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Footballers are transferred for ridiculously high amounts these days. Just in the past year, we have seen deals like Neymar joining PSG and Coutinho joining Barcelona break the £100 million barrier easily. Clubs are armed with a lot of money and this year's transfer window promises to be the same as last year.
Unsurprisingly, most of the names on this list involve forwards and attacking players. Goalscorers are often the most popular players in the world and it is no surprise to see their market value at such high prices.
Market values for a particular player are calculated by how well they play, age, their marketability and ability to sell shirts. Without much ado, let us take a look at the 10 most valuable players in world football at the moment:
Values courtesy – Transfermarkt
Note: Market values represent what their actual price in the transfer market is supposed to be and not the current inflated amounts.
#10 Philippe Coutinho - £90 million
Having completed a high stakes £142 million move to Barcelona in the January transfer window, Coutinho has quickly settled at the Camp Nou and become an important player for The Blaugrana.
One of the game's premier playmakers, Coutinho's dribbling ability, passing range, vision, and skills seem ideally suited to the football of Barcelona and the Brazilian has already shown what he is capable of having scored 9 goals and assisted a further 5 goals during his short tenure at Barcelona.
Capable of playing in the centre of the park or as a leftwinger, Coutinho's versatility and long-range shooting have added another dimension to the already impressive Barcelona squad. Touted as a long-term replacement for Andres Iniesta, the Brazilian's market value will only rise higher if he continues to perform at the same level.
#9 Antoine Griezmann - £92 million
The Frenchman is one of the best forwards in world football at the moment and his time at Atletico Madrid looks like it is coming to an end with Barcelona extremely keen on signing the 27-year-old.
The talented striker has once again been in good form this season having scored 27 goals so far. Quick, skilled and blessed with a magical left-foot, Griezmann has been Atletico Madrid's best player this season and has played a major role in their impressive LaLiga and Europa League campaign.
With Barcelona looking to seal the deal for Griezmann before the start of the FIFA World Cup, the Frenchman could soon be plying his trade along with the likes of Lionel Messi and Philippe Coutinho
With Griezmann only 27 and at the peak of his career, it will come as a surprise to nobody if his market value crosses the £100 million mark next year.
#8 Eden Hazard - £95 million
Eden Hazard, like Chelsea this season, has not been at his best. However, the Belgian superstar has shown glimpses of his full capabilities. Having scored 16 goals and assisted a further 7 in the season so far, Chelsea will be hoping that their 27-year-old star fires on all cylinders during the FA Cup final against Manchester United.
Undoubtedly Chelsea's most potent attacking threat, Conte has used his star man in a variety of positions ranging from left wing, attacking midfielder and even as a false 9. Extremely skilled and blessed with electric pace, Hazard will be itching to get back to the form he showed last year.
In a season when he and his team have not been at their best, Hazard's market value still remains among the top 10 in the world which shows just how skilled and talented the 27-year-old superstar actually is.
#7 Kevin De Bruyne - £100 million
Arguably the best midfielder in world football at the moment, Kevin De Bruyne was the driving force behind Pep Guardiola's stunning Manchester City side. Narrowly missing out on the Premier League Player of the Year award to Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, the Belgian superstar has taken his game to the next level this season.
De Bruyne’s importance to Pep Guardiola and the Manchester City team can be seen by these quotes from Guardiola himself. Speaking in an earlier interview, the legendary Spanish manager said:
"I think he is a special, outstanding player. He makes everything. Without the ball, he is the first fighter, and with the ball he is clear – he sees absolutely everything."
Still only 26, De Bruyne is at the peak of his powers and is definitely one of the most valuable players in world football at the moment.
#6 Harry Kane - £105 million
Harry Kane has proved all his critics wrong with his wonderful performances in the last few seasons.
Initially dismissed as a one season wonder, Kane has time and again shown that he is among the elite forwards of world football with his stunning performances for Tottenham Hotspur so much so that Pep Guardiola even called Spurs 'that Harry Kane team' in a press conference last year.
England's greatest hope at the World Cup this year, Harry Kane will be tasked with leading the line and replicate his incredible goalscoring form in Russia. Capable of scoring all types of goals, Harry Kane is arguably the greatest 'number 9' in world football at the moment.
#5 Cristiano Ronaldo - £108 million
At age 33 when most of the footballers usually think about hanging up their boots, Cristiano Ronaldo is rewriting the history books with his incredible goalscoring and outstanding performances. Having started the 2017/18 season slowly, Ronaldo soon rediscovered his form and has scored a stunning 42 goals in 40 appearances this season.
Although Real Madrid have fallen way behind Barcelona in LaLiga, it is the Champions League where both Los Blancos and Ronaldo have really stood up. The Portuguese superstar has scored an incredible 15 goals in the Champions League this season and with a final against Liverpool coming up, no one will be surprised if the 33-year-old manages to get on the scoresheet once again.
Having evolved his game from a winger to more of a striker, it is a testament to the Portuguese superstar's incredible adaptability and level of play that he is still the 5th most valuable player in the world even at the age of 33.
#4 Mohamed Salah - £115 million
Mohamed Salah has undoubtedly been the best signing of this season. The Liverpool forward has surprised everyone with the impact he has had. Playing as a winger, it is astonishing that the Egyptian has scored 32 goals in the Premier League and won the Golden Boot award.
Cutting in from the right-hand side, the left-footed winger has scored all types of goals, and defenders have struggled to cope with his quick pace, tricky feet, and insane dribbling skills. Still, only 25 and already a national icon at Egypt, Salah's market value is set to zoom onwards and upwards if he continues this stunning form.
With Liverpool in the Champions League final this season, Salah will be hoping to continue his good form and guide the Reds to a historic 6th European Championship in Kiev on 26th May.
#3 Kylian Mbappe - £115 million
French prodigy Kylian Mbappe has certainly lived up to the hype with his mature and brilliant performances for Paris Saint-Germain this season. Currently on loan from former employers Monaco, the 19-year-old is all set to become the second most expensive transfer of all time when PSG finalise the move next summer.
Touted as a future Ballon d'Or winner, the French superstar at the tender age of 19 already has two seasons in which he has scored more than 20+ goals. Expected to play a key role for France at the 2018 World Cup, Mbappe is by far the most talented teenager in world football at the moment.
Mbappe's idol is Cristiano Ronaldo and it is easy to see why. Playing in a style similar to his idol, the Frenchman's blistering pace and calm finishing have earned him plenty of plaudits. If he keeps this up, Mbappe might well go on to become one of the greatest footballers of this generation.
#2 Lionel Messi - £162 million
Undoubtedly the greatest Barcelona player of all time, Lionel Messi has arguably taken his game to new heights under Ernesto Valverde this season. Playing in a slightly deeper role in the beginning of this season, the Argentine maestro has been a brilliant playmaker cum goalscorer for Barcelona this season.
With Real Madrid in blistering form last season and with Neymar departing in the summer transfer window, questions were raised about Barca's chances this season. However, Messi almost single-handedly has answered all those questions and it will be interesting to see just how much longer the 30-year-old can maintain his incredible level.
With the World Cup coming up, Messi will be determined to play his best and guide Argentina to the title. If Argentina does end up winning the World Cup this year, Messi will definitely go down in history as the greatest player of all time.
#1 Neymar - £165 million
Having made a record-breaking €222 million move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, Neymar is quite understandably on top of this list. One of the most popular athletes in the world, the Brazilian superstar started off his PSG career with a bang scoring plenty of goals and bamboozling opposition defenders completely.
Just when it seemed that Neymar would be a legitimate threat for the Ballon d'Or award this year, a crucial leg injury kept him out for more than 2 months and put his World Cup spot in jeopardy.
However having recovered from the injury, the Brazilian superstar will be desperate to stamp his class and guide his beloved Brazil to the summit in Russia this year. Blessed with incredible dribbling ability and outstanding technical skills, Neymar has long been touted as a future Ballon d'Or winner.
If the 26-year-old superstar plays a starring role in the 2018 World Cup, we might just see the newly crowned Ligue 1's Player of the Year's market value rise even further.
