Mbekezeli Mbokazi Becomes MLS's Most Valuable Player at €20 Million After World Cup

• Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi's transfer value surged following his standout displays at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
• The 20-year-old featured in all four of South Africa's World Cup matches, including their historic run to the knockout stages
• CIES has now ranked Mbokazi as the highest-valued player in Major League Soccer in their latest Football Observatory report

Bafana Bafana defender Mbekezeli Mbokazi has been ranked the most valuable player in Major League Soccer, with the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) placing his transfer value at €20 million, equivalent to approximately R373 million.

The valuation, published in the [554th CIES Football Observatory Weekly Post](https://football-observatory.com), assessed the top 10 highest-valued players across 55 competitions outside Europe's top five leagues. Mbokazi, 20, topped that list, a remarkable standing for a player who only recently transitioned from Orlando Pirates to Chicago.

World Cup performances drive valuation surge

The spike in Mbokazi's market value follows his performances at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where he started all four of South Africa's matches.

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Bafana Bafana lost 2-0 to Mexico, drew 1-1 with Czechia, defeated South Korea 1-0, and then exited the tournament with a 1-0 defeat to Canada in the Round of 32. Despite the early exit, the campaign was historic; South Africa reached the knockout stages of the FIFA World Cup for the first time.

As the youngest member of coach Hugo Broos' squad, Mbokazi completed the full 90 minutes in each fixture. His performances earned him recognition among the best under-23 central defenders globally, placing tenth on that particular CIES ranking. His Bafana teammate Ime Okon ranked fourth in the same category.

Injury interrupts Mbokazi's momentum

The post-tournament period has been less straightforward for Mbokazi. He picked up an injury shortly after the World Cup, keeping him sidelined until late September. The setback also caused him to miss three Bafana Bafana fixtures during the most recent international break.

Chicago are understood to have signed Mbokazi from Orlando Pirates for a fee of approximately €2.5 million, or around R46 million. His current CIES valuation of €20 million represents a staggering increase on that initial outlay, underscoring how significantly his stock has risen since his move to MLS.

Source: Briefly News