Talking about Lamine Yamal is undoubtedly referring to one of the best young players, if not the best, in the world. Despite his short time in the elite of football with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, he has made it clear that, despite his youth, he doesn't hesitate to captivate both fans and opponents with football that is full of quality and skill. Not only that, his talent seems to be on a constant rise, and it is not inconceivable that the player from Rocafonda could become the best player in the world in the near future.
However, the name Lamine Yamal stands out not only for being one of the most eye-catching and talented players today but also for excelling in other aspects that go beyond the playing field. Recently, the '19' of Barcelona has gained relevance for another reason: a study by CIES (International Centre for Sports Studies) that places him at the top of a list filled with young 'stars'.
Lamine Yamal, the U-23 player with the highest market value in the world
According to CIES metrics, Lamine Yamal is currently the U-21 player with the highest market value in the world. According to this study, his market value is 180.9 million euros, far surpassing his closest competitor, the 20-year-old Argentine forward from Manchester United, Alejandro Garnacho, whose value reaches 114.8 million euros.
| PLAYER | AGE | TEAM | MARKET VALUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lamine Yamal | 17 | FC Barcelona | 180.9 M€ |
| Alejandro Garnacho | 20 | Manchester United | 114.8 M€ |
| Warren Zaïre-Emery | 18 | Paris Saint-Germain | 109 M€ |
| Sávio Moreira | 20 | Manchester City | 101 M€ |
| João Neves | 20 | Paris Saint-Germain | 99.8 M€ |
| Endrick | 18 | Real Madrid | 97.7 M€ |
| Rico Lewis | 19 | Manchester City | 87.2 M€ |
| Arda Güler | 19 | Real Madrid | 76.7 M€ |
| Kobbie Mainoo | 19 | Manchester United | 74.8 M€ |
| Kenan Yildiz | 19 | Juventus | 72.3 M€ |
Pau Cubarsí and Gavi also represent Barcelona in this CIES top 100
In this ranking, which consists of a total of 100 footballers under the age of 23, there are also other players from FC Barcelona, although they are a bit further down the list. For example, Pau Cubarsí is in twenty-third position with a market value of 50.7 M€, while Gavi occupies the 26th spot with a value of 46.8 M€.
It is important to highlight that this study covers a total of 17 different leagues. Among these tournaments, the most represented are the Premier League with 26 players, Ligue 1 with 17, and LaLiga EA Sports with 12. Furthermore, Brighton is the club that contributes the most to this list with six players, followed by PSG with four and another five clubs tied with three players each (Barcelona, Monaco, Leicester, Manchester United, and Tottenham).