Spain's Vast Market-Value Gap With Cape Verde Highlighted After Shock Draw

Spain opened its 2026 World Cup campaign on Monday with a surprising 0-0 draw against Cape Verde, which was making its tournament debut and managed to take a point from one of the title favorites. The match was reported on June 15, 2026, at 21:25.

The financial gap between the teams is enormous. According to Transfermarkt, Spain has the third-most valuable squad in the world, behind only France and England, with an estimated total value of 1.22 billion euros. Cape Verde’s entire roster is valued at 54.5 million euros, one of the lowest figures in the World Cup.

That means Spain’s squad is worth 1.165 billion dollars more than Cape Verde’s and more than 22 times as much overall. Lamine Yamal alone is valued at 200 million euros, nearly four times the value of the entire Cape Verde squad.

The report also noted that Cape Verde’s sixth-most valuable player is Helio Varela, worth 2.5 million euros, while the game’s standout performer, goalkeeper Vozinha, is the team’s least-valued player at 50,000 euros. The article frames the draw as an upset not only on the pitch but also in economic terms.