The German soccer site Transfermarkt recently put out the most valuable players in CONCACAF at each position based on their value in the global transfer market. The most interesting thing about the lineup was not seeing the value of some of these players but the number of USMNT players that are highly valued in the global market.
A total of six Americans, three Mexican, one Canadian, and one Costa Rican make up the most valuable players in CONCACAF. Former USMNT player and journalist, Herculez Gomez put out a tweet with the lineup, that is valued at €310 million, and there was a surprise omission: Hirving Lozano, but once again this lineup is not based on preference, it is based on market value.
What was notable is that the USMNT back bone is present with John Brooks, Gio Reyna, Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie, and Tyler Adams, just another example of just how highly valued this current generation of American players are. Let’s review each player’s current situation and market value as we explore the most valuable starting 11 in CONCACAF.
GK – Keylor Navas – €10 million
Costa Rican international goalkeeper Keylor Navas is still the most valued keeper of the region at €10 million. Navas, 34, is the current PSG number 1 and had a stellar stint at Real Madrid following the 2014 World Cup. While there may be younger keepers on the market, Navas value comes with his experience.
RB – Sergiño Dest – €25 million
The Barcelona back can play either on the left and right sides, Sergiño Dest is valued at €25 million and has been one of the more consistent performers of a lackluster Barcelona side, making 15 appearances so far this season. Dest will be a key figure at the back for the USMNT come World Cup Qualifying.
D- Néstor Araujo – €7 million
Mexican defender Néstor Araujo has been at Celta de Vigo in La Liga since 2018 and has played over 80 games for the club. Valued at €7 million the 29-year-old has held his own in Spain and is a tidy defender. Araujo won four titles with Santos Laguna before his move to Europe.
D- John Anthony Brooks – €10 million
One of the biggest and toughest defenders in Germany, John Anthony Brooks has played his whole career in the Bundesliga, valued at €10 million, Brooks is the big man at the back for the United States. At 27, USMNT fans are asking for Brooks to step out of his roster position and become a leader for the national team.
LB – Alphonso Davies – €80 million
The sky’s the limit for Canadian phenom Alphonso Davies, who has made a huge splash at Bayern Munich since his move from MLS in 2018. Originally a winger, moved to Left Back he is one of the highest valued defenders in the world at €80 million. Davies is only 20 and has already won 7 titles at Bayern Munich!
DM – Tyler Adams – €16 million
The former New York Red Bull product is a tidy midfielder with good passing and covers a lot of ground. Tyler Adams is talented and is highly valued at €16 million, despite his many injuries he always seems to find his way back to the Leipzig starting lineup. The key for Adams is simply that, can he stay healthy long enough.
DM – Weston McKennie – €25 million
No player’s value has risen more in this starting lineup than Weston McKennie, the Juventus midfielder has been nothing but aces for the Italian Old Lady. Valued at €25 million, McKennie has improved greatly since his move to Juve.
CM – Gio Reyna – €30 million
The Borussia Dortmund midfielder ace is valued at €30 million, at the moment Gio Reyna has played the exact number of games he played last year, 15, but he has scored 3 goals and 1 was a highlight reel goal for years to come. Reyna is a strong, tricky, and deadly accurate midfielder, at just 18 he could become one of the best players for the USMNT and CONCACAF ever.
RW – Christian Pulisic – €60 million
Christian Pulisic, the great hope of the USMNT, is valued at €60 million, and he is worth every penny. At Chelsea, Pulisic has been nothing short of the best or one of the best players in the squad. If Pulisic can remain injury free, there is no question about his ability, he is top class. Why he was played at right wing when he is more effective on the left is beyond us.
LW – Diego Lainez – €7.5 million
If Pulisic was moved to make way for Diego Lainez at left wing, that would be criminal. Lainez is a young prospect, but light years behind many of the names on this list. Flashes of brilliance is all we have seen so far for the young Mexican at Real Betis, but really at the moment Lainez doesn’t belong here, and even less so to move Pulisic out of his natural position.
F- Raúl Jiménez – €40 million
The Wolves forward has been nothing but goals since his arrival to the team in 2018. Raúl Jiménez is valued at €40 million and at the moment could be considered the best forward in all of CONCACAF.