Expensive Transfers and Valuable Players: Argentina vs. Ecuador in the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers

The Argentine National Team will face Ecuador at the start of the 2026 World Cup Qualifiers for the United States, Mexico and Canada. The dispute not only occurs within the field of play, but also outside it. Both teams have among their ranks players with a very high market value: this is the case, for example, of Enzo Fernández and Moisés Caicedo who caused surprise with their recent transfers.

Many Albiceleste players increased the value of their respective passes after the conquest of the third star in Qatar 2022. This is how the transfer of Enzo Fernández from Benfica to Chelsea for 121 million euros became the most expensive sale of an Argentine player in history.

Although Ecuador was not far behind in the duel of millions and in recent weeks, Chelsea also decided to make the most expensive purchase in the history of the club and of the Premier League: Moisés Caicedo will wear blue, after disbursing the amount of 133 million euros for the transfer from Brighton.

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The Ecuadorian team had never managed to qualify for a World Cup before the 21st century. The Korea – Japan 2002 edition was the first in which he was present, then in Germany 2006, Brazil 2014 and Qatar 2022, under the technical direction of Gustavo Alfaro. The undeniable growth of Ecuadorian soccer put players from that country on the scene, and those who knew how to take advantage of it achieved million-dollar transfers.

Caicedo is the biggest figure at the moment and Argentina knows it, so he will be the player to score. The Ecuadorian comes from shining at Brighton & Hove Albion, the former team of Alexis Mac Allister, who knows him very well.

The triumphant moment of Enzo Fernández, with the World Cup in Qatar 2022. Photo: Instagram @enzojfernandez.

That is why Moisés is not the only Ecuadorian with a value of six figures. In August 2022, Brighton closed the contract for Pervis Estupiñán, in a transfer that was made for around 21 million euros. The seasoned central defender came from Villareal to the “Gaviotas” to replace Marc Cucurella.

The English team not only received money from the historic sale of Caicedo, but was also able to make cash with the transfer of Alexis Mac Allister after the World Cup. The former Boca and Argentinos Juniors player went to Liverpool for 40 million euros, plus other variables that could increase Brighton’s earnings to 60 million euros.

More sales that were made before the World Cup in Qatar 2022

There were transfers that marked the preview of Qatar 2022 in the Argentine National Team: Cristian Romero and Lisandro Martínez, two central defenders used by Lionel Scaloni during the qualifiers and the World Cup, had gone to the Premier League.

Moises Caicedo celebrates a goal during the Qatar 2022 World Cup. Photo: Instagram @moises_caicedo55

Cuti arrived from Atalanta to Tottenham, initially on loan. His performances stood out, he reached the hearts of English fans and finally in August 2022 they made the decision to buy his pass for 55 million euros. In this way, he also entered the ranking of the ten most expensive Argentines in history.

Licha, meanwhile, changed teams in mid-2022. Manchester United, led by Erik Ten Hag, took notice of the then Ajax defender and paid the same figure: 55 million euros.

Also read: A National Team player announced that he will be a father again: the reaction of the daughter he had as a bachelor

On the Ecuadorian side, although it involves an Argentine team, Piero Hincapié was another of the last million-dollar sales of national players. In 2021, while he was playing for Talleres de Córdoba, from Independiente del Valle, Bayern Leverkusen made the decision to acquire his token for almost 7 million euros. Today, it is estimated that his pass is worth 35 million of the same coin.

The truth is that the recent transfers that surprised the transfer market both from the side of the Argentine National Team and the Ecuadorian National Team set the tone for what will be played in the next match. Two very valuable establishments in the papers that will seek to pave the way for the next World Cup event.

2023-09-04 09:29:50
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