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Footballers are transferred for ridiculously high amounts of money these days. Whether it be Paul Pogba’s world record transfer to Manchester United or Gonzalo Higuain’s incredible move to Juventus, football clubs are not afraid to spend huge amounts of money on the players they want.
Unsurprisingly, the list is dominated by players from Barcelona and Real Madrid. The two La Liga powerhouses have had the best players in the world playing for them and it is no surprise to see their players feature prominently.
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 the world:
Values courtesy – Transfermarkt
#10 Eden Hazard (Chelsea) – €70 million
Chelsea superstar Eden Hazard is the 10th most valuable player in the world. The 26-year-old Belgian has long been talked about as a future Ballon d’Or winner and is definitely one of the best players in the Premier League.
Primarily playing as an attacking midfielder/winger, Hazard really matured as a world-class player during the 2014-15 season where he won the PFA Player of the Year award and guided Mourinho’s Chelsea to a stunning League title.
The following season, Hazard failed to capture his best form, but this season, under Conte, the Belgian looks to be back at his best. Antonio Conte’s Chelsea are the runaway leaders in the Premier League at the moment and Hazard’s performances have gone a long way in taking the London outfit to the summit of the Premier League.
Real Madrid have long been admirers of the Belgian superstar, but only a bid well in excess of the world record transfer fee will see Chelsea even consider selling their prized asset.
#9 Gonzalo Higuain (Juventus) – €75 million
Gonzalo Higuain was on fire last year. The Argentine almost singlehandedly guided Napoli to the Serie A title scoring an almost unbelievable 36 goals in 35 appearances before sealing a controversial move to Juventus for a fee of €90 million.
While many eyebrows were raised at the amount paid for the 29-year-old Argentine, Higuain with his performances for Juventus this season has shown that he is worth every penny the Old Lady spent on him.
At Juventus, Higuain has hit his straps almost immediately. 22 goals in 32 appearances along with a goal against old club Napoli has seen him quickly win over the Bianconeri Ultras and the addition of the Argentine striker has made Juventus one of Europe’s top clubs again.
The Serie A giants will be hoping that Higuain guides them to both domestic an European success this season.
#8 Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich) – €80 million
Probably the best finisher in the world right now, Robert Lewandowski is undoubtedly Poland’s and Bayern Munich’s star striker. The Polish forward always knows where the goal is and his 42 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern Munich last season proved to be crucial in their Bundesliga and DFB Pokal triumph.
Good in the air, good with both feet and deadly from the penalty spot, Robert Lewandowski is one of the most complete strikers in world football. With 25 goals in 31 appearances this season, Lewandowski has carried on his good form and is one of the star names in the incredible Bayern Munich side.
The Polish striker has long been linked with a move away from the Premier League, but Bayern Munich are more than determined to hold on to their star man. The Polish superstar has adapted quickly to new manager Carlo Ancelotti’s ideology and the striker will be looking to outgun Aubameyang and Modeste in the race for the Bundesliga Golden Boot this season.
#7 Paul Pogba (Manchester United) – €80 million
The world’s most expensive player, Paul Pogba, is widely tipped to be a future Ballon d’Or winner by many of his peers and it is easy to see why there is so much hype about the talented 23-year-old midfielder.
Pogba has been described by his club Manchester United as a "powerful, skilful, and creative" player who has "an eye for goal and a penchant for the spectacular." Equally comfortable in both a defensive and attacking midfield role, Pogba has also been praised for his ability, leadership and work rate.
Although he initially struggled to live upto his huge transfer fee at Manchester United, in recent matches, the mercurial Frenchman has rediscovered his best form and is already one of Jose Mourinho's favourite players.
With time, the huge fee paid by Manchester United for Pogba might start looking like a bargain.
#6 Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid) – €82 million
The France and Atletico Madrid forward had a bittersweet 2016. Undoubtedly Atletico’s star man, Griezmann narrowly missed out on the La Liga, Champions League and the Euros. Although he missed out narrowly on all the major trophies, Griezmann captured the imagination of football fans all over the world with his wonderful performances for both Atletico Madrid and France.
Winner of the Golden Boot award in the Euros, Griezmann has been compared with some of France’s best players such as Thierry Henry and Michel Platini. The Frenchman has long been linked with a big-money move away from Atletico Madrid with Manchester United favourites to sign the talented Frenchman.
Still only 25, Griezmann is one of the most wanted players in the world. Blessed with great skill, amazing dribbling skill and a dream of a left foot, the Frenchman might well end up becoming the main story of the summer transfer window.
#5 Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) – €90 million
Backed to be the best player in the world in the future by Real Madrid President Florentino Perez and manager Zinedine Zidane, Bale recently signed a bumper new contract on 30th October which will keep him at Santiago Bernabeu until 2022.
One of the fastest footballers in the world, Gareth Bale is known for his pace, skill, agility and ability to get past defenders due to his awesome acceleration. Football pundit Mark Lawrenson recently commented about Bale saying:
“What makes Gareth Bale so special? Simple. He is one of the quickest players I've ever seen, but he has another gear and the ability to find that extra pace within the next stride. He has the ability to perform and use his technique at great pace."
The only thing holding back Bale from genuine greatness is his fitness issues and if the Real Madrid forward manages to be fit, he might well become as great as Cristiano Ronaldo for Los Blancos.
#4 Luis Suarez (Barcelona) – €90 million
The Barcelona number 9 has arguably taken his game to new heights ever since he completed a big-money transfer from Liverpool to Catalonia. Scoring and setting up goals for fun, Suarez even outscored Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Antoine Griezmann in La Liga in the 2015/16 season scoring 40 goals in 35 games, winning the Pichichi award.
Supremely talented and tenacious, Luis Suarez always gives more than a 100% on the pitch. Known for his direct running and skillful dribbles, Luis Suarez tormented defenders all over Europe nutmegging them at will and scoring some spectacular goals as well.
Suarez’s contributions are not only restricted to the attacking side of the pitch. Always a team player, the Uruguayan can often be seen flying into tackles and working hard for the team when Barcelona relinquish possession.
This season as well, Suarez is second (behind Lionel Messi) in the race for the golden boot having scored 18 goals in 21 games for the Catalan giants.
#3 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) – €100 million
One of the two stand out footballers of this generation along with Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players ever to play the beautiful game. Ronaldo’s goal scoring exploits have been mind boggling considering the fact that he plays as a winger on most occasions.
The Portuguese superstar first captured the world’s attention at Manchester United, putting in some stunning performances, leaving defenders flat-footed with his dazzling skills. After his move to Real Madrid, Ronaldo took his game to a whole new level becoming one of the best goalscorers ever to play the game.
Having a burning desire to be the best, Ronaldo has worked hard to hone his undoubtedly prodigious talent. Ronaldo is capable of scoring all types of goals be it stunning long-range efforts, free kicks, simple tap-ins or even powerful headers.
It is incredible, that at the age of 32, Ronaldo is still valued at €100 million.
#2 Neymar (Barcelona) – €102 million
Considered the favourite to break the Ronaldo-Messi Ballon d’Or duopoly and the long-term heir to Lionel Messi, Neymar is considered to be the future of Barcelona. The 25-year-old recently signed a 5-year-contract extension with the Catalan giants.
The Brazilian superstar has been one of the best performers in La Liga and across the world ever since he made a move to Barcelona, playing a key role in Barcelona’s stunning treble season in 2014/15 and their double in 2015/16 scoring crucial goals and forming a devastating partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Neymar’s skills, dribbling, technical ability and playmaking skills often remind us of another Brazilian who is a Barcelona legend, Ronaldinho. Tipped to be the next big football superstar, it is only a matter of time before Neymar becomes the most valuable footballer in the world.
#1 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – €120 million
The only footballer ever to win the Ballon d’Or award 5 times, Lionel Messi is an absolute phenomenon. The diminutive Argentine has been Barcelona’s main man for a long time now and has put in some spellbinding performances in the Champions League and La Liga.
Capable of winning matches single-handedly, the left-footed genius has made Barcelona from a very good team a great team. Barcelona have arguably been the best team in the last 12 years and Lionel Messi has been an integral part of their success.
Currently, the Barcelona superstar is yet to sign a new contract and there have already been plenty of reports stating that PSG and Manchester City are in the market for the Argentine. The most valuable player in the world, the Barcelona board will be desperate for Lionel Messi to sign a contract extension and commit his long-term future to the Catalan giants.
