Born somewhere, shining elsewhere
Haaland, Yıldız & Co. – The 30 World Cup MVPs not playing for their country of birth
©IMAGO
The World Cup is now upon us, and by heading to the Transfermarkt home page for the competition, users can easily scroll through the list of the most valuable players at the competition. Naturally, each star player will be looking to shine for their national team and help guide them towards success. However, as has often been the case, not all international players play for the country of their birth. Whether through the nationality of their parents or grandparents, gaining citizenship after moving to another country at a young age or other specific circumstances, many of the most valuable players in the world actually play for different countries than the one written down on their birth certificate. So, who are the most valuable players that technically don’t play for their country of birth?
Market Value
E. Haaland
Centre-Forward
€200.00m
Market Value
M. Olise
Right Winger
€150.00m
Market Value
Nico Paz
Attacking Midfield
€80.00m
Market Value
A. Hakimi
Right-Back
€80.00m
Market Value
A. Semenyo
Right Winger
€80.00m
In what may come as a surprise to many, one of the most valuable players in the world tops this specific list. Norwegian star Erling Haaland may be a proud member of the Scandinavian national team, but he was actually born in Leeds when his father played in English football. He tops the list with a market value of €200 million. In second place is another top MVP in Michael Olise. Although the Bayern Munich winger has represented France for all of his career, he was actually born and raised in England, and sits comfortably in second place in the list with a market value of €150m. Below the French winger are three players on €80m. Argentinian midfielder Nico Paz will play alongside Lionel Messi & Co., but was born in Spain. So too was Achraf Hakimi, who will represent Morocco at this year’s World Cup as one of their most important players. And, making up the top five is the third English-born talent in Antoine Semenyo, who was born in London but opted to apply for Ghana.
Market Value
K. Yıldız
Left Winger
€75.00m
Market Value
M. Guéhi
Centre-Back
€70.00m
Market Value
I. Ndiaye
Right Winger
€55.00m
Market Value
A. Bouaddi
Central Midfield
€50.00m
Market Value
A. Bouaddi
Central Midfield
€50.00m
Another wide forward who opted to play for a different country from the one of his birth is Juventus star Kenan Yıldız, who will be wearing the top of Turkiye at this year’s World Cup despite being born in Regensburg, Germany. The 21-year-old star sits sixth on the list just above Marc Guéhi, who was born in the Ivory Coast but was raised in England and opted to play for the latter at international level. Just below the England star is Everton winger Iliman Ndiaye, who is set to surpass 40 caps for Senegal at the World Cup despite being born in France. Below Ndiaye are three players with market values of €50m who round up the list: Morocco midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi (born in France), French striker Marcus Thuram (born in Italy) and Matheus Nunes, who was born in Brazil but will represent Portugal at the tournament.
Market Value
M. Nunes
Right-Back
€50.00m
Market Value
I. Maza
Attacking Midfield
€45.00m
Market Value
A. Onana
Defensive Midfield
€45.00m
Market Value
Can Uzun
Attacking Midfield
€45.00m
Market Value
A. Davies
Left-Back
€40.00m
Market Value
G. Simeone
Right Winger
€40.00m
Market Value
I. Saibari
Attacking Midfield
€40.00m
Market Value
R. Aït-Nouri
Left-Back
€40.00m
Market Value
P. Gueye
Central Midfield
€40.00m
Market Value
N. Jackson
Centre-Forward
€40.00m
Market Value
J. Stanisic
Right-Back
€40.00m
Market Value
P. Sučić
Central Midfield
€40.00m
Market Value
D. Costa
Goalkeeper
€40.00m
Market Value
S. McTominay
Central Midfield
€40.00m
Market Value
S. McTominay
Central Midfield
€40.00m
Market Value
B. El Khannouss
Attacking Midfield
€35.00m
Market Value
E. Ndicka
Centre-Back
€35.00m
Market Value
A. Bonny
Centre-Forward
€35.00m
Market Value
F. Kadıoğlu
Left-Back
€35.00m
Market Value
N. Sadiki
Central Midfield
€35.00m
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