the highest-valued squad; worth €1.26 billion. Eight more teams, meanwhile, exceed the €500 million mark. After the 32 participating nations announced their final 26 man squads for the tournament, SportingPedia decided to calculate the market value of each one. There are exactly nine teams valued at over half a billion euros, and – remarkably – three of them surpass the €1 billion mark too.
Three Lions manager, Gareth Southgate, seems to have assembled the most expensive team participating in Qatar. The 26 men selected by Southgate to represent England are valued at €1.26 billion. Only two other nations have a squad exceeding the €1 billion mark. They are the reigning World Champions from France and the record five-time tournament winners from Brazil.
So, nine of the teams in Qatar are valued at over €500 million. Besides England, France and Brazil, who are the others? Well, they are Portugal, Spain, Germany, Argentina, Netherlands, and Belgium. And here’s why…
1. England (€1,260M)
The captain of the Three Lions, Harry Kane, rose through the Tottenham youth system. Now, he’s worth an estimated €90 million. Elsewhere, Manchester City midfielder Phil Foden is valued at €110 million; the squad’s most valuable player. Jude Bellingham of Borussia Dortmund is the only other player in the England squad to have a value of €100 million.
Of the three, only Bellingham has moved clubs during his career. But, with solid displays and a deep run till the later stages of the tournament, those numbers might skyrocket. It all depends on the individual performances of the players.
2. Brazil (€1,137 million)
Tite has assembled the second-most expensive squad for Qatar 2022. Led by Real Madrid speedster Vinicius Junior, the Selecao team has a combined value of €1.137 billion. At an estimated €120 million, Vini Junior is the most expensive Brazilian player at the World Cup. Next is his club teammate Rodrigo Goes, who has a value of €80 million. Neymar rounds off the top three with a €75 million valuation.
3. France (€1,066 million)
France completes the top three; its squad valued at €1.066 billion. Despite being able to call up 26 players, Didier Deschamps opted to go with 25 in Qatar. That means the team’s total value could have been higher. Kylian Mbappe is not only the player with the highest market value of the French squad, but the entire world. The Parisian’s estimate is €160 million. The next most valuable footballers are Aurelian Tchouameni and Christopher Nkunku, both of whom are valued at €80 million.
4. Portugal (€923 million)
Fernando Santos and Portugal have the fourth-most expensive team at Qatar 2022 – €923 million. Cristiano Ronaldo is with the team, but his value has collapsed in recent years. This is mainly due to his progressing age; CR7 now having a value of just €20 million. Bernardo Silva is the Portuguese player with the highest market value at €80 million. In fact, all of the highest valued Portuguese players play in Manchester. Both Bruno Fernandes of United and Ruben Dias of City are valued at €75 million.
5. Spain (€902 million)
Spain will have the youngest squad of all 32 participants in Qatar 2022. They also rank as the fifth-most expensive selection going to the World Cup. Barcelona’s Pedri has the highest price tag of all 26 Spanish players at €100 million. All three of the nation’s most expensive players are midfielders too; Pedri’s club teammate and recent Kopa winner for the best young player in Europe, Gavi, coming in second with a valuation of €90 million. Rodri of Manchester City, meanwhile, is third with an estimated market value of €80 million.
6. Germany (€873.5 million)
Hansi Flick will lead the sixth-most expensive squad at Qatar 2022. The Germans have a value of €873.5 million. And Bayern Munich’s teen sensation Jamal Musiala is the player priced the most at €100 million. Bayern teammates Joshua Kimmich (€80 million) and Leroy Sane (€70 million) round off the top three the most expensive players in the German set-up.
7. Argentina (€633.2 million)
Argentina are seventh by market value. Lionel Messi and his countrymen have a combined value of €633.2 million. Lautaro Martinez is the man with the highest price; his services commanding €75 million. Messi, winner of the Ballon d’Or for a record seven times, is valued at €50 million. So too is Manchester United’s new centre back, Lisandro Martinez.
8. Netherlands (€587.25 million)
At €587.25 million, the Netherlands team comes eight in the ranking for most expensive squads. Bayern Munich’s defender Matthijs de Ligt is the highest-valued player in the Louis van Gaal squad (€70 million). Frenkie de Jong and Virgil van Dijk join him as the most expensive Dutch players; both with an estimated price of €50 million.
9. Belgium (€578.2 million)
Belgium is the last team to surpass the €500 million barrier. The Red Devils’ total value reaches €578.2 million. At the top of this pile is Manchester City playmaker Kevin de Bruyne – along with Inter striker Romelu Lukaku and Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. In terms of the numbers, the three have an estimated value of €80, €70 and €60 million respectively.
