World Cup 2026 market movers including Kylian Mbappe, Mikel Oyarzabal and more

In years gone by, performances at international tournaments have had a huge bearing on transfer activity, with stars such as Wayne Rooney, Mesut Ozil and James Rodriguez all examples of players who have completed big-money moves shortly after excelling on the international stage.

With the transfer window now open across Europe, are there any players who have competed in North America over the last month whose values have increased following their performances at the 2026 World Cup? Let's take a look.

Players whose values have increased during the 2026 World Cup

Elijah Just

New Zealand's Elijah Just performed admirably during the group stages of the tournament, and there are now several clubs rumoured to be interested in the Motherwell winger. Just scored three goals, including a double against Iran, which is excellent news for Motherwell, who were already bracing themselves for offers after an impressive Scottish Premiership season.

Prior to the World Cup, Just was valued at £2.5m by Transfermarkt, but suitors will now likely have to quadruple that to get him out of Motherwell.

Kylian Mbappe

There were whispers that Real Madrid were considering parting ways with Kylian Mbappe at the end of last season, and while there was nothing concrete ever reported, any chances of that are now gone. Mbappe has enjoyed a stunning World Cup, scoring eight goals in seven matches, and with a third-place playoff to come, he could still win the tournament's Golden Boot award.

Mbappe was valued at £155m by Transfermarkt before the tournament, but he would almost certainly become the first-ever £200m player if he were bought now.

Mikel Oyarzabal

The time may have come for Mikel Oyarzabal to spread his wings and embark on a new adventure away from Real Sociedad. The 29-year-old has been Spain's leading man at the World Cup, and his five goals have helped them to the final. He was the match-winner in extra time of the Euro 2024 final, and if he can score another huge goal for his country on Sunday, he will surely be in demand once the tournament is completed.

Before the tournament, Oyarzabal was valued at just £20m, but he would likely no command a fee of more than £40m.

John Stones

This may seem like an odd call considering John Stones is available on a free transfer this summer, but his performances for England could allow him to demand better wages from potential suitors. Stones has been in and out of the England team, but was excellent against both Mexico and Norway when his country needed him most. If he can stay fit, he remains one of the best defenders in English football.

Manu Kone

While all the focus in the French camp has been on their stunning forward line, Manu Kone has been excellent in the middle of the park for Les Bleus. The Roma man isn't a household name like Mbappe, Dembele and Olise, but his job in midfield is extremely important. He has the legs to cover a lot of ground, and his passing ability has helped France get into attacking areas quickly.

Kone was valued at £40m before the tournament, but considering other midfielders of a similar ability have been going for more than double that, his value will certainly have increased.