Netherlands vs Spain – The most valuable XI ever for players from both nations

XI worth over €1b 

As the March international break gets underway, the long and winding road to the 2026 World Cup begins. The initial qualifiers will take place this spring, with teams across the globe vying to make it to USA, Canada and Mexico in just over a years time. Whilst the opening qualifiers go ahead, there is also the small matter of the Nations League quarter-finals, as the elite go head-to-head in pursuit of the trophy. One of the most mouth-watering ties sees 1988 Euro winners the Netherlands host Euro 2024 champions Spain in Amsterdam.

Both nations have long been renowned as two of Europe’s strongest footballing countries, and both have produced a plethora of extremely talented players across the past few decades. The nations actually faced off in the 2010 World Cup final, with Spain ultimately victorious that night. But which of the two European heavyweights have produced the most valuable players over the past few decades? And how would a combined XI of their most valuable stars shape up?

Since Transfermarkt began recording market values back in 2004, there have been four players from either Netherlands or Spain that have been worth €100m+. The Netherlands sole representative is Virgil van Dijk, who commanded a market value of €100m back in 2019 – the season Liverpool won the Champions League. From Spain current winger Lamine Yamal is their most valuable player of all-time, with a market value of €180m, whilst Manchester City midfielder Rodri is currently worth €130m. Pedri, worth €100m at this moment in time, is the only other player from these nations to achieve that feat.

The most valuable XI from record market values from Dutch & Spanish players

When we collate the most valuable XI from the record market values from both Dutch and Spanish stars, it makes quite the team. Incredibly the XI would boast a market value of €1.04b. In between the sticks is former Manchester United goalkeeper David De Gea, who was worth €70m when with the Red Devils in 2018. It’s Dutch dominance at centre-back, with van Dijk (€100m), and Matthijs De Ligt (€75m in 2019) marshalling the defence. Left-back goes to Jordi Alba (€70m in 2018); at right-back is Daniel Carvajal (€60m in 2018).

Spain, synonymous with producing silky midfielders, comprise two of the three players in the middle. Rodri (€130m) holds, with Pedri (€100m), and Barcelona’s Dutch midfielder Frenkie de Jong (€90m in 2019) just ahead of him. Lining up on the right-wing is Yamal (€180m), with Marco Asensio (€90m in 2018) taking the left-wing position, and Liverpool’s Dutch forward Cody Gakpo, currently worth €70m, leading the line. In total there are seven Spaniards in the line-up to four Dutchmen.