Barcelona's Lionel Messi is "valued as the world's most expensive player" at £163M ($235M), "pipping club teammate Neymar to top spot," according to Anthony Hay of the London DAILY MAIL. Cristiano Ronaldo is third, in the list provided by CIES Football Observatory, while Antoine Griezmann and Tottenham striker Harry Kane "make up the top five." The values of the players "are based on several different variables including age, length of current contract and potential suitors." All 100 players in the list "are employed by clubs in Europe's top five leagues." ManU's Anthony Martial's valuation "is rising every month" -- the 20-year-old has shown "he is capable of terrorising his opponents during his first season at Old Trafford." ManU "shelled out" an initial fee of £36M ($52M) but he is now, according to the study, worth a "staggering" £86M ($124M). Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba, who "is being chased by Europe's top clubs," is valued at £70M ($101M). English duo Kane and Dele Alli "are joined in the top 100 by compatriots Raheem Sterling, Eric Dier, Ross Barkley, John Stones, Jamie Vardy, Chris Smalling, Joe Hart and Wilfried Zaha." Premier League champions Leicester City has "three representatives in Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N'Golo Kante" (DAILY MAIL, 6/1).
CIES Football Observatory's Top 20 Player Values
|
Player |
Club
|
Value |
Lionel Messi |
Barcelona
|
£163M |
Neymar |
Barcelona |
£155M |
Cristiano Ronaldo |
Real Madrid |
£106M |
Antoine Griezmann |
Atlético Madrid |
£93M |
Harry Kane |
Tottenham |
£87M |
Anthony Martial
|
ManU |
£86M |
Luis Suarez |
Barcelona |
£81M |
Paulo Dybala |
Juventus |
£80M |
Sergio Aguero |
Man City |
£75M |
Paul Pogba |
Juventus |
£70M |
Gareth Bale |
Real Madrid |
£62M |
Eden Hazard |
Chelsea |
£60M |
Alexis Sanchez
|
Arsenal |
£58M |
Dele Alli |
Tottenham |
£58M |
Thomas Muller |
Bayern Munich
|
£57M |
Raheem Sterling
|
Man City |
£56M |
Robert Lewandowski |
Bayern Munich |
£52M |
Alvaro Morata
|
Juventus
|
£50M |
Toni Kroos |
Real Madrid |
£48M |
Gonzalo Higuain |
Napoli |
£47M |