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European nations dominate the top echelons of the FIFA world rankings with as many as six of them, led by Belgium, occupying the top eight spots. Multiple world champions from South America - Brazil and Uruguay - make up the rest.
Most players from the top-eight nations ply their trades in the top European football leagues and also feature regularly in continental competitions like the Champions League and the Europa League.
Ten most valuable teams in international football
It is not surprising that the top national teams also have some of the most expensively-assembled rosters in international football. On that note, let us have a look at the ten most valuable national teams in the game at the moment.
#10 Netherlands - €555.8 million
The Netherlands ended a six-year absence from major competitions by successfully qualifying for Euro 2020 after missing out on the previous edition of the tournament as well as the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Virgil van Dijk (€80 million), who is regarded as one of the world's best active centre-backs, is the team's captain and their most expensive player.
The Oranje have a relatively young squad comprising the likes of talented youngsters like Donny van de Beek, Matthijs de Ligt, Memphis Depay and Frenkie de Jong, who ply their trades in Europe's top-5 leagues.
After winning six of their eight Euro 2020 qualifying games to qualify for the quadrennial tournament, Netherlands are presently involved in Group 1 action in the 2020-21 Nations League along with Italy, Poland, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
#9 Argentina (€672.7 million)
Two-time world champions Argentina are led by Barcelona talisman Lionel Messi who is the oldest of ten players who have a market value of over €100 million.
Not surprisingly, Argentina depend heavily on their captain for inspiration but the team also has a few other promising players like Inter striker Lautaro Martinez, winger Lucas Ocampos and left-back Nicolas Tagliafico.
Argentina, who lost in the semifinals of the 2019 Copa America, have not won a major tournament for more two decades.
La Albiceleste are currently in 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying action. After opening their campaign with an unconvincing 1-0 home win over Ecuador with Messi scoring the lone goal of the game, the 2014 World Cup finalists next travel to Bolivia in midweek.
#8 Portugal (€754.3 million)
Led by their inspirational captain Cristiano Ronaldo, Euro 2016 winners Portugal have one of the most expensively-assembled rosters in international football.
Perhaps surprisingly, the market value of the trio of Bruno Fernandes, Bernardo Silva and Joao Felix (€80 million apiece) is more than that of the 35-year-old Ronaldo. Nevertheless, the Juventus striker continues to do what he does best - score goals aplenty - after becoming the first European player and second overall to reach 100 international goals.
Portugal are presently involved in Group 3 action in the 2020-21 Nations League where they won their first two games before being held to a goalless draw by fellow joint table-toppers France.
#7 Italy (€758.5 million)
Four-time world champions Italy turned around the disappointment of missing out on the 2018 FIFA World Cup by emphatically qualifying for Euro 2020 by winning all their qualifying games.
One of the youngest players in their roster, 21-year-old Gianluigi Donnarumma of AC Milan, is also the joint-most expensive player in the team (along with midfielder Marco Verratti). Led by 36-year-old captain Giorgio Chiellini, the Azzurri have a decent blend of youth and experience in their ranks.
Italy (12) are surprisingly not among the world's top ten teams in the FIFA rankings but are currently leading Group A1 in the 2020-21 Nations League after three games.
#6 Spain (€768.5 million)
After a lacklustre campaign in their last major tournament appearance at the 2018 FIFA World Cup where they lost to hosts Russia in the second round, Spain topped their Euro 2020 qualifying group to qualify for the quadrennial tournament.
La Furia Roja are led by Real Madrid legend Sergio Ramos who is Spain's all-time record appearance maker (174) and is his country's ninth-most prolific scorer; Ramos' 23 goals for Spain is an impressive tally for a centre-back.
Barcelona's teenage sensation Ansu Fati (€80 million) is both Spain's youngest as well as the most expensive player in the team's roster. The 2010 world champions are currently involved in the 2020-21 Nations League where they are leading a group containing Germany, Ukraine and Switzerland after three games.
#5 Belgium (€773.5 million)
Belgium are the world's top-ranked team in the FIFA rankings following their exploits in recent major tournaments.
Graced by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku, Dries Mertens and Thibaut Courtois, collectively called Belgium's golden generation, the European nation reached the quarterfinals of Euro 2016 and the semifinals of the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Manchester City talisman De Bruyne (€120 million) and Inter striker Lukaku (€85 million) are the two most expensive players in the team's roster.
Belgium were one of the earliest teams to qualify for Euro 2020 with them scoring 40 goals and conceding a miserly three during an impressive qualifying campaign and the golden generation will look to leave its mark by winning a major tournament in the Euros postponed to next year.
The Reds, who are currently trailing England in Group A1 in the 2020-21 Nations League after three games, suffered a disappointing 2-1 defeat against the Three Lions in London to be knocked off the perch in their group.
#4 Brazil (€865.3 million)
Brazil, the most successful team in World Cup history with five titles, may have been knocked off the numero uno position in the FIFA rankings but remain a formidable team comprising talented players in numerous positions.
In 28-year-old striker Neymar, the Selecao have one of the best strikers in world football in their ranks while the team is also well-staffed in other areas like goalkeeping, defence and midfield; not surprisingly the PSG man (€128 million) is the most expensive player in Brazil's roster.
Liverpool custodian Alisson Becker, captain Casemiro, Philippe Coutinho, Fabinho, Marquinhos, Roberto Firmino and Real Madrid's teenage sensation Rodrygo provide an eclectic mix of talent, youth and experience to Brazil who are the envy of most teams around the globe.
The reigning Copa America champions are currently involved in qualifying action for the 2022 FIFA World Cup where they opened their campaign with a convincing 5-0 win over hapless Bolivia in Sau Paulo.
#3 Germany (€926.5 million)
Four-time world champions Germany have the third-most expensively-assembled roster in international football.
25-year-old Bayern Munich right-winger Serge Gnabry (€90 million) is the most expensive player in Die Mannschaft's team, followed closely by his club-mate Joshua Kimmich (€85 million) and new Chelsea import Kai Havertz (€80 million).
In Manuel Neuer, who is widely regarded as one of the world's best goalkeepers, the 14th-placed team in the FIFA rankings have the perfect captain to lead a fairly young roster which has an average age of 26.5 years.
After qualifying for Euro 2020, Germany are currently involved in Nations League action where they trail Spain by two points after three games in their group.
#2 France (€1.24 billion)
Reigning world champions France are one of two international teams that have a squad value exceeding €1 billion. In fact, Les Bleus are more valuable than Liverpool (€1.05 billion), the most valuable club team at the moment.
France have an embarrassment of riches and quality backups in all areas of the pitch.
Led by captain Hugo Lloris who plies his trade at English club Tottenham Hotspur, Les Blues have the likes of Dayot Upamecano, Raphael Varane and Clement Lenglet in the centre of the defence. The Bayern Munich duo of Lucas Hernandez and Benjamin Pavard are the first-choice full-backs.
Chelsea's N'Golo Kante forms an effective shield in front of a formidable French defence. The midfield is resplendent with the likes of Paul Pogba, Corentin Tolisso, Adrian Rabiot and Kingsley Coman to name a few, all of whom are key players for their respective top-5 league clubs.
Up front, France have Antoine Griezmann, Olivier Giroud, Anthony Martial and the most expensive player in their roster, a certain Kylian Mbappe (€180 million), who also happens to be the most valuable player in world football at the moment.
#1 England (€1.29 billion)
The Premier League is the world's richest football league. Perhaps, it is no surprise that the England football team happens to be the most expensive roster in international football at the moment.
Despite recent improvements, The Three Lions still remain a work in progress under Gareth Southgate, but the team boasts as many as four players who have a market value of more than €100 million with Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling (€128 million) the most expensive of the lot.
After qualifying for Euro 2020, the 2018 FIFA World Cup semifinalists are currently in Nations League action in Group A2 where they beat Belgium 2-1 to go top of their group after three games.
