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The stage is all set for the fast-approaching WC 2018!
With the high-priority tournament nearing its kick-off, the fans' excitement is at fever pitch.
A significant aspect that is one of the determining factors of the fate of the teams participating in the World Cup is the market values of these respective national teams.
Let's have a look, then, at the ranking of national teams in terms of their market values.
Also Read: Top 5 favourites to win the World Cup 2018
#10 Croatia
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Total Market Value: £324 million
Most Valuable Player: Ivan Rakitic - £45 million
Croatia might not be an apparent favourite for the World Cup trophy but there's no denying that the war-torn country possess the potential to take the footballing world by storm.
The last time The Blazers came close to winning the trophy was way back in 1998 when they ended the competition in the third place.
Although Luka Modric is expected to lead the pack in the all-important contest, it is Ivan Rakitic who is their most valuable player presently, followed by Ivan Perisic.
The 30-year-old was an integral part of Barcelona's triumphs last season, as they went on to win La Liga and Copa Del Rey in a commendable fashion.
Rakitic has already won 90 international caps, managing a tally of 14 goals to boot.
#9 Uruguay
Total Market Value: £335.25 million
Most Valuable Player: Luis Suarez - £63 million
The two-time World Cup champions will commence the tournament with their heads held high, having finished second in the South American qualifiers ahead of Argentina and Colombia.
Leading the line for La Celeste will be their prolific goalscorer, Luis Suarez, in tandem with Edinson Cavani. Both the forwards enjoyed trophy-laden seasons with their respective clubs.
Last season, the Barcelona striker scored 25 times in 33 appearances for the club in La Liga whereas Cavani accomplished 28 goals in 32 appearances for PSG in Ligue 1.
Apart from the lethal strikers, the team will also boast the impenetrable duo of Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez in defence.
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#8 Portugal
Total Market Value: £418.05 million
Most Valuable Player: Cristiano Ronaldo - £90 million
Portugal produced an astounding giant-killing in the Euro 2016 final when they humbled France 1-0 to win their maiden European Championship.
On the back of their recent successful campaign, The Navigators are potential contenders for the World Cup title.
Nevertheless, the squad's over-reliance on the Real Madrid megastar, Cristiano Ronaldo, could be a major drawback in the pursuit of their first World Cup trophy.
The Portuguese's astonishing fightback in the latter half of the season failed to mask the contretemps he underwent this year, showing portents of age catching up with the 33-year-old in the early stage of the 2017-18 campaign.
#7 Argentina
Total Market Value: £623.7 million
Most Valuable Player: Lionel Messi - £162 million
It is quite obvious that Argentina have already pinned their hopes on the brilliance of their talisman, Lionel Messi, who will himself be hell-bent on eradicating the only chink in his ineffable armor by inspiring his country to the World Cup triumph.
La Albiceleste have a star-studded roster which comprises the likes of Nicolas Otamendi, Javier Mascherano, Angel di María, Gonzalo Higuain, Paulo Dybala and Sergio Aguero.
With such a mean-looking squad, Jorge Sampaoli's side stand a good chance of tipping the scales in their favour.
#6 Belgium
Total Market Value: £678.6 million
Most Valuable Player: Kevin De Bruyne - £135 million
One of the most menacing dark horses in the upcoming World Cup is The Red Devils. The country does not own a very bankable history but does boast a talent-brimmed squad.
Belgium have risen to fame of late courtesy of their star players who have excelled in top European leagues in the years gone by. Their most valuable player, Kevin De Bruyne, was the fulcrum of the Manchester City squad which grandly procured the Premier League trophy in the 2017-18 season.
The former Wolfsburg star not only engineered 16 assists in the 37 league matches but also notched up 8 goals. Besides that, he pulled off another 4 assists in the 8 Champions League appearances.
#5 England
Total Market Value: £786.6 million
Most Valuable Player: Harry Kane - £135 million
At the international stage, England have mostly been underwhelming especially in the recent times in the face of their star-spangled players.
This year, the 24-year-old Harry Kane has shouldered the responsibility of skippering the side in the World Cup. Kane has merchandised himself as one of the best forwards in the modern football during his time at Tottenham Hotspur - and the stats are just a testament to that claim.
This season, the Spurs linchpin racked up 30 goals, falling just short of Salah's 32 goals, in Premier League despite battling injury issues. Gareth Southgate's team is chock-full of youthful players who will be balefully looking forward to getting hold of the much-coveted World Cup trophy.
#4 Germany
Total Market Value: £794.7 million
Most Valuable Player: Toni Kroos - £72 million
Having won the last World Cup, Germany is predicted to hit the ground running again. Their manager, Joachim Low, has got a squad pullulating with world-beaters at his disposal. Many football pundits have also backed Die Mannschaft as the top contenders for the coming World Cup.
The side's squad depth can be gauged by the fact that the 4-time World Cup Champions latterly prevailed in the Confederations Cup notwithstanding resorting to their second-string team.
#3 Brazil
Total Market Value: £882.9 million
Most Valuable Player: Neymar - £162 million
One of the most successful teams in the World Cup history, Brazil was the first team to make the cut for the World Cup having topped the South American qualifiers admirably.
Their squad consists of the likes of Marcelo, Thiago Silva, Marquinhos, Casemiro, Fernandinho, Coutinho, Willian, Paulinho, Douglas Costa, Firmino, Gabriel Jesus and the wonder-kind Neymar.
The 26-year-old PSG winger is their most valuable player at the minute, worth a value buoyed as the most expensive transfer of all-time. As such, Selecao will undertake their journey as one of the most intimidating contenders.
#2 Spain
Total Market Value: £930.6 million
Most Valuable Player: Sergio Busquets - £72 million
In spite of the absence of some of the Spanish leading lights such as Alvaro Morata, Pedro, Fabregas and Juan Mata, La Roja is still most assuredly a force to be reckoned with.
With their historic 2010 triumph to hinge on, many football experts are in favour of Spain prevailing in the forthcoming World Cup.
Unlike many other teams, Julen Lopetegui has a side that clearly does not subsist on an individual but is solely daunting as a whole.
#1 France
Total Market Value: £972.45 million
Most Valuable Player: Kylian Mbappe - £108 million
As a consequence of his eye-watering transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, Mbappe is spearheading the list of MVP's in the France squad alongside his noteworthy teammates such as Paul Pogba, N'Golo Kante and Antoine Griezmann.
This year, Les Blues have a ludicrous squad depth, undeterred by a handful of notables being left out in the cold.
The dynamic team will be desperately eyeing a major European triumph after they handed over the Euro 2016 trophy to Portugal owing to their shoddy performance.
If Didier Deschamps succeed in deploying the right combination then the side, in all likelihood, could finally call a halt to their 20-year World Cup drought.
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