The most valuable players NOT going to the World Cup

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Many players consider the World Cup to be the greatest competition and the grandest stage in all of football. As such, football fans expect to see the best players in the world donning their national team colours and locking horns with stars from other nations. However, that isn’t always the case. Sometimes injuries strike at the worst time, and while this year’s tournament has been expanded to 48 nations, there are still some that are missing out, and as such, some of the most valuable players in the world will be following along from the comfort of their own living rooms. So, who are the most valuable players to be missing out on the 2026 World Cup? Let’s take a look.

Below is a list of every player worth €50 million or more in market value that won’t be taking part in this year’s tournament. This group of players includes former Champions League winners, current European champions, impressive goal scorers in Europe’s biggest leagues and, in many cases, some of the most sought-after players in this summer’s transfer window. In some cases, they were excluded due to injury or simply because their nation failed to qualify for the World Cup. But in many instances, they are simply top-tier players who didn’t make the cut. And will surely already be looking ahead to next season to get back on top. The top 10 are listed below, with the rest available to view in the gallery.

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