In 2023, La Liga giants Real Madrid signed Bellingham for a transfer fee of €103 million. He then contributed 23 goals in a single season, helping the team win the La Liga title and making it into the top three for the Ballon d'Or.
Furthermore, Bellingham's most iconic moment to date was undoubtedly his bicycle kick game-winning goal against Slovakia in the 2024 European Championship. He contributed a total of 3 goals in that tournament, ultimately helping England finish as runners-up.
In the 2026 World Cup, he will also shoulder the heavy responsibility of England's pursuit of the championship, and his performance is highly anticipated!
Click below to view the complete pre-match analysis from OpenScore.
9. Vinicius Junior of Brazil, age: 25, current market value: €140 million
As one of the most impactful left-wing attacking weapons in modern football, Brazilian striker Vinicius Junior, currently playing for La Liga giants Real Madrid, has become the core of his team's and national team's attack in recent years.
He has helped Real Madrid win three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League titles to date, and has scored in both Champions League finals, showcasing his prowess.
Vinicius Jr. was also named FIFA Men's Player of the Year in 2024 and won the Silver Ball award, placing second in the world in the Ballon d'Or voting that same year.
With the 2026 USA-Canadian Cup underway, he, as a core player of the Samba Army, will also shoulder the heavy responsibility of leading the Brazilian national team to strive for the sixth world championship in the team's history!
8. Portugal's Vitinha, age 26, current market value: €140 million
Currently playing for French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, Tigna, who plays as a midfielder, is known for his skillful short passing rhythm, excellent ball control, and wide defensive coverage, and is widely regarded as the team's "midfield metronome".
At the same time, the midfield line he formed with his compatriot João Neves was hailed by football commentators as the golden combination of ball control in the world today!
Vitinha's career has reached its peak in recent years. He was not only repeatedly selected as the best player in the 2024 European Championship, but also served as the core leader in the 2024-25 season.
With his dominant performance at the club, Vitinha finished third in the 2025 Ballon d'Or voting, officially establishing himself as a world-class midfield maestro.
Georgia's Kvalatskhria, age 25, current market value: €140 million
Kvalatschria, 25, who plays for Napoli in Serie A, has revealed that his childhood idol was Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo.
In 2024, he led the Georgian national team in the Europa League to a stunning 2-0 victory over Portugal, the team his idol played against. Kvalatschlia has spoken about Ronaldo's influence on him in interviews on several occasions.
He also said that having the opportunity to compete on the same field as his idol, leading the national team to make history, and successfully exchanging jerseys after the game was undoubtedly an important milestone in his career.
6. Portugal's Neves, age: 21, current market value: €140 million
Neves, who currently plays for French Ligue 1 giants Paris Saint-Germain, once conquered the European battlefield with his precocious passing ability, even breaking Cristiano Ronaldo's record of 30 Champions League appearances, and is hailed as the latest successor to the Portuguese national team's midfield.
Neves demonstrated highly efficient midfield dominance. In a key group stage match of the World Cup, Portugal defeated strong group opponent Croatia 2-0. After the match, the 21-year-old won the tournament's MVP award, demonstrating his substantial influence on the field.
Portugal's head coach Martinez also said after the match that Neves was able to remain calm under intense pressure, and his all-around performance in both attack and defense was the key to the team's victory.
5. Frenchman Olissie, age 24, current market value: €150 million
Possessing exquisite passing skills, at only 24 years old, and currently playing for Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, Olise is considered a rising star in the French football world.
In the World Cup group stage, France defeated Senegal 3-1, securing their first victory. During the match, Olise demonstrated crucial attacking organization skills, delivering four key passes that assisted Mbappe in scoring.
After the match, Mbappe, who scored two goals, also praised Olise's brilliant performance, saying that partnering with him made the attack much easier!
4. Spanish player Pedri, age 23, current market value: €150 million
Besides France's Kylian Mbappé, 19-year-old Spanish football prodigy Pedri is also attracting much attention from fans.
Looking back at 2021, it was a banner year for Pedri's career. At just 18 years old, he displayed amazing stamina, becoming the "Iron Man" with the most appearances in Europe that season.
He also won the Kopa Trophy, which symbolizes the best player under 21, and the European Golden Boy Award, which recognizes the most outstanding young player in European leagues, thanks to his superb skills.
Pedri's explosive power, excellent ball control skills, and advanced vision for understanding the game always allow him to clear the offensive path and find a breakthrough in chaotic situations.
His playing style has earned him the reputation of being "Messi's successor," making him an indispensable key player for Barcelona.
3. Kylian Mbappé of France, age: 27, current market value: €180 million
Kylian Mbappé, the French star, is a prime example of a "young hero". He was scouted and signed into the youth academy by French Ligue 1 giants Monaco when he was only 14 years old, entering the top professional football development system earlier than his peers.
Kylian Mbappé, who was first selected for the French national team in 2017, rose to fame in the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia the following year!
At just 19 years old, he was unstoppable in the tournament, scoring 4 goals and becoming the youngest French player to score in the World Cup, helping the French team advance all the way to the final and win the championship.
2. Erling Haaland of Norway, age: 25, current market value: €200 million
Tied with Spanish football prodigy Yamar as the most valuable player in this World Cup, Haaland boasts a height of 194cm, amazing explosiveness, and top-notch goal-scoring efficiency.
Coming from a family of athletes, he joined the youth training system of his hometown team, Burnley, at the age of 5, and showed excellent physical condition and extraordinary athletic talent from a young age.
Haaland won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2023-2024 and 2024-2025 seasons, and then in January 2025, he extended his contract with Manchester City until 2034. This contract has been described by outsiders as a "historic" long contract.
Haaland is wearing the Norwegian national team jersey this time, leading the team to the World Cup again after 28 years. His performance is highly anticipated!
1. Yamal FC of Spain, age: 18, current market value: €200 million
As one of the most dazzling young stars in football in recent years, Yamar, who plays for La Liga giants Barcelona and is also the main right winger for the Spanish national team, has earned the reputation of "genius winger" at a young age.
According to the latest market value data from the football data website Transfermarkt, which focuses on players from various countries for the 2026 World Cup, Yamal's current market value has soared to 200 million euros.
At 18 years old, Yamal has achieved fame at a young age. In 2023, when he was only 15, he broke the record and became one of the youngest players to appear in the league in Barcelona's history.
On the field, he not only possesses keen judgment comparable to that of a veteran player, but also demonstrates sharp attacking skills on the right wing, as well as composure and calmness when facing veteran defenders, all of which show the demeanor of a great general.
However, Yamar suffered a leg muscle strain during a match at the end of April. Whether this talented young man can recover in time and lead Spain to victory in the World Cup has become the focus of attention for fans around the world.
