Spain v England: €3bn showdown brings football’s biggest stars together

Spain host England at the Metropolitano on Sunday evening in the final match of the UEFA Nations League group stage, with the combined market value of the two squads estimated at about €3bn.

According to Spanish newspaper AS, the fixture resembles a footballing version of Madrid’s Cibeles fashion show, with a remarkable collection of highly valued players expected to take centre stage.

Transfermarkt values Thomas Tuchel’s England squad at €1.482.50bn and Luis de la Fuente’s Spain squad at €1.432bn. Together, those figures make the match one of the most valuable international fixtures in world football.

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is the most valuable player involved. He joined the Spain camp last Friday after an outstanding start to the season in which he has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists.

Yamal’s market value is estimated at €220m, placing him at the top of the global rankings. He is joined by three other Barcelona players whose values exceed €100m: Pedri (€150m), Fermin (€110m) and Pau Cubarsi (€100m).

Bellingham leads England’s highest-valued players

Jude Bellingham, who has produced an impressive level of performance in recent months, is England’s most valuable player at €160m.

Elliot Anderson, Declan Rice and Rogers are each valued at €120m, meaning all three also pass the €100m mark.

The goalkeeping departments provide one of the clearest contrasts between the squads. Spain’s three goalkeepers included among the nominees for the Yashin Trophy for the best goalkeeper of the year have a combined market value of €107m.

Juan Garcia is valued at €45m, David Raya at €30m and Unai Simon at €22m. England’s goalkeepers, Trafford (€35m), Jordan Pickford (€13m) and Steele, are collectively valued at less than €50m.

Pau Cubarsi is not the only defender attracting a significant valuation. Dean Huijsen is priced at €60m, while Quansah is valued at €50m.

One of the most striking comparisons is between Ballon d’Or winner Harry Kane and Yamal. Kane’s market value is listed at €60m, against €220m for the Spain forward, although the difference is largely explained by their 14-year age gap.

Yamal celebrated his 19th birthday on 13 July, while Kane turned 33 just 15 days later.

The list of high-value players extends across both teams. Full-backs Pedro Porro (€45m) and Cucurella (€60m), attacking midfielders Eze (€60m), Barrios (€70m) and Baena (€45m), and wingers Nico (€40m) and Gordon (€80m) are also part of the star-studded line-ups meeting at the Metropolitano.