Lamine Yamal sets an unprecedented record in football history

Lamine Yamal, the 18-year-old talent of Barcelona, is appraised at a record-breaking 350 million Euros by the CIES Football Observatory, the top valuation globally for players under 20.

The young star Lamine Yamal continues to astonish the football world with a valuation of 350 million Euros by the CIES Football Observatory, marking the highest ever for a player under 20.

This enormous figure reflects not only Yamal’s outstanding performance for Barcelona but also his growing influence on European football.

According to the latest CIES report, the player valuation model considers factors such as age, playing position, performance, contract length, and market trends. The results show Yamal is in a “league of his own.”

The 18-year-old star’s value not only surpasses his peers by a wide margin but also exceeds many of the world’s top names, even higher than the combined value of the next three players.

Second on the list is Estevao Willian, an 18-year-old Brazilian forward from Chelsea, valued at 118 million Euros. Following him is Pau Cubarsi, a young Barcelona defender, at 113 million Euros. The presence of two La Masia graduates in the top three confirms Barca’s famed academy remains a “gold mine” producing world-class talents.

Also surpassing the 100 million Euro mark is Franco Mastantuono of Real Madrid (102 million Euros), an Argentine star dubbed the “new Messi” due to his intelligent playstyle and refined skills.

Meanwhile, the rest of the top 10 showcase diversity in nationality and leagues, including Warren Zaire-Emery (PSG), the duo Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly (Arsenal), Geovany Quenda (Sporting CP, signed with Chelsea), Endrick (Real Madrid), and Lucas Bergvall (Tottenham).

CIES reports there are currently 113 teenage players worldwide valued at 10 million Euros or more, coming from 80 clubs across 25 leagues. The English Premier League leads with 23 players, followed by the Bundesliga (16) and Ligue 1 (11), demonstrating the strong appeal and financial power of these competitions.

For Barcelona, having Yamal and Cubarsi both in the top three is not only a source of pride in their youth talent but also a “lifeline” amid financial constraints. Considering transfer values alone, these two gems could help the Catalan club restructure their squad in the near future.