04/20/26 06:57:00
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04/20 05:00 CDT Billion-dollar attack: France boasts a rich scoring depth other
World Cup teams only dream of
Billion-dollar attack: France boasts a rich scoring depth other World Cup teams
only dream of
By JEROME PUGMIRE
AP Sports Writer
PARIS (AP) --- France will have rich depth in attack at the World Cup.
About a billion dollars' worth.
That's the estimated total value of the attacking players France is expected to
bring to the tournament, from two-time World Cup final scoring sensation Kylian
Mbapp to rising star Dsir Dou.
For coach Didier Deschamps the headache is not about who to choose, but who to
leave out of his starting lineup for France's World Cup opener against Senegal
on June 16.
He has a huge amount of talent to complement the prolific scoring of Mbapp,
who is enjoying another prolific season with Real Madrid and needs one more
goal to tie Olivier Giroud as France's all-time leading scorer with 57 goals.
There's the speed and finishing of Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembl; the
clinical scoring and exquisite passing of Michael Olise; the maverick skill of
the technically gifted Rayan Cherki; or the fleet-footed runs of fellow
newcomer Maghnes Akliouche.
According to estimates from soccer website transfermarkt and the CIES Football
Observatory, which take into account the remaining time on a players' contract,
France's 10 attacking players are worth 855 million euros, which is a fraction
over $1 billion.
Here's a look at the top players.
Mbapp tops the list
Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar leads the way at 200
million euros ($236 million).
Mbapp is followed by the Bayern Munich star Olise at 140 million euros. The
London-born Olise's form has been scintillating for Bundesliga champion Bayern
with 18 goals and 25 assists in 44 games.
The 20-year-old Dou has three years left on his PSG contract and is valued at
around 115 million compared to 100 million euros for Dembl, who has two years
left to run at PSG and is eight years older.
Their goal-scoring PSG teammate Bradley Barcola --- who starred against Chelsea
in the Champions League --- comes in next at 70 million euros, followed by
Cherki at 65 million.
Cherki's value could rise
Cherki first caught the eye six years ago when he was 16, scoring twice in a
French Cup game for Lyon. He has entered a new dimension since joining
Manchester City in the offseason for what is now looking like a bargain fee of
36 million euros. He scored a fine solo goal against Arsenal in their Premier
League table-topping clash on Sunday.
His ability to create goals with his intuitive passing have surprised even City
coach Pep Guardiola --- who worked alongside two of the world's finest passers
in Lionel Messi and Iniesta at Barcelona --- and Cherki's value could rocket if
he does well at the World Cup.
Akliouche scored in both legs for Monaco against PSG in a closely-contested
Champions League playoff and his galloping runs from deep make him hard to
track. He is also capable of brilliant individual goals, scoring a superb
overhead kick for Monaco last season.
He is valued at 50 million euros along with Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram,
who has hit form in recent weeks as Inter closes in on the Serie A title.
Thuram adds to France's attacking options thanks to his heading ability, a
strong point shared by Jean-Philippe Mateta.
The imposing striker is a consistent scorer for Premier League side Crystal
Palace and has netted two goals in three appearances for Les Bleus.
Mateta is expected to join a bigger club next season and is valued at 35
million euros, ahead of former PSG forward Randal Kolo Muani. He is on loan at
Tottenham and, although he has lost form, he would likely fetch 30 million if
PSG sold him.
Kolo Muani almost wrote his name into World Cup history in 2022, but missed a
chance right at the end of extra time in the final, which France lost on
penalties to Argentina despite a hat-trick from Mbapp. -__
AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
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