The Mexico team for the 2006 Germany World Cup is worth 76 million US dollars, 2.6 times the value of the team in the last Cup in 2002, Mexican sporting daily La Aficion said on Thursday.

The average contract for the 26 members of the national team is 2.9 million dollars.

Defender Rafael Marquez, who plays for Spanish side Barcelona, is the most expensive player with a 12 million dollar contract. The second priciest player is Francisco Fonseca, from Mexico's Cruz Azul, with a six milion dollar contract.

In descending order, the remaining players in the list are: Guadalajara forward Omar Bravo, five million dollars; defenders Carlos Salcido, of Guadalajara and Ricardo Osorio, Cruz Azul, on four million dollars each.

Jared Borgetti, rated the best Mexican forward of all time, who plays for English team Bolton, is worth two million dollars, while forward Guillermo Franco, an Argentine who has naturalized himself as a Mexican, but plays for Spanish team Villareal, costs three million dollars.

The cheapest player is Claudio Suarez, who has a 500,000 dollar contract with United States team Chivas.

The 2002 team cost 26.8 million dollars, Aficion said.

Coach Ricardo Lavolpe has called up 26 players, but will cut three from the team, sending only 23 to Germany.

Source: Xinhua