Osimhen, Lookman Among Most Valuable Stars Missing 2026 FIFA World Cup
Nigeria’s shock elimination in the CAF group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers means the Super Eagles will not feature at the expanded 48-team tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
For Nigerian fans, the absence of star forwards Victor Osimhen and Ademola Lookman is particularly painful.
Both players have been central to Nigeria’s recent successes, with Osimhen widely regarded as one of the world’s most lethal strikers and Lookman enjoying a breakout spell in Europe.
Their absence underscores the disappointment of Nigeria’s campaign, which ended prematurely despite the squad’s depth and attacking talent.
For Osimhen, who now plies his trade in Turkey, and Lookman, whose performances have made him one of Africa’s most valuable forwards, missing the World Cup is a bitter setback.
Nigeria is not alone in its heartbreak.
Transfermarkt data shows that the combined market value of the 12 most valuable players missing the finals stands at €670 million.
Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai leads the list with a valuation of €100 million, followed by PSG’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia at €90 million. Osimhen, valued at €75 million, sits alongside Manchester United’s Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko.
Other Premier League names include Milos Kerkez and Brentford’s Dango Ouattara, whose Burkina Faso side also failed to qualify. Clubs such as Liverpool, Manchester United, and Bayer Leverkusen each have multiple players missing out.
