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The 2020-21 La Liga season has been an intense one, as Atletico Madrid, Barcelona and Real Madrid are separated by only three points atop the league table.
Atletico Madrid seemed to be the favourites to lift their first La Liga title in seven years at the beginning of this year. But their stuttering form and the resurgence of Barcelona and Real Madrid has ensured a thrilling three-horse race.
Five most expensive players in the 2020-21 La Liga:
The La Liga has historically been home to some of the biggest names in the game, like Diego Maradona, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and Karim Benzema, to name a few.
In more recent times, the likes of Ansu Fati, Frenkie de Jong and Joao Felix have graced the La Liga. On that note, let's have a look at the five most expensive players in the 2020-21 La Liga.
#5 Frenkie De Jong | FC Barcelona | $88 million
Frenkie de Jong has a decent 2020-21 La Liga campaign, scoring three goals and providing four assists in 29 league appearances.
This season, De Jong has made 77.6 passes on average per 90 minutes, along with 23.1 passes in the final third. The 23-year-old has been a key player for club and country.
The Dutchman leads his Barcelona teammates in terms of minutes played in the La Liga, Copa Del Rey and Supercopa and has the most minutes with his national team this campaign.
Frenkie De Jong is one of the first names in the Barcelona team sheet, which speaks volumes about his ability and character, especially after a tough debut season at the Camp Nou.
#4 Lionel Messi | FC Barcelona | $88 million
After a long reign at the top, Lionel Messi has fallen to fourth place in the list of most valuable players in the La Liga. This is not a reflection of his pedigree or form but has more to do with the Argentine's age.
Transfer values also consider the resale value of a player. At 33, La Pulga might not attract the price he once would have.
After a slow start to his campaign, Lionel Messi has gone atop this season's La Liga scoring chart, tallying 23 goals and ten assists in 27 outings to propel Barcelona to within a point of league leaders Atletico Madrid.
Depending on how Barcelona fare in the La Liga this campaign, Lionel Messi could decide if he commits his future to the Blaugrana or embarks on a new challenge.
#3 Ansu Fati | FC Barcelona | $88 million
Barcelona wunderkind Ansu Fati has been an instant sensation in the La Liga. Making his La Liga debut against Real Betis at the age of just 16, Ansu Fati is the second-youngest player in the competition's history.
Fati has gone from strength to strength, becoming the youngest player to score a brace in La Liga and the youngest goal-scorer in Champions League history. His rise to the top has been so rapid that he's considered as the next big thing in Spanish football.
The 18-year old's knee injury has kept him out of action for a large chunk of the 20/21 La Liga season. But he has still managed to make seven goal contributions - five goals and two assists - in 12 appearances this season.
Despite his young years, Fati has already shown immense potential to become one of the best ever players to have graced the La Liga.
#2 Joao Felix | Atletico Madrid | $88 million
Talking of young prospects, the boy wonder of Portuguese football, Joao Felix, who has been tipped by many for greatness from a very early age.
The 21-year old forward has not fully lived up to his potential since his record $140 million move from Benfica in the summer of 2019. But he has shown enough glimpses of his immense potential.
The Portuguese youngster has tallied 19 goals and 8 assists in two seasons at Madrid, with seven goals and five assists coming in the La Liga this campaign.
Felix is only expected to get better with more experience and game time. Being a naturally attacking-minded player, Diego Simeone's defensive tactics do not always allow the youngster to showcase his natural prowess.
Like De Jong, the young forward found life difficult in his debut season at La Liga leaders Atletico Madrid, but he has now settled down at the Wanda Metropolitano.
#1 Jan Oblak | Atletico Madrid | $99 million
Arguably the best goalkeeper in La Liga and world football, Jan Oblak is the most expensive player in the Spanish top flight at the moment.
Just shy of a $100 million valuation, Oblak is on the radar of every top club in European football, making him the hottest property at his position.
In 43 appearances for club and country this season, Oblak has 22 clean sheets, conceding a miserly 0.7 goals on average per 90 minutes. In 180 games for Atletico Madrid, the Slovenian has 99 clean sheets, with just 115 goals conceded.
Oblak's tally of 14 league clean sheets this season has propelled Atletico Madrid to the La Liga summit this season. Despite his team's stuttering form in recent games, Oblak would have a key role to ensure the Rojiblancos' first La Liga title in seven years.
Oblak made two sensational penalty saves in consecutive games against Deportivo Alaves and Sevilla last week.
In a title race that has seen Atletico Madrid's commanding lead whittle down to a single point, Jan Oblak will look to revive his team's fortunes with his commanding performances.
