2. Gareth Bale
At
£85 million, Gareth Bale is the world's most expensive player. Winner of the PFA Player of the Year, Young Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year Awards for 2013, the Wales international is one of the most high-profile absentees from the 2014 World Cup. Bale suffered the same fate as Aaron Ramsey following Wales's disappointing qualifying campaign that saw them finish second bottom in Group A, and will have to watch next summer's competition from his hugely-expensive villa.