Football Benchmark’s Player Valuation Platform has been updated following the conclusion of the winter transfer window, providing a fresh view of player market values across the game.
In this context, ‘market value’ refers to the fair market value of a player’s contract at a specific valuation date, estimated by assessing the economic strength of that contract and incorporating factors such as remaining contract length, age, performance and international experience. This analysis uses the latest data to assess where value in the player market currently sits across positions on the pitch and how that has evolved in recent years.
The article outlines the current top 10 most valuable players, the largest increases since the previous update in December 2025, and a positional breakdown of value. By identifying the most valuable player in each position and analysing the top 50 players per position across six February valuation dates from 2021 to 2026, a consistent five-year benchmark is established.
The findings highlight sustained growth in attacking positions and age trends that demonstrate the growing premium placed on younger profiles and the long-term value they represent.
The most valuable players and the biggest value increases
The February 2026 update confirms that value at the top of the market remains concentrated in attacking profiles, with Lamine Yamal, valued at €286.8m, continuing to comfortably occupy the top spot as the most valuable player in world football.
Four of the top 10 most valuable players are wingers: Yamal, Bukayo Saka, Michael Olise and Vinícius Júnior. In the modern game, these roles increasingly function more as forwards rather than the traditional touchline specialists of previous eras. Their ability to contribute directly to goals and assists gives them significant influence within squads and materially increases their market value. Notably, Yamal, Saka and Olise are all left-footed and primarily operate from the right flank, signalling a premium placed on inverted wide players with the ability to cut inside and create shooting angles.
Maybe somewhat surprisingly, only two centre-forwards feature in the top 10: Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland. Of those, Haaland is the more archetypal striker profile, while Mbappé, who has proven effective in a central role for Real Madrid CF, has regularly operated on the left throughout his career. Mbappé has already scored 38 goals for Real Madrid this season, while Haaland has registered 29 goals for Manchester City FC to date. Rather than the top end of the market being dominated by traditional number nines, it is increasingly shaped by attacking players who can operate across the front line.
Three attacking midfielders are also represented in the top 10, demonstrating the importance of players capable of adding creativity in the final third. Pedri is the sole pure central midfielder in the top 10, highlighting how value peaks are typically associated with roles most directly linked to goals and assists, as well as the more visible, high-impact positions on the pitch.
At the other end of the pitch, Pau Cubarsí is the highest-valued defensive player, missing out on the top 10. Ranked 11th at €113.8m, there remains a sizeable gap between the leading defensive profiles and the most valuable attacking players.
In terms of value increases since the last update in December 2025, Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig recorded the largest rise, increasing by €37.8m to €50.9m. A winger by profile, he has delivered strong sporting performances at club level and recently featured for Côte d’Ivoire at the Africa Cup of Nations. Despite only signing for Leipzig in the summer, he is already attracting growing transfer speculation, including reported interest from the Premier League and domestic rivals FC Bayern München.
Marc Guéhi’s valuation increased by €31.9m to €60.0m following his January move to Manchester City FC, while Francesco Pio Esposito added €27.7m to reach €50.5m and Álvaro Carreras rose by €21.8m to €67.1m. The majority of the top 10 increases are players aged 23 or younger, with valuation growth typically most significant in early-career phases, particularly in attacking roles, which dominate both the overall top 10 and the largest increases lists.
Value by position and five-year trends
Looking at the highest-valued player in each positional category provides a clear snapshot of where peak value currently sits across the pitch. Lamine Yamal leads all right wingers at, while Kylian Mbappé tops the centre forward category at €232.2m and Vinícius Júnior leads left wingers at €133.3m.
In midfield, Jude Bellingham stands as the most valuable attacking midfielder at €177.2m, with Pedri (€138.1m) and Vitinha (€96.1m) leading the central and defensive midfield categories, respectively. Among defenders, Pau Cubarsí (€113.8m) is the highest-valued centre-back, with Nuno Mendes (€86.0m) and Achraf Hakimi (€82.3m) topping the full-back roles. Gianluigi Donnarumma leads goalkeepers at €55.9m.
Across the 10 positional categories, the most valuable players are concentrated among four clubs: three from Real Madrid, three from Paris Saint-Germain FC, three from FC Barcelona. Only one player from the Premier League, Gianluigi Donnarumma, was able to make this list. While this snapshot highlights the leading individual in each category, the broader positional trends become clearer when analysing the evolution of the top 50 players in each role over time.
To assess positional value more structurally, we analysed the top 50 players in each of the positional categories across six February valuation dates from 2021 to February 2026, resulting in a 500-player sample of elite talent.
The data shows a clear upward shift in average value across the market. The total sample average has increased from €35.6m in February 2021 to €43.6m in February 2026, a rise of €8.0m. However, this growth has not been evenly distributed across positions.
Attacking midfielders have recorded the largest increase, rising from €34.0m to €52.0m, an uplift of €18.0m. Right wingers follow closely, increasing from €36.6m to €52.3m, a gain of €15.7m. These two categories show the strongest market momentum, reflecting sustained demand for players who combine creativity with decisive final-third output.
By contrast, left wingers have been more stagnant, slightly dropping from €47.1m to €44.6m (-€2.5m). The divergence between the two wide attacking positions is notable. It may reflect several factors, including differences in talent supply, tactical evolution, and a growing premium placed on inverted right-sided attackers, many of whom are left-footed.
Goalkeepers, meanwhile, remain the lowest-valued positional group and have shown the greatest relative stability, moving from €23.6m to €22.7m (-€0.9m). This underlines the relative consistency of goalkeeper valuations compared with more dynamic attacking roles, and raises the question of whether they are fully priced by the market or represent a potential opportunity.
A complementary view comes from tracking age. Across the same sample, average age has declined from 25.3 years in February 2021 to 24.1 years in February 2026, a drop of 1.2 years.
This age compression is meaningful because it shows that peak value is increasingly being reached earlier in a player’s career, with emphasis on securing long-term value. It also reflects how elite players are accumulating more minutes at younger ages than previously, contributing to higher match loads and accelerated exposure at the top level.
The most pronounced declines in average age are among central midfielders and forwards. Central midfielders’ average age has fallen 2.5 years over the five-year period, while the top 50 forwards’ average has decreased by 2.1 years. Goalkeepers remain a relative outlier; their average age has declined by just one year, consistent with longer career arcs and a valuation framework less sensitive to age in the early 20s.
Attacking positions and younger profiles dominate the elite end of the market
This analysis focuses on the top 50 players per position and therefore reflects the elite segment of the market rather than the full professional pyramid. Short-term movements may be influenced by transfers, contract renewals or injury-related adjustments. However, across a 500-player sample since 2021, the structural direction is clear.
The highest valuations remain concentrated in attacking positions. Forwards continue to record the highest average values within the top 50 cohorts, while right wingers and attacking midfielders have experienced the strongest growth over the past five years. By contrast, left wingers have not seen the same level of value acceleration as their right-sided counterparts. Goalkeepers, meanwhile, remain the lowest-valued positional group on average and the most stable over time, raising the question of whether this position may be undervalued relative to its sporting importance. Alongside position dynamics, the average age of top-value cohorts continues to fall, showing that peak market value is increasingly being realised earlier in a player’s career.
Clubs are increasingly securing and developing attacking profiles earlier, building squads with a clearer long-term horizon in mind where financial capacity allows. Others, however, face the reality of their top talents being acquired at younger and younger ages. The premium is no longer solely on proven output but on the potential to influence games over multiple seasons, with recruitment and contract strategy aligned to sustained impact rather than short-term peaks.
Football Benchmark Intelligence is the home of football business data and analytics, with dedicated platforms covering Player Valuation, Club Finance & Operations, Social Media Analytics, and Youth Football. They provide integrated benchmarking across the sporting, financial, and commercial aspects of the game for clubs, leagues, investors, and other stakeholders. To learn more or arrange a free demonstration of the platforms, don't hesitate to get in touch with info@footballbenchmark.com.
