Portugal vs. Spain squad comparison: Market values, most expensive players

All eyes will be on AT&T Stadium when neighbours Portugal and Spain go toe-to-toe with each other for a place in the World Cup 2026 quarter-finals.

UEFA Nations League champions Portugal are still hunting for their first-ever World Cup title and will set their sights on reaching at least the semis for the first time in 20 years.

European champions Spain, on the other hand, have not gotten past the round of 16 since they won this competition in 2010.

Interestingly, La Roja have lost only once in their last 34 matches across all competitions, and that defeat came against Portugal in the Nations League final.

Ahead of this skirmish, Football Whispers takes a look at how both teams compare in terms of their most and least valuable squad players.

Portugal vs Spain squad value comparison

All values from Transfermarkt

Portugal’s total squad value is €1.01bn (£865.3m), ranking them fourth in terms of all World Cup 2026 squads.

On the other hand, Spain's squad is valued at €1.22bn (£1.05bn), making them the third most expensive squad, behind only France and England.

Portugal vs Spain most valuable players

Portugal's most valuable players are the Paris Saint-Germain trio of Vitinha (€140m/£120.8m), Joao Neves (€140m/£120.8m), and Nuno Mendes (€80m/£68.5m). All three players have been instrumental in the Nations League champions' success and have featured in all the team's games so far.

Meanwhile, Spain's most valuable players are the Barcelona trio of Lamine Yamal (€200m/£171.4m), Pedri (€150m/£128.5m), and Pau Cubarsi (€80m/£68.5m). These players have contributed a lot to a La Roja side that has yet to concede in this competition.

Portugal vs Spain least valuable players

Portugal's three least valuable squad players are Jose Sa (€3.5m/£3m), Nelson Semedo (€6m/£5.1m), and Goncalo Guedes (€6m/£5.1m). Guedes and Sa have not earned any minutes so far in this tournament, while Semedo has come on from the bench three times.

Spain's three least valuable squad players are Borja Iglesias (€2.8m/£2.4m), Aymeric Laporte (€8m/£6.9m), and Marcos Llorente (€20m/£17.1m). Laporte and Llorente both have a goal contribution, while Iglesias has not participated in this competition at all.

Portugal vs Spain transfer records

Portugal’s most expensive player is Joao Felix, who moved to Atletico Madrid from Benfica in 2019 for €127m (£108.8m).

On the other hand, Spain's most expensive player is Kepa Arrizabalaga, who moved from Athletic Bilbao to Chelsea in 2018 for €80m (£68.5m).