In its latest report, the CIES Football Observatory outlines the world’s top 50 exporting nations of professional players. While Brazil remains at the summit with 1,455 expatriates (+37 over the past year), France is steadily gaining ground. With 1,275 French-trained players currently competing abroad (+86 in one year), France has firmly secured second place, ahead of Argentina in third (1,016 expatriates, +27). The long-term data is even more striking: since 2021, France has recorded the highest growth of any nation, with 332 additional players overseas—a 35% increase in just five years. These figures validate both the quality and the versatility of the French coaching model, which consistently produces players capable of meeting the demands of diverse global markets. Among the top ten exporters, the most dramatic surges come from Portugal (+66%), Spain (+60%), and Nigeria (+60%). Conversely, Serbia has seen the sharpest decline among historical exporters (-12%), signaling that its traditional talent pipeline is struggling against the rising competition from modern European and African academies.
