Billion-dollar attack: France boasts a rich scoring depth other World Cup teams only dream of
PARIS: 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 Mbappe to rising star Desire Doue. 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 Mbappe, 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 Dembele; the clinical scoring and exquisite passing of Michael Olize; the maverick skill of the technically gifted Rayan Cherki; or the fleet-footed runs of fellow newcomer Maghnes Akliouche. According to estimates from football 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, which is a fraction over $1 billion. Here’s a look at the top players. Mbappe tops the list Unsurprisingly, the 27-year-old Real Madrid superstar leads the way at €200 million ($236 million). Mbappe is followed by the Bayern Munich star Olize at €140 million.
