Euro 2024 Preview: National teams’ depth evaluated via the market value of their 10 most esteemed players

As of Tuesday, all 24 participants for Euro 2024 are set. With the football world heading into the final stage of the club season concluding in late May, the journey to the continental tournament will be full of uncertainties. History is a testament to how injuries and personal decisions can reshape team preparations, sidelining key players and prompting a reassessment of tactics. With this in mind, Sportingpedia‘s latest analysis takes a closer look at the collective value of the 10 most valuable players from the talent pool of each qualified country with the aim to showcase the wealth of talent at the national managers’ disposal. We opted for such an approach, rather than focusing on the latest international squads in order to provide a better understanding of the variety within each nation’s pool. In the latest international break England was without Ben White due to personal reasons, while Spain’s latest squad did not include Gavi and Pedri because of injuries. It is important to note, however, that the valuation of a player does not guarantee their spot in the final squad. The ultimate decision rests in the hands of the national team managers, who have to assess factors beyond a player’s market value, such as form, fitness, and tactical compatibility. One of the report’s most intriguing revelations is that England’s 10 most expensive players reach €990 million in combined valuation, falling just €10 million short of the €1 billion mark. Besides England, only 5 other countries have the luxury of having a group of 10 footballers to exceed €500 million: France (€815), Spain (€650), Portugal (€645), the hosting nation Germany (€585), and the Netherlands (€520).

Key Takeaways:

• The 10 most expensive English players reach a combined value of just under €1 billion – €990 million
• England has 5 players worth over €100 million, while Germany is the only other team with more than one
• Only 9 players from the countries qualified for Euro 2024 are currently worth over €100 million; 5 of them are English
• England can become the first team in football history to field a starting XI worth over a billion
• Netherlands, Germany, Portugal, Spain, France, and England are the only Euro 2024 participants whose 10 most expensive players exceed €500 million
• Romania is the only team whose 10 top players do not reach €100 million in collective value, standing at €64.7 million

Countries with the richest talent pools

1. England – €990 Million

The current England generation is blessed with formidable players. Their 10 highest-valued footballers reach a collective worth of €990 million. Led by captain Harry Kane, valued at €110 million, the Three Lions can rely on a blend of experience and youth. Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, valued at €180 million, and Manchester City’s Phil Foden at €130 million, are joined by Arsenal’s duo of Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, rounding off England’s quintet of players valued at €100 million or more.

2. France – €815 Million

France, with a valuation of €815 million for its 10 biggest stars, showcases a star-studded lineup led by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe, valued at an astonishing €180 million. Les Bleus boast a wealth of talent, including Real Madrid’s midfield duo of Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga, both valued at €90 million, and William Saliba, valued at €80 million.

3. Spain – €650 Million

Spain’s 10 highest-valued players boast a combined estimate of €650 million. La Furia Roja is led by Manchester City’s Rodri, valued at €110 million, and Barcelona’s young trio of Gavi, Pedri, and Lamine Yamal, who are worth €90 million, €80 million, and €75 million respectively. La Roja possesses a midfield rich in talent and creativity. With a blend of experience and emerging stars, Spain’s top 10 players will be poised to challenge the best in Europe and vie for championship honors.

4. Portugal – €645 Million

Roberto Martinez’ Portugal currently has the 4th most expensive 10 footballers, valued at €645 million euros. Cristiano Ronaldo is still part of the team, but his value has collapsed in recent years, mainly because of his progressing age, and CR7 has an estimate of just €15 million. Now, Milan’s Rafael Leao is the Portuguese player with the highest market value at €90 million. Interestingly, all of the next three highest-valued footballers are based in Manchester. Both City’s Ruben Dias and Bernardo Silva are valued at €80 million, while United’s Bruno Fernandes is worth €70 million.

5. Germany – €585 Million

Julian Nagellsmann’s Germany has the 5th most expensive set of 10 players of the countries qualified for Euro 2024, valued at €585.5 million. Besides England, die Mannschaft is the only other team to boast multiple players worth over €100 million. Jamal Musiala leads the charge with a market value of €110 million, followed by Florian Wirtz (€100 million), and Leroy Sane (€80 million).

6. Netherlands – €520 Million

At €520 million, Netherlands comes in 6th position in the ranking for the 10 most expensive players. Barcelona’s playmaker Frenkie de Jong and RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons lead the Dutch players, both having €70 million valuations, followed closely behind by Bayern Munich’s defender Matthijs de Ligt, with an estimate of €65 million.

7. Italy – €440 Million

The Italians missed the 2022 World Cup but will enter Euro 2024 with the only mission to defend their continental title from 2021. With a collective valuation of €440 million for their 10 most marketable players, the team is still far from the top but the resurgence on the international stage is evident. A trio of Inter players comes on top for the Azzurri with Nicolo Barella, Alessandro Bastoni, and Federico Dimarco being the highest valued Italians.

8. Belgium – €438 Million

The Red Devils have a combined value of €438 million for their top 10 players. Manchester City’s Jeremy Doku emerges as the squad’s most valuable asset with an estimate of €65 million. Another Manchester City player in the face of Kevin De Bruyne comes in 2nd, and Lois Openda (RB Leipzig) completes the top 3 of the highest valued Belgian players, all separated by 5 million from one another.

9. Denmark – €312 Million

Denmark’s 10 highest-valued players currently boast a combined estimate of €312 million. Manchester United’s striker Rasmus Hojlund leads the way with a market value of €65 million, ahead of two defenders, Barcelona’s Andreas Christensen, and Crystal Palace’s Joachim Andersen.

10. Ukraine – €277 Million

Ukraine has a combined valuation of €277 million for their top 10 players. Arsenal’s Oleksandr Zinchenko, with an estimate of €42 million, is the most expensive, while Chelsea’s Mykhaylo Mudryk – the hero who scored the winning goal in Ukraine’s playoff against Iceland is 2nd with a market value of €35 million. Then comes the Girona duo of Artem Dovbyk and Viktor Tsygankov.

The Others

11. Serbia €242 Million

Dusan Vlahovic; Juventus; €65 million
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic; Al-Hilal; €35 million
Aleksandar Mitrovic; Al-Hilal; €28 million

12. Croatia €237 Million

Josko Gvardiol; Manchester City; €75 million
Mateo Kovacic; Manchester City; €30 million
Lovro Majer; Wolfsburg; €25 million

13. Scotland €224 Million

Andrew Robertson; Liverpool; €35 million
Scott McTominay; Manchester United; €32 million
John McGinn; Aston Villa; €30 million

14. Austria €222 Million

Konrad Laimer; Bayern Munich; €28 million
Xave Schlager; RB Leipzig; €28 million
David Alaba; Real Madrid; €25 million

15. Turkiye €219 Million

Hakan Calhanoglu; Inter; €40 million
Orkun Kokcu; Benfica; €30 million
Kenan Yildiz; Juventus; €30 million

16. Switzerland €210 Million

Manuel Akanji; Manchester City; €42 million
Gregor Kobel; Borussia Dortmund; €40 million
Denis Zakaria; Monaco; €25 million

17. Poland €175 Million

Matty Cash; Aston Villa; €28 million
Piotr Zielinski; Napoli; €25 million
Jakub Kiwior; Arsenal; €25 million

18. Hungary €150.5 Million

Dominik Szoboszlai; Liverpool; €75 million
Milos Kerkez; Bournemouth; €20 million
Roland Sallai; Freiburg; €12 million

19. Georgia €143 Million

Kvicha Kvaratskhelia; Napoli; €80 million
Giorgi Mamardashvili; Valencia; €35 million
Georges Mikautadze; Metz; €9 million

20. Slovakia €139.5 Million

Milan Skriniar; PSG; €40 million
David Hancko; Feyenoord; €35 million
Stanislav Lobotka; Napoli; €30 million

21. Czech Republic €127.5 Million

Tomas Soucek; West Ham; €35 million
Patrik Schik; Bayer Leverkusen; €22 million
Adam Hlozek; Bayer Leverkusen; €15 million

22. Slovenia €102 Million

Jan Oblak; Atletico Madrid; €30 million
Benjamin Sesko; RB Leipzig; €30 million
Jaka Bijol; Udinese; €10 million

23. Albania €101 Million

Armando Broja; Chelsea; €28 million
Kristjan Asllani; Inter; €16 million
Ernest Muci; Besiktas; €11 million

24. Romania €64.7 Million

Radu Dragusin; Tottenham; €25 million
Darius Olaru; FCSB; €6.5 million
Florinel Coman; FCSB; €6 million