Fermin Lopez: The Second Most Valuable Player in the World Among Those Absent from the World Cup

Fermin Lopez continues to establish himself among the top global football stars, despite his absence from the 2026 World Cup due to injury. He has become the second most valuable player in the world market among all players not participating in the tournament.

The 'Transfermarkt' website indicated that the 23-year-old Barcelona midfielder's value reached 100 million euros, placing him second on the list of the most valuable players absent from the World Cup, behind the Georgian Khvicha Kvaratskhelia of Paris Saint-Germain, whose market value is 140 million euros.

Fermin suffered a fracture in the fifth metatarsal of his right foot during the last La Liga match between Barcelona and Real Betis, an injury that prevented him from being included in the Spanish national team's World Cup squad, despite being a strong candidate for the tournament.

The significant jump in the player's market value came after an outstanding season with Barcelona, where he scored 13 goals and assisted 17 others in 48 matches, continuing his remarkable development since returning to the first team following a successful loan spell at Linares in the 2022/2023 season.

Kvaratskhelia tops the list of the most valuable players absent from the World Cup after his exceptional season with Paris Saint-Germain, crowned with the UEFA Champions League title, raising his market value to 140 million euros, benefiting from his contribution of 19 goals and 11 assists in 48 matches, though he missed the tournament due to Georgia not qualifying.

Englishman Cole Palmer is equal with Fermin in market value at 100 million euros, but the 24-year-old attacking midfielder is absent from the World Cup after not being selected for England's squad, despite scoring 11 goals and assisting 3 others in 34 matches this season.

The list also includes Hungarian Dominik Szoboszlai, a Liverpool midfielder, whose market value is also 100 million euros after scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists in 53 matches, while he missed the tournament due to Hungary's failure to secure a qualification spot.

In fifth place is Cameroonian Bryan Mbeumo, a Manchester United winger, with a market value of 75 million euros, after scoring 12 goals and assisting 3 others in 34 matches, while Cameroon not qualifying prevented him from appearing in the World Cup.

Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen is also absent from the tournament due to his country's failure to qualify, despite his impressive numbers with Galatasaray this season, where he scored 22 goals and provided 8 assists in 33 matches, with his market value reaching 75 million euros.

The report confirmed that Fermin is the youngest among the prominent players with high market values absent from the World Cup, and he also ranks among the top 15 players in the world in terms of market value overall.

Only a limited number of stars surpass the Barcelona star among players his age or younger, led by his teammates Lamine Yamal, who has the highest global market value at 200 million euros, and Pedri, whose value is estimated at 150 million euros, in addition to Paris Saint-Germain's Joao Neves, Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham, and Frenchman Désiré Doué.