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As is the norm in football, age is an important determining factor in the market values of players. Players tend to develop from their younger years and reach a peak level before declining with advancing age.
Generally, players over the age of 30 are considered to be moving towards the end of their careers, and their market values duly drop. Footballers' market values are determined partly by the contracts they have running at their clubs.
It is general knowledge that most football clubs do not offer long-term contracts to players above 30 years of age, and this causes their market value to decline.
With this in mind, here is a list of the five most valuable players aged 30 and above in world football at present, according to Transfermarkt.
#5 Antoine Griezmann (€50 Million)
French forward Antoine Griezmann is without a doubt one of the household names in world football. The 30-year-old has had a somewhat disappointing experience in the last couple of years, especially since his move to FC Barcelona.
The talented forward joined the Spanish giants for around €105 million, but has been loaned back to Atletico Madrid after only three years. Griezmann's loan move contains an option to buy for €40 million.
The experienced forward has made 22 appearances for Atletico Madrid this season with eight goals and three assists to show for his efforts at the club. A combination of his recent loss of form and his age have seen Griezmann's market valuation drop to €50 million.
#4 N'Golo Kante (€50 Million)
Watching N'Golo Kante play football on the pitch, it is hard to believe that the midfielder is already 30 years old. The football world has run out of adjectives to describe Kante as he has wowed everyone who has seen him play. The midfielder runs around the pitch like it's 2015 all over again.
Despite his superhuman-like intensity, his age and the results of his endless running are beginning to tell on him. The 30-year-old has missed more games than ever in the last two seasons due to a series of injuries that have plagued him.
The Frenchman was named UEFA Midfielder of the Year in 2021 after a sterling run of performances for Chelsea in their Champions League win. Kante was also voted as the fifth best footballer in the world in 2021. The midfielder currently has a value of €50 million.
#3 Virgil Van Dijk (€55 Million)
Liverpool defender Virgil Van Dijk remains one of the world’s best in his position this season. The 30-year-old Netherlands captain suffered a serious knee injury after a horrible tackle by Jordan Pickford in October 2020 during the Merseyside Derby.
The Dutchman made his return from injury at the start of the 2021-22 season, and many envisaged that he would not be the same player he was before the injury. Van Dijk has proven them all wrong with his performances on the pitch for the Reds as he continues to impress.
Van Dijk's reading of the game, composure and athleticism are almost unmatched in football today by any defender. His experience and quality have made him stand out among his fellow central defenders.
Van Dijk was named UEFA Men's Player of the Year in 2019, some months before his injury. The towering central defender is currently valued at €55 million, a handsome valuation for a defender that cost €90 million almost four years ago.
#2 Lionel Messi (€60 Million)
Only two months ago, Lionel Messi claimed a record-extending seventh Ballon d'Or crown as the best footballer on the planet. Messi moved from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer in the summer after the Spanish club ran into financial trouble, ending his 17-year association with the club.
The Argentina captain has never cost a penny in transfer fees in his career as he spent the entirety of his senior career at Barcelona until 2021. At 34, it was expected that he will be coming to the end of his career, but Messi has continued to dazzle fans all over the world.
The forward made the three-man shortlist for the 2021 FIFA 'The Best Men's Player' award. Messi is the oldest player on this list by a distance, and is worth €60 million at present.
#1 Kevin De Bruyne (€90 Million)
Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne has performed at such a consistently high level under Pep Guardiola that he has won almost every trophy at club level. The Belgian playmaker has been a major driving force in each of Manchester City's most successful campaigns over the past five years.
The 30-year-old is valued at €90 million, a whopping amount considering his age and experience. De Bruyne is clearly one of the best midfielders of his generation and has an unbelievable array of skills in his arsenal.
He recently finished a respectable 8th in the Ballon d'Or rankings, and was the second best player in Europe in 2021. Despite being 30 already De Bruyne remains one of the most valuable players in world football.
