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A player's market value is of high importance, especially during the transfer season or contract negotiations. The market value of a certain individual helps the club evaluate that player's price tag, wage bracket and transfer value.
A lot of variables are considered while determining the market value of a player. These include factors like the player's age, marketability, form, national team, position, skillset, stats, among others. Now that France Football has announced the 2021 Ballon d'Or final 30-men list, let us take a look at
5 most valuable Ballon d'Or 2021 nominees
Source: Transfermarkt
#5 Kevin De Bruyne (Belgium/Manchester City) — £90m
The Manchester City midfielder is undoubtedly one of the best midfielders ever to have graced the game. He is an important cog in Man City and Belgium's midfield unit. Kevin De Bruyne's vision and passing accuracy is second to none.
These attributes make the 30-year-old a player of high market value. As of now, Kevin De Bruyne has been tagged at £90m. The Belgian international had a successful EPL season last term with the Sky Blues. He scored 10 goals and assisted 18 across all competitions. His international outings were pretty decent as well. That's why he made the 30-men list for the Ballon d'Or in 2021.
Kevin De Bruyne is tipped to earn a lot of votes as many believe the midfielder deserves to win the Ballon d'Or trophy sooner or later. Grabbing a spot in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and the UEFA Champions League Team of the Year, KDB is certainly a favorite to win as many votes as possible.
#4 Romelu Lukaku (Belgium/Chelsea) — £90m
The other Belgian on the Ballon d'Or list is Romelu Lukaku. The former Inter Milan striker helped the Nerazzurri win the Scudetto, which was their first since the 2009-10 season. Scoring 30 goals off 44 games (across all competitions), Lukaku ended up as the team's most consistent performer, hence, making his place in the 30-men list for Ballon d'Or.
The 28-year-old has also had a fine stint in the national jersey so far this season. Lukaku has secured 11 goals of 12 games this year.
A return to Chelsea meant Romelu Lukaku would be joining a much more difficult league compared to Serie A. Nevertheless, the former Everton forward has scored three Premier League goals from his first six games.
Priced at £90m, Lukaku joins the club of elites and is expected to maintain the position for quite sometime, such has been his form lately. Before leaving Inter Milan, Romelu Lukaku secured the Serie A MVP of the season (2020-21).
#3 Harry Kane (England/Tottenham Hotspur) — £108m
Harry Kane is the highest-priced player in England as of now. The Tottenham striker is valued at £108m and hasn't seen any dip in his market value despite winning no trophies last year.
The England captain holds the infamous record of being the player to score the highest number of goals without winning a trophy. Harry Kane looked set to join Manchester City this summer. However, Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy rejected their early bid and Kane later agreed that he would remain with Spurs.
After finding the net 23 times (off 35 games) in the Premier League last year, Harry Kane has failed to score in each of six games so far this season. He also had the most assists (14) last season in the Premier League.
He ended the EURO 2020 campaign as a runner-up and as the joint second-highest (4) goal scorer.
#2 Erling Haaland (Norway/Borussia Dortmund) — £135m
A few seasons in the professional league was all that Erling Haaland needed to make a name for himself. The 21-year-old ran a rampage during his RB Leipzig days and earned a call-up to the German giants — Borussia Dortmund.
Haaland continues his goal scoring exploits at Dortmund and has averaged almost one goal per game so far. He is one of the few players who is equally impactful in domestic, continental and international outings.
Regardless of the stage, the Norwegian starlet just can't stop scoring. He is a threat to all the record setters. Erling Haaland is widely considered to be a Ballon d'Or winner sooner or later.
#1 Kylian Mbappe (France/PSG) — £144m
Without much of a surprise, the France and PSG superstar is the most valuable Ballon d'Or nominee of the year. The 22-year-old checks all the boxes that make him the most valuable player as of now.
Kylian Mbappe is one of the most decorated players of recent era and he is just 22 years of age. Many pundits and fans believe that the Frenchman will retire as one of the best footballers ever.
The last few days of the 2021 summer transfer window saw Mbappe attracting interest and a lucrative deal from La Liga giants Real Madrid. However, PSG turned down that offer to keep Mbappe in their ranks alongside the likes of Neymar and Leo Messi.
Should that deal have gone through, the Parisians would have been able to cash in on Mbappe's market value in the best way possible.
