Most valuable South American XI

Bhargav
Lionel Messi is one of the most valuable South American players.
Lionel Messi is one of the most valuable South American players.

Left-winger - Neymar (€128 million)

Neymar
Neymar

Valued at €128 million, Neymar is the most valuable South American player gracing the sport at the moment.

After narrowly missing out on a European quadruple last season, as PSG lost to Bayern Munich in the Champions League final, the 29-year-old Brazilian has endured an injury-riddled campaign.

Nevertheless, the PSG star striker has netted 13 times in 18 games in all competitions while conjuring six assists as well.

Neymar has scored an impressive 83 times in 103 games for PSG, providing a staggering 47 assists and winning ten trophies as well.

Commenting on the player's latest injury, PSG head coach Mauricio Pochettino observed:

"Because of his play, Neymar is often the subject of overly strong tackles. Maybe referees should apply some common sense and protect him a little more. Neymar enjoys having the ball at his feet and he's like that when he plays football, it's not provocation. He's like this in training too. What Neymar does isn't provocation, he just loves football."

Right-winger - Lionel Messi (€80 million)

Lionel Messi
Lionel Messi

Barcelona captain Lionel Messi is one of the best players to have ever graced the beautiful game.

The talismanic Argentine, one of the last vestiges of the true one-club man, has had an indifferent campaign of sorts. Nevertheless, he has still netted 21 times in all competitions, while breaching a number of records along the way.

However, with Barcelona unlikely to win silverware for a second consecutive season, it doesn't look like Messi will stay at the club beyond the summer.


Centre-forward - Roberto Firmino (€72 million)

Roberto Firmino
Roberto Firmino

Roberto Firmino is not the quintessential centre-forward who scores goals by the dozen.

Instead, the Brazilian tends to drop deep and create chances for his attacking colleagues, something that is often seen when he plays with Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane at Liverpool.

Nevertheless, the 29-year-old Brazilian has scored 84 goals and assisted 67 in 279 games in all competitions, helping the Reds win the Champions League and Premier League titles in consecutive seasons.

Understandably, Liverpool head coach Jurgen Klopp has high regard for Firmino, saying recently:

"I don't have to say one word about Bobby Firmino and how important he was for us. So I don't waste time with that. (People who are) not with us, I don't care if they know about him. He was in so many games the difference maker, without scoring maybe, but with scoring as well in other games. I would feel really embarrassed if I had to mention now the qualities of Bobby Firmino."

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