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The market value of football players constantly changes depending on their performances, contracts and future potential, which, in turn, is related to the player's age. Some of the best football players in the world cost massive amounts of money.
Modern football has seen a rise in the market value of footballers across all positions. Nowadays, even the defenders and goalkeepers are valued much higher than before due to their constantly evolving roles on the field.
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are not included in the most valuable XI
While many people might be surprised by this, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi do not make the cut for the world football's most valuable XI. While both of them are arguably still the best in the world, their age as well as lack of future potential has seen their market value drop in recent years.
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So without any further delay, let's take a look at the most valuable XI in football right now. A 4-3-3 attacking formation has been kept in mind while selecting the players.
(Note: All values are as per Transfermarkt)
Goalkeeper: Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid/ Slovenia) - €70m
Atletico Madrid's Slovenian shot-stopper Jan Oblak is the most valuable goalkeeper in the world right now.
Since joining Atletico Madrid in 2014, Oblak has turned into one of the best goalkeepers in the world and has been a consistent performer for Los Rojiblancos. He won the Ricardo Zamora trophy for the best goalkeeper in La Liga during just his second season in 2015-16, when he conceded an all-time record low of just 18 goals.
Since then, he has won the trophy a record four times with the latest one coming last season, keeping 18 clean sheets and helping Atletico to the La Liga title.
So far, Oblak has kept 162 clean sheets in 312 matches for Atletico Madrid. He is also the fastest goalkeeper to reach the milestone of 100 clean sheets in La Liga, having done so in just 182 matches.
Oblak remains an integral part of Atletico's side as they look to retain the La Liga title this season.
Centre-back: Matthijs De Ligt (Juventus/ Netherlands) - €75m
Matthijs De Ligt's heroic performances with Ajax during the 2018-19 season attracted a lot of attention from Europe's top clubs. It was Juventus who managed to acquire his services, paying a mammoth €85 million fee in 2019.
While the 22-year-old could not hit the ground running during his first season, he still managed to win the Serie A title with the Italian giants. De Ligt eventually found his feet and is now almost indispensable to the Old Lady.
A naturally gifted defender with great physical and technical skills, De Ligt has a brilliant understanding of the game and is a great tackler. He also shows incredible anticipation, strength and marking prowess.
So far, De Ligt has played 82 games for the Bianconeri and has even contributed six goals and two assists.
Last year Juventus saw their nine-year dominance end in Serie A as Antonio Conte 's Inter romped towards the title. With Massimiliano Allegri returning to the helm, De Ligt and Co. will be hoping that they can once again reach the top of the pile.
Centre-back: Marquinhos (Paris Saint-Germain/ Brazil) - €75m
One of the best players at PSG in recent years, Marquinhos has been a vital cog for the Ligue 1 giants since arriving at the club in 2013.
Alongside Thiago Silva, Marquinhos was at the heart of PSG's defense and after the former's departure last summer, he has stepped up as the leader for the side.
The Brazilian international has consistently performed at the Parc des Princes and has gone on to establish himself as one of the best centre-backs in the world.
An intelligent player, Marquinhos has often been deployed as a defensive midfielder due to his strong technical and passing ability. The 27-year-old has made 330 appearances in all competitions for the club and has won six Ligue 1 titles.
With the addition of big names like Lionel Messi and Gianluigi Donnarumma, Marquinhos will be hoping that he can finally captain the Parisians to Champions League glory this season.
Right-back: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool/ England) - €75m
Liverpool academy starlet Trent Alexander-Arnold is the most valuable right-back in world football right now.
Alexander-Arnold made his first senior appearance for Liverpool during the 2016-17 season after an injury to Nathaniel Clyne handed him the opportunity. The 22-year-old grabbed the chance with both hands and since then has established himself firmly in the side, developing into a world-class player.
The England international played a key part in helping Liverpool win their sixth Champions League title in 2019. He continued to build on those performances as the Reds managed to win their first Premier League title after 30 years.
A creative force down the right-hand side for Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold has produced some outrageous numbers for a defender. In 185 appearances, the full-back has scored 10 goals and provided a staggering 47 assists. He also holds the record for most assists by a defender in a Premier League season with 13 assists during the Reds' title-winning season.
After a disappointing campaign last season, Alexander-Arnold looks to have regained his form and will be hoping to fire Liverpool to glory once more.
Left-back: Alphonso Davies (Bayern Munich/ Canada) - €70m
Nicknamed the "Roadrunner" by his teammates, Bayern Munich's Alphonso Davies has been sensational for the Bavarians since joining them in January 2019.
The Canadian's lightening pace makes him a serious threat to opposition full-backs. His movements and dribbling are world class, meaning defenders are often overwhelmed when he advances down Bayern's left flank.
Davies is a solid defender too, with one-on-ones rarely resulting in his opponents coming out on top.
Bayern's incredible sextuple win of the 2019-20 season could not have happened without the contributions of Davies. He was an integral part of Bayern as they managed to win all trophies available for grabs.
So far, Davies has contributed five goals and 15 assists in 93 appearances across all competitions for the Bundesliga giants.
Bayern have started the new season in brilliant fashion, winning nine of their opening 10 matches as they look to dominate Germany and Europe once again.
Defensive midfielder: Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich/ Germany) - €90m
Another Bayern Munich star, Joshua Kimmich, has established himself as one of the most important players at the club. Kimmich has been one of the top performers for Bayern Munich in recent years.
While the German has the ability to dictate proceedings in midfield, he can also simultaneously drop deep to help with defensive duties. His stamina allows him to dash forward while attacking, while his versatility means that he can also be utilized in the right-back position.
Since joining Bayern in 2015, Kimmich has gone on to make 271 appearances for the club, scoring 33 goals and registering 75 assists. The 26-year-old enjoyed a fabulous outing last season, scoring six goals and providing 14 assists for Bayern as they won the Bundesliga title yet again.
Kimmich has already scored three goals and registered four assists in six Bundesliga matches this term. The German will hope to carry on in this form as Bayern look to challenge for the Bundesliga and Champions League titles again.
Attacking midfielder: Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United/ Portugal) - €90m
Arguably Manchester United's best player right now, it's hard to imagine where the Red Devils would be if not for the contributions of Bruno Fernandes.
The 27-year-old joined Manchester United from Sporting CP in January 2020 and has since gone on to establish himself as one of the best midfielders in the world. He made an immediate impact upon his arrival and his creativity, drive from midfield and leadership ability have transformed Ole Gunnar Solksjaer's Manchester United side.
Fernandes has featured in almost every game for the Red Devils since his arrival. He has made 89 appearances in all competitions for the club, scoring 44 goals and registering 27 assists. Last season, Fernandes scored 28 goals and registered 17 assists, helping Manchester United finish second in the Premier League, while also taking them to the Europa League final.
With the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo, United fans will be hoping that the Portuguese duo can help win some silverware this season.
Attacking midfielder: Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City/ Belgium) - €100m
The most valuable midfielder in football right now, Kevin De Bruyne's importance to Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is absolutely immeasurable.
The former Chelsea man arrived at the Etihad from Wolfsburg for €75 million in 2015. Nearly six seasons later, it would be fair to say that the deal has proved to be a bargain.
The 30-year-old has made 268 appearances across all competitions for Manchester City, scoring 68 goals and providing 107 assists.
Last season, the Belgian registered 10 goals and 16 assists in 40 appearances across all competitions as the Cityzens won the Premier League and reached the Champions League final.
De Bruyne has been a key part of City's title-winning side in recent seasons and it does not look like his performances will falter any time soon.
Right winger: Mohamed Salah (Liverpool/ Egypt) - €100m
Dubbed by many as a 'one-season wonder' after his incredible 44-goal season during his first campaign with Liverpool, Mohamed Salah has shown that he is anything but that.
Performing at an unbelievably high level since arriving on Merseyside, the Egyptian has made a mockery of those who have tried to doubt his attacking talent.
Salah broke the record for most goals scored in a single Premier League season (32) during his first year at Liverpool. Since then, the 29-year-old has hit 20 plus goals in each of his campaigns with the Reds. He was an integral part of the Liverpool side that won the Premier League and Champions League in two consecutive seasons.
So far, Salah has scored 133 goals and registered 49 assists in just 211 appearances across all competitions for the Reds. He recently also crossed the 100 goal mark for Liverpool in the Premier League.
Salah has already scored eight goals in eight appearances for Liverpool this season. Considering his current form, there's no doubt that he is the best player in the Premier League right now. Purely based on form, Salah beats Neymar, who is also valued at €100 million, on this list for the
Left-winger: Neymar Jr. (Paris Saint-Germain/Brazil) - €100m
Neymar is arguably one of the most entertaining and skilled footballers on the planet at the moment.
The 29-year-old, who was part of Barcelona's fearsome attacking trio alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez, left for PSG in 2017. He was signed by the Ligue 1 giants for €222 million, making him the most expensive football player in history.
Neymar has struggled with injuries since arriving at the Parc des Princes, but whenever he's fit, he has put his quality on display. He was central to PSG's run to the finals and semi-finals of the Champions League in the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons respectively.
So far, the Brazilian has managed to make just 122 appearances across four seasons for PSG. However, he has registered 88 goals and 54 assists during that time while also winning three consecutive Ligue 1 titles.
Neymar has been reunited with his former teammate Messi this season and the world is eager to see the duo light up the stage once again.
Centre-Forward: Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain/ France) - €160m
Considered by many as the best young player in football, Kylian Mbappe is not just the most valuable centre-forward but the most valuable footballer in the world,
After a brilliant season with Monaco in 2016-17, PSG decided to sign Mbappe from their rivals for a record-breaking transfer of €180 million.
Since then Mbappe has gone on to break several records at the Parc des Princes. His frightening pace, coupled with his excellent dribbling and finishing skills, has made him one of the deadliest centre-forwards in the world.
Mbappe has scored 181 goals in 136 appearances for the Parisians and registered 66 assists, averaging more than a goal contribution per game. He is already the third-highest goalscorer of all time for PSG and has even finished as the top scorer in Ligue 1 for the last three seasons.
In the 2020-21 campaign Mbappe registered 42 goals and 11 assists across all competitions. However, PSG were unable to progress beyond the semi-finals in the Champions League while also losing out on the Ligue 1 title to Lille.
The Frenchman was heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer but for now he remains at PSG. It remains to be seen if he will remain on the books at PSG beyond the end of the ongoing season.
