KYLIAN MBAPPE is the most valuable player in the world – but only just.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward is worth £158million, according to Transfermarkt.
4The most expensive World XI contains several young players
4Kylian Mbappe is the most valuable player in the worldCredit: Getty
4Erling Haaland follows closely behindCredit: PA
4Jude Bellingham is the most expensive English playerCredit: Getty
Mbappe’s value is reflected by his staggering pay packet with the forward signing a contract reported to be worth around £80m a year.
He has increased his value since putting pen to paper too, scoring a hat-trick in the World Cup final with an overall tally of eight goals in the competition.
However Manchester City hitman Erling Haaland is not too far behind.
The pair are tipped to be Ballon d’Or rivals over the next few years with Haaland scoring 42 goals in just 37 games this season.
He is said to be worth £149m, with Borussia Dortmund receiving just a fraction of that price from City last summer due to a buyout clause in his contract.
Haaland, 22, is one of only three Premier League players included in the most valuable world XI.
England pair Reece James and Bukayo Saka also feature with respective valuations of £61m and £97m.
However the Arsenal star is not the most valuable Englishman – that accolade goes to Jude Bellingham.
The midfielder is the subject of significant transfer interest from a host of top European clubs and Dortmund could demand £130m to let him leave, though Transfermarkt measure his valuation close to £105m.
Bellingham, 19, is one of several young players to make the list, and he is joined in midfield by Barcelona wonderkid Pedri, worth £88m.
Bayern Munich’s £97.5m-rated youngster Jamal Musiala is the other midfielder in the team.
His team-mates Matthijs de Ligt and Alphonso Davies feature in defence, with the latter worth £61m.
De Ligt is slightly more expensive at £66m, a similar fee which Bayern paid Juventus for him last summer.
Another promising defender Josko Gvardiol is also said to be worth £66m, but RB Leipzig will likely demand much more when clubs come knocking this summer.
Chelsea tried to sign the centre-back last summer and have been tipped to reignite their interest in the Croatia international when the transfer window re-opens.
Real Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois makes the team, pipping Gianluigi Donnrumma to the place thanks to a valuation of £52.6m.
source: thesun.co.uk
