The World Cup is the ultimate opportunity for soccer players to make a name for themselves.
A few good performances on the global stage, and you could find yourself with a transfer to a major club.
Just look at James Rodriguez and Keylor Navas — two relative unknowns at the 2014 World Cup who are now global superstars after their performances in Brazil.
But who are the most valuable players heading to this summer's World Cup, which starts in Moscow on Thursday? Using data from soccer site Transfermarkt, Business Insider has picked out the most valuable player from every one of the 32 teams going to the tournament.
It's worth noting that the most valuable player on a team may not be its star, as transfer values for young players with more of their careers left tend to be higher. Check out the most valuable player on each team below, organised by their groups in the tournament.
Currency conversions are correct as of midday on Monday June 11.
Russia — Aleksandr Golovin
Age: 22
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $21.2 million (R276 million)
Saudi Arabia — Yasser Al Shahrani
Age: 26
Position: Left back
Value: $1.77 million (R22 million)
Egypt — Mohamed Salah
Age: 25
Position: Winger
Value: $177 million (R2.3 billion)
Uruguay — Luis Suarez
Age: 31
Position: Striker
Value: $82.5 million (R1 billion)
Portugal — Cristiano Ronaldo
Age: 33
Position: Striker
Value: $117.8 million (R1.5 billion)
Spain — Sergio Busquets
Age: 29
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: $94.3 million (R1.2 billion)
Morocco — Amine Harit
Age: 20
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $29.5 million (R384 million)
Iran — Sardar Azmoun
Age: 23
Position: Striker
Value: $10.6 million (R138 million)
France — Kylian Mbappe
Age: 19
Position: Striker
Value: $141.1 million (R1.8 billion)
Australia — Aaron Mooy
Age: 27
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $11.8 million (R153 million)
Peru — Andre Carrillo
Age: 26
Position: Winger
Value: $7.1 million (R92 million)
Denmark — Christian Eriksen
Age: 26
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $94.3 million (R1.2 billion)
Argentina — Lionel Messi
Age: 30
Position: Forward
Value: $212.1 million (R2.7 billion)
Croatia — Ivan Rakitic
Age: 30
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $58.9 million (R767 million)
Iceland — Gylfi Sigurdsson
Age: 28
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $35.4 million (R461 million)
Nigeria — Wilfred Ndidi
Age: 21
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: $29.5 million (R384 million)
Brazil — Neymar
Age: 26
Position: Forward
Value: $212.1 million (R2.7 billion)
Switzerland — Granit Xhaka
Age: 25
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: $47.1 million (R613 million)
Costa Rica — Keylor Navas
Age: 31
Position: Goalkeeper
Value: $21.2 million (R276 million)
Serbia — Sergej Milinkovic-Savic
Age: 23
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $106 million (R1.3 billion)
Germany — Toni Kroos
Age: 28
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $94.3 million (R1.2 billion)
Mexico — Hirving Lozano
Age: 22
Position: Winger
Value: $25.9 million (R337 million)
Sweden — Emil Forsberg
Age: 26
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $29.5 million (R384 million)
South Korea — Heung-min Son
Age: 25
Position: Winger
Value: $58.9 million (R767 million)
Belgium — Kevin De Bruyne
Age: 26
Position: Central midfielder
Value: $176.7 million (R2.3 billion)
Panama — Anibal Godoy
Age: 28
Position: Defensive midfielder
Value: $942,568 (R12.2 million)
Tunisia — Wahbi Khazri
Age: 27
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $11.8 million (R153.7 million)
England — Harry Kane
Age: 24
Position: Striker
Value: $176.7 million (R2.3 billion)
Poland — Robert Lewandowski
Age: 29
Position: Striker
Value: $106 million (around R1.3 billion)
Senegal — Sadio Mane
Age: 26
Position: Winger
Value: $82.5 million (around R1 billion)
Colombia — James Rodriguez
Age: 26
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $82.5 million (around R1 billion)
Japan — Shinji Kagawa
Age: 29
Position: Attacking midfielder
Value: $15.3 million (R199 million)
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