Saturday , December 14 2024

Lionel Messi valued as world’s most expensive player

Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is valued as the world’s most expensive player at £163m, pipping club team-mate Neymar to top spot.

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 – Premier League, La Liga, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1.

Kane’s inclusion in the top five comes after a hugely successful season at White Hart Lane.

The 22-year-old, who has attracted interest from Manchester United, is valued at £87m in CIES Football Observatory’s latest findings.

Kane played a major role in helping Tottenham compete for the title by scoring 25 goals to win the Premier League Golden Boot.

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.

United shelled out an initial fee of £36m but he is now, accoring to the study, worth a staggering £86m.

Juventus and France midfielder Paul Pogba, who is being chased by Europe’s top clubs, is valued at £70m.

His valuation would be higher if he had a lengthy deal with Juventus but his current contract is due to expire in 2019.

Dele Alli (far right) features in the top 100 along with team-mates Eric Dier, Ross Barkley and John Stones

Manchester United forked out £36m on France international Anthony Martial but he is now valued at £86m

Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha (left, pictured with Alan Pardew) makes the list due to his age and value

Dele Alli’s rise from a League One prospect to a Premier League star has been remarkable.

Tottenham bought the Englishman for just £5m but he is now said to be worth more than world superstars such as Robert Lewandowski, Mesut Ozil and Karim Benzema.

English duo Kane and 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 have three representatives in Vardy, Riyad Mahrez and N’Golo Kante.

The likes of Wayne Rooney and Zlatan Ibrahimovic do not feature on the list because of their age at 30 and 34 respectively.

CIES FOOTBALL OBSERVATORY’S VALUATION ON TOP 100 PLAYERS

1. Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – £163m

2. Neymar (Barcelona) – £155m

3. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – £106m

4. Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) – £93m

5. Harry Kane (Tottenham) – £87m

6. Anthony Martial (Man United) – £86m

7. Luis Suarez (Barcelona) – £81m

8. Paulo Dybala (Juventus) – £80m

9. Sergio Aguero (Man City) – £75m

10. Paul Pogba (Juventus) – £70m

11. Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – £62m

12. Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – £60m

13. Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) – £58m

14. Dele Alli (Tottenham) – £58m

15. Thomas Muller (Bayern) – £57m

16. Raheem Sterling (Man City) – £56m

17. Robert Lewandowski (Bayern) – £52m

18. Alvaro Morata (Juventus) – £50m

19. Toni Kroos (Real Madrid) – £48m

20. Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli) – £47m

21. Isco (Real Madrid) – £47m

22. P.E Aubameyang (Dortmund) – £48m

23. James Rodriguez (Real Madrid) – £45m

24. Romelu Lukaku (Everton) – £45m

25. Hector Bellerin (Arsenal) – £43m

26. Kevin De Bruyne (Man City) – £43m

27. Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool) – £40m

28. Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid) – £39m

29. Willian (Chelsea) – £39m

30. Koke (Atletico Madrid) – £39m

31. Mauro Icardi (Inter Milan) – £38m

32. Diego Costa (Chelsea) – £38m

33. Mesut Ozil (Arsenal) – £38m

34. David Alaba (Bayern) – £38m

35. Thibaut Courtois (Chelsea) – £37m

36. Eric Dier (Tottenham) – £37m

37. Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) – £37m

38. Sergio Busquets (Barcelona) – £37m

39. Raphael Varane (Real Madrid) – £36m

40. Christian Eriksen (Tottenham) – £36m

41. David de Gea (Man United) – £36m

42. Cesc Fabregas (Chelsea) – £35m

43. Nicolas Otamendi (Man City) – £35m

44. N’Golo Kante (Leicester) – £34m

45. Douglas Costa (Bayern) – £34m

46. Memphis Depay (Man United) – £34m

47. Riyad Mahrez (Leicester) – £33m

48. Pedro (Chelsea) – £33m

49. Lucas Moura (PSG) – £33m

50. Jerome Boateng (Bayern) – £33m

51. Saul Niguez (Atletico Madrid) – £32m

52. Alexandre Lacazette (Lyon) – £32m

53. Andre Gomes (Valencia) – £32m

54. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) – £32m

55. Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) – £31m

56. Virgil van Dijk (Southampton) – £31m

57. Daley Blind (Man United) – £31m

58. Ross Barkley (Everton) – £31m

59. Emre Can (Liverpool) – £30m

60. Ivan Rakitic (Barcelona) – £30m

61. Marco Verratti (PSG) – £30m

62. Mohamed Salah (Roma) – £30m

63. Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus) – £30m

64. John Stones (Everton) – £29m

65. Roberto Firmino (Liverpool) – £29m

66. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) – £29m

67. Erik Lamela (Tottenham) – £29m

68. Nemanja Matic (Chelsea) – £29m

69. Oscar (Chelsea) – £29m

70. Juan Mata (Man United) – £28m

71. Giannelli Imbula (Stoke) – £28m

72. Manuel Neuer (Bayern) – £28m

73. Angel di Maria (PSG) – £27m

74. Sadio Mane (Southampton) – £27m

75. Carlos Bacca (AC Milan) – £27m

76. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) – £27m

77. Felipe Anderson (Lazio) – £27m

78. Jamie Vardy (Leicester) – £27m

79. Denis Suarez (Villarreal) – £27m

80. Dimitri Payet (West Ham) – £26m

81. Leroy Sane (Schalke) – £26m

82. Marquinhos (PSG) – £26m

83. Henrikh Mkhitaryan (Dortmund) – £26m

84. Chris Smalling (Man United) – £25m

85. Radja Nainggolan (Roma) – £25m

86. Julian Brandt (Bayer Leverkusen) – £25m

87. Wilfried Zaha (Crystal Palace) – £25m

88. Bernardo Silva (Monaco) – £24m

89. Kostas Manolas (Roma) – £24m

90. Gerard Pique (Barcelona) – £24m

91. Paco Alcacer (Valencia) – £24m

92. Miralem Pjanic (Roma) – £24m

93. Danilo (Real Madrid) – £24m

94. Alessandro Florenzi (Roma) – £24m

95. Jordon Ibe (Liverpool) – £23m

96. Marco Reus (Dortmund) – £23m

97. David Silva (Manchester City) – £23m

98. Joe Hart (Manchester City) – £23m

99. Marcelo (Real Madrid) – £23m

100. Jonathan Tah (Bayer Leverkusen) – £22m

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