Didier Deschamps doesn't have a selection problem. He has a selection crisis — the good kind. France's attacking options for World Cup 2026 are valued at 855 million euros, just north of $1 billion, and the argument over who starts against Senegal on June 16 has no clean answer.
Kylian Mbappé leads the list at 200 million euros and needs just one more goal to equal Olivier Giroud's all-time France record of 57. He's been ruthless at Real Madrid this season. That's not the debate. Everyone else is.
The depth behind Mbappé is the real story
Michael Olise — valued at 140 million euros — has posted 18 goals and 25 assists in 44 games for Bundesliga-winning Bayern Munich. That's a legitimate claim to a starting spot. Désiré Doué at 20 years old is already valued at 115 million, with three years left on his PSG deal. Ousmane Dembélé, eight years older, is worth 100 million. Four players worth more than 100 million euros each, and that's before you get to Barcola, Cherki, Akliouche, Thuram, Mateta, and Kolo Muani.
Rayan Cherki is the wildcard worth watching. He's taken to Manchester City like he was built for Pep Guardiola's system — and Guardiola has worked with Messi and Iniesta, so his surprise at Cherki's passing instincts means something. His 36 million euro fee is already looking embarrassing for whoever sold him. A strong World Cup could send his valuation into Olise territory overnight.
Maghnes Akliouche scored in both legs of Monaco's Champions League playoff against PSG. Marcus Thuram is hitting form as Inter close in on Serie A. Jean-Philippe Mateta keeps finding the net for Crystal Palace. Randal Kolo Muani — still haunted by that missed chance in the dying seconds of the 2022 final — is the odd one out, on loan at Spurs and out of form, though PSG would still bank 30 million if they moved him.
What this means for the tournament
No other nation at this World Cup can match this attacking depth. The question isn't whether France will score — it's whether Deschamps can keep 10 elite attacking players motivated when half of them are warming the bench. Squad harmony has been a fault line for France before. With this much talent and this much money sat in reserve, it could be again.
- Mbappé — 200m euros, Real Madrid, 56 France goals
- Olise — 140m euros, Bayern Munich, 18 goals + 25 assists this season
- Doué — 115m euros, PSG, 20 years old
- Dembélé — 100m euros, PSG, Ballon d'Or winner
- Barcola — 70m euros, PSG
- Cherki — 65m euros, Manchester City
- Akliouche — 50m euros, Monaco
- Thuram — 50m euros, Inter Milan
- Mateta — 35m euros, Crystal Palace
- Kolo Muani — 30m euros, Tottenham (loan)
France open against Senegal on June 16. If the attack clicks from the first whistle, the rest of the tournament gets very straightforward very fast. If Deschamps gets the selection wrong — or the squad fractures — a billion euros' worth of talent won't save them.
