Lamine Yamal has been named the world’s most valuable player in the latest CIES Football Observatory list, with the Barcelona star topping the organisation’s 2026 top 100 rankings.
Yamal has moved to the head of the CIES valuation table after another standout season, underlining his rapid rise at club and international level. The teenage winger has become one of the most influential young players in the game, and his position at No.1 reflects the growing belief that he is already among football’s elite assets.
However, the list has also produced a major talking point with Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele left out entirely of the top 100. Despite his individual recognition, Dembele does not appear anywhere in the CIES rankings, a surprising omission given his profile and recent success.
The CIES Football Observatory uses its own metrics to estimate player values across world football, and its latest top 100 again highlights how age, contract situation and performance can shape perceived market worth. In this edition, Yamal leads the way, while Dembele’s absence stands out as one of the most unexpected outcomes of the entire list.
