Having already taken a look at the value of each of the players currently in Portugal's Nations League squad, we turn our attentions to looking at the 15 most valuable players who missed the cut.
The players are ranked by the value specified by the Transfermarkt, a website you can visit via this link.
In places where two or more players are valued the same, they have been separated based on total appearances made across all competitions.
15. Cedric Soares (£10.8m)
The fifteenth most valuable player to miss out on the squad according to Transfermarkt is Southampton’s Cedric Soares. After a disappointing loan spell with Inter Milan, his stock has dropped and he’s fallen below trio Joao Cancelo, Nelson Semedo and Ricardo Pereira in Fernando Santos’ plans.
14. Adrien Silva (£11.7m)
Adrien Silva is another player who has also slipped out of Portugal’s plans. Like Cedric, Adrien was part of Portugal’s Euro 2016 squad, but it seems unlikely that he’ll work his way back into the national team with so much competition in midfield. A valuation of £11.7million shows that he’s still a very solid footballer though.
13. Rafael Leão: (£13.5m)
Leao comes in at number 13; perhaps somewhat surprising to see him only valued at £13.5million considering his youth, but nevertheless the 19-year old striker is already considered the 13th most valuable player to miss out on a place in the Portugal squad.
12. Diogo Dalot: (£13.5m)
Also valued at £13.5million is Manchester United right back Diogo Dalot. His value has increased considerably since he moved to Manchester United, although still hasn’t reached the £20million the Red Devils paid for the former Porto man last summer.
11. Florentino Luis: (£13.5m)
At the start of the season, few fans outside of Portuguese football would have likely known about Florentino. Now though, he’s becoming more of a household name after stunning performances for Benfica, and the 19-year old, who is yet to make his senior debut for Portugal - like both Dalot and Leao) is considered to be valued at £13.5million
10. Ferro: (£13.5m)
Creeping into the top 10 due to his increased number of games compared to those below him, Ferro has been another revelation for Benfica since being promoted to the senior side. His defensive game is already so refined, and he’s only 22 years of age. After just half a season playing for Benfica’s main side, he already looks like one to watch out for.
9. Helder Costa (13.5m)
Coming in at number 9 is Wolves man Helder Costa. A very talented footballer who has had a very poor season, Costa is still considered to be one of the most valuable players to have missed out on the Portugal squad. After all, we all know how good he once was.
8. Renato Sanches (£16.2m)
Renato Sanches may have struggled for game time with German giants Bayern Munich this season, but he still remains one of Portugal’s most valuable fringe player - that said though, 3 years ago, you’d have expected him to have a much higher valuation than £16.2million by now, particularly having seen how magnificent he was for Benfica and Portugal at Euro 2016. Hopefully he goes on to fulfil that potential.
7. João Mario (£16.2m)
Mario is at number 7, the Inter Milan midfielder having a really up and down couple of seasons to get to this point. He’s an efficient performer though, and does possess a lot of talent. Playing in the right system under the right manager, he’s a quality player. For £16.2million, he would prove an absolute bargain for many a club.
6. Gedson Fernandes (£18m)
Gedson next. Yet another young Benfica player who has only recently come through the academy. A quality box-to-box midfielder, he has already played for the Portugal national team - and fully deserved too. He’s yet another player to keep an eye on, with that value likely to rocket upwards in the coming years.
5. Ricardo Pereira (£18m)
At number 5, it’s Leicester City’s player of the year Ricardo Pereira. He can consider himself highly unfortunate not to make the senior team, but with Nelson Semedo and Joao Cancelo playing in the same position as him, it’s understandable.
4. Rony Lopes (£22.5m)
Rony Lopes is the first man to break the £20million barrier. Not the best of seasons for Rony, with a few injury setbacks as well as a hugely disappointing campaign for his club Monaco at the same time, he wasn’t anywhere near as effective as the season before. Nevertheless, he is stil just 23 years of age and has already proven in the past that he’s a top quality player. Hopefully he bounces back next season.
3. Anthony Lopes (£22.5m)
Interesting to see a goalkeeper make the top 3. Anthony Lopes, who has temporarily ‘retired’ from the national team, is also thought to be wroth £22.5million by Transfermarkt, an impressive valuation for a shot-stopper, but is testament to the ability of the Lyon man.
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2. Gelson Martins (£25.2m)
Gelson Martins is, perhaps unsurprisingly, considered the 2nd most valuable player to miss out on the squad. While he had a dreadful time in Spain with Atletico Madrid, he himself admitted that his game simply didn’t suit that of manager Simeone, and after moving to Monaco, he really came back to life and showed some of the quality that Atletico Madrid believed they had signed in the first place. Still relatively young, he’s got a big future.
1. Andre Silva (£31.5m)
And coming in at number 1, by some distance, is Portuguese striker Andre Silva. Still only 23 years of age, it’s been a testing couple of seasons for the AC Milan man, and who knows where his future lies. Nevertheless, he remains Portugal’s best out-and-out striker (not including Cristiano, of course) and, had he been fit for the Nations League, you can bet good money that he’d have been included in Fernando Santos’ squad. He’ll be back, having been so effective for his country up front and having forged a great partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo.
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