What’s the story?
It’s been a tough week for Ronaldo. Lost to Barcelona on Sunday, dropped (rested) against Deportivo de La Coruña and now, he is no longer in the top 2 of the most valuable players according to transfermarkt.
Barcelona star, Neymar has overtaken the Real Madrid superstar as the 2nd most valuable player in the world. Transfermarkt calculates market values for a particular player in regards to how well they play, their age and their ability to sell shirts.
And now, according to them, Neymar is a more marketable player than the Portuguese star. The Brazilian is just 25 while Ronaldo has turned 32, and hence the fall to 3rd place.
In case you didn’t know...
Transfermarkt is a website that has footballing information, much more than the usual scores, results, transfer news, and fixtures. The site calculates player values and is highly regarded for its accuracy.
Their database is huge, and they have information about almost all the players in the world. From Lionel Messi to Caglar Söyüncü, they have full information and stats in detail.
The heart of the matter
Cristiano Ronaldo has been the 2nd most valuable player for a long time, just behind Lionel Messi but that is not the case anymore. Messi is valued at €120 million by the website while Ronaldo is now at €100 million.
Neymar is now worth €100.5 million according to the website and is now the 2nd most valuable player in the world. The Brazilian has been in top form for Barcelona this season, and his value has considerably increased.
The left winger single-handedly helped Barcelona move into the last 8 of the Champions League. His stellar performance in the epic 6-1 victory over Paris Saint-German was highly commended, and that is said to be the main reason for his value to increase.
What’s next?
Ronaldo is 32 now, and it's not a surprise that his value is decreasing. While his performance on the pitch remains the same, his marketability is reducing because of the number of years he has left in him.
The Portuguese international wants to continue playing till he's 40 but the level of his performance might not be the same in the next 3-4 years itself. Meanwhile, Neymar is just 25 and has at least another ten years of top level football in him.
Author’s Take
Brands always want to have their hands on players who are going to be at the top for the next 7-8 years at least. This has put Ronaldo in a fix as the top companies are now chasing Neymar - as they know how good he is.
