Football stars are all seen by their monetary value as clubs look to either bring in new recruits, or offload them to maximise their income depending where you are in the food chain.
Every country in the world has their own elite talent or talents, but who is seen as the highest value player for each individual country across Europe? Obviously a combination of current ability and potential ability is used to calculate such a figure.
Well thankfully for us, using the values on Transfermarkt, a map showing who the most valuable player from each country is has been compiled, with some big names missing out.
Iceland had a memorable campaign at the 2016 Euros, knocking England out as they took the footballing world by storm, similarly to what Morocco are currently doing. The most valuable Icelandic player plies his trade for PAOK in Greece, coming in at €5 million.
The Faroe Islands aren’t exactly known for their football, but Brandur Hendriksson is their most valuable asset, playing for Helsingborgs IF, he’s valued at just €0.4 million.
No prizes for guessing who takes the spot as the most valuable Norwegian player at the moment, who else but Erling Haaland? The prolific forward has taken the world by storm since making the switch to the Premier League, and at €170 million, is the most valuable player from Europe at the moment.
A changing of the guard in Sweden, with Zlatan Ibrahimovic likely topping this list for a number of years, although now that has moved onto Dejan Kulusevski, with the winger likely to command €50 million according to Transfermarkt.
Finland have had their fair share of elite footballers over the years, just look at Liverpool duo Jari Litmanen and Sami Hyypia, although their current star talent is only worth an estimated €7.5 million with Glen Kamara.
Heading to the UK and Ireland now, all five players play in the Premier League. Kicking things off is Jamal Lewis, with the Newcastle United’s defender worth around €8 million. Travelling south to Wales sees Brennan Johnson register as the most expensive player from Wales at €20 million.
At a slight increase of €22 million, Nathan Collins is seen as the most valuable player from The Republic of Ireland. Heading to Scotland and England, the value jumps up drastically, with Scottish captain Andy Robertson worth €55 million, but you have to double that for England’s.
It could be a whole host of players, especially with the elite young talent in England, it’s not Jude Bellingham, but in fact Phil Foden, who is estimated to be worth €110 million, although I’m sure there are a few names pushing him at that valuation.
Sticking with the Premier League, Denmark’s most valuable player also features in the most notorious league in the world. Pierre-Emile-Hojbjerg comes in at an estimated €45 million.
Latvia and Estonia are two countries where your football casuals would be forgiven for not knowing a player from either of these countries, nut Raimonds Krollis is the €2.5 million priciest man in Latvia, with Karl Hein of Arsenal coming in at just a million euros less for Estonia.
Russia is a huge country, but hasn’t had the footballing powerhouses you’d expect, since the days of Lev Yashin and then Aleksandr Mostovoi, big players have been hard to come by. However, Aleksandr Golovin is the current jewel in the crown, as Monaco’s midfielder is valued at €22 million.
Despite entering the twilight years of his glittering career, Kevin De Bruyne is still the most valuable player from Belgium, estimated to command a transfer fee of €80 million.
The Netherlands’ most valuable player is a central defender, but not Virgil van Dijk like you’d expect. In place of the best defender in the world, Matthijs de Ligt tops the charts instead with his estimated worth of €70 million.
Moving onto the Germans, who despite being grouped in consecutive World Cup campaigns, still have some sensational talent at their disposable, with Jamal Musiala the best of that at the moment, with the youngster valued at €100 million after showing us all glimpses of his abilities in Qatar.
Robert Lewandowski is a player who is towards the end of his career, but would still likely command a decent transfer fee. The Polish forward is still more valuable than any of the younger prospects in his homeland.
Another obscure county for footballers is Lithuania, Edgaras Utkus is their most valuable player. Formerly of Monaco, the midfielder is valued at €0.8 million.
Just under double his value is where Belarus’ shining light is priced, with Ruben Kazan’s Vitaliy Lisakovich likely to command €1.5 million in the transfer market going off his value.
A drastic jump up in value now as we enter Ukraine. Mykhaylo Mudryk of Shaktar Donetsk is the most valuable player in the country, but at €40 million, could they cash in on the 21-year-old winger who is a target for Arsenal?
France may have a plethora of young talent that could see them dominate world football for years to come, but to see Kylian Mbappe as their most valuable player is no surprise. The generational talent is valued at an eye-watering €160 million, although that could well change with his performances in the World Cup.
Next up is Switzerland, with Manuel Akanji, the human calculator, deemed their most valuable player, but not for his incredible brain power. The defensive rock is valued at €30 million, although that will be inflated with his recent move.
Young midfielder Leondro Barreiro is the most valuable player to come out of Luxembourg, with the midfielder playing in Germany worth an estimated €8 million.
Although Austria failed to qualify for the World Cup, they do have some decent talent at their disposal, with David Alaba still their star player and most valuable, coming in with a market value of €55 million.
Returning to the Premier League now, Czech Republic’s most valuable player is in England, like many of the greats before him, Tomas Soucek has found himself in the Premier League. His current value is €45 million, largely helped by that incredible season in 2021/22.
Milan Skriniar is the most valuable Slovakian player in world football at the moment, playing for Italian giants Inter Milan, the defender is valued at €60 million, but I doubt his side will be wanting to see him leave any time soon given his importance to them.
Romania have had their fair share of greats, but their current most valuable player could come as a shock, with Ianis Hagi not the leading talent, but instead Razvan Marin, a midfielder valued at €8 million is topping the list.
Heading east to Moldova, their star player is worth half of Marin’s value, with Oleg Reabciuk flying the flag for his country in Greece with Olympiakos.
There isn’t much between Spain and Portugal for young talents, with both having a current baller with bags of potential as their most valuable players. Rafael Leao, who is a target for most top clubs in world football is valued at €85 million, with Barcelona’s midfield phenomenon Pedri valued at €100 million.
Just south of them is Gibraltar, not famed for their football, Tjay De Barr is their most valuable player, plying his trade in League One with Wycombe Wanderers with a value of €0.15 million, showing just how far down the footballing food chain the peninsula is.
With a value of just €0.3 million, Iker Alvarez and Guillaume Khous are the shining lights of Andorra and Liechtenstein respectively.
San Marino are often seen as a footballing laughing stock, with part-time players and scoring a goal seen as an achievement, many don’t take them seriously. Nicola Nanni however, who plays in the third tier of Italian football is their main player, as the 22-year-old is valued at €0.15 million.
Slovenian shot-stopper Jan Oblak is the most valuable player from his nation at €40 million, with just a €5 million drop off heading to Hungary where Dominik Szoboszlai takes the same tag.
Amar Dedic of Bosnia is valued at €10 million, although I’m sure RB Salzburg will be demanding more for their starlet should someone make a move.
Serbia were seen as the dark horses at the World Cup for many given their quality, but they endured a disappointing campaign. However, their players are still valuable, with Dusan Vlahovic the most valuable of those, with an estimated €80 million worth, it’ll take some major money to sign him.
Napoli duo ELjif Elmas and Amir Rrahmani of Macedonia and Kosovo respectively, being priced at €23 million for Elmas and just €2 million more for Rrahmania.
Bulgaria have had some huge players in the past, such as The Gunslinger, Hristo Stoichkov. However, their most valuable player today is valued at just €3.7 million as Kiril Despodov of Ludogorets is flying the flag now.
Turkey’s midfield maestro Hakan Calhanoglu is their most valuable export, priced at €35 million, which is a major contrast to Cyprus’ star man, Pieros Sotiriou who is valued at little over €2 million at €2.2 million.
Everyone’s favourite Greek Scouser is the most valuable player from Greece, with Kostas Tsimikas valued at €18 million, although he is worth much more than that to The Reds.
Armando Broja is the most valuable Albanian footballer in the world with an estimated worth of €30 million, although his progress could be limited after suffering what sounded like a brutal injury in a friendly match yesterday, with his audible screams sickening.
Despite being born in France, Teddy Teuma represents Malta, so the midfielder is classed as the most valuable player for the island at an estimated worth of €4 million.
Finally, we have Italy, as another Inter Milan star makes the list, with midfield sensation Nicolo Barella their most valuable player despite a plethora of big name young players. He is the best of the lot according to Transfermarkt, who value him at €70 million.
Sam is an enthusiastic member of the GiveMeSport team, taking on the role of Academy Editor in June ‘22, moving over after a seven month stint with ThisIsFutbol. He has a degree in Football Business and Media, previously working as a press and media officer at Bury Football Club. Also held a management role for Last Word on Sports’ Motorsport page.
A loyal Liverpool FC supporter who has experienced the highs and lows of supporting the Mighty Reds! A firm believer Mark Selby is the GOAT and ultimate sportsperson.
Sam happily watches and avidly follows all sports, whether it’s his beloved Lancashire Cricket Club, Kolkata Knight Riders or Wigan Warriors!
He has played football, cricket, tennis, snooker and darts since childhood – but clearly not well enough to ‘give up the day job’!
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