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CIES Football Laboratory recently published a list revealing the top 100 most valuable players in the sport right now. Ahead of a big summer transfer window in which a lot of world class players are expected to shift loyalties, this list has given an approximate value for each top player.
The most valuable player in Europe is valued at €201.2 million and will be revealed as we move further. Surprisingly, Cristiano Ronaldo (oldest on the list) does not feature in the top of the list and makes his entry in the 24th place, valued at €103.4 million. Meanwhile, the youngest on the list is AC Milan's Gianluigi Donnarumma who is 73rd at €67.5 million.
In the top 100, France is the most represented country with 16 players while the top 10 players come from England, Belgium, France, Argentina, Brazil and Egypt. So without further ado, let us take a look at the 10 most valuable footballers in the world right now:
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#10 Romelu Lukaku - €163.4 million
Scoring 31 goals for club and country last season, Romelu Lukaku has asserted his place as one of the top strikers in the game. His contribution to Manchester United finishing second was immense with his performances improving in the second half of the season.
He is set to lead the line for Belgium in the World Cup and will be gunning for a solid outing in Russia. Valued at €163.4 million, Lukaku is key to Jose Mourinho's plans at Manchester United. And with his peak years ahead of him, expect the striker to increase his value manifold.
#9 Paulo Dybala - €164.2 million
One of the top contenders to break the duopoly of Ronaldo and Messi, it is obvious that Paulo Dybala features so high in this list. The study values him at €164.2 million after another trophy-laden season with Juventus. His 19 league goals helped the Bianconeri to yet another Scudetto as Juventus managed to beat Napoli to the title.
In Russia, Dybala is now expected to share the workload with Lionel Messi and help his national side proceed to the latter stages of the competition. With Real Madrid and FC Barcelona both interested in taking the trequartista on board, Dybala is expected to cause a huge transfer battle whenever he decides to leave Juventus.
#8 Antoine Griezmann - €164.5 million
With his Fortnite celebrations, Griezmann has jumped his way to the eighth spot in the list. The Frenchman helped Atletico Madrid win the Europa League whilst managing 29 goals in all competitions for the Colchoneros.
Starting slowly, Griezmann picked up the pace in the second half of the season - scoring 22 goals since January 2018. He saved his best performance for last - scoring a brace against Marseille in the final of the Europa League.
He is on the verge of joining FC Barcelona in the coming days with Griezmann all set to become one of the most high-profile La Liga transfers of all time. Atletico are in for a huge loss as the forward only has a release clause of €100 million whereas his real value is calculated by CIES at €164.5 million.
#7 Kevin De Bruyne - €167.2 million
The Belgian midfielder played a gigantic role in Manchester City's romp to the Premier League title. His incredible vision, pinpoint passing and crucial contributions in front of goal led City to achieve a historic haul of 100 points in the league.
Inarguably, De Bruyne was the best midfielder in Europe this season which is rightly reflected in his transfer value. At €167.2 million, KDB is the most expensive midfielder in the world right now and will walk into the starting lineup of any freaking team in the world.
If not for City's ouster in the Champions League against Liverpool, De Bruyne would surely have been higher in this MVP list.
#6 Dele Alli - €171 million
The Tottenham Hotspur attacking midfielder is a surprise name in this list when you consider that he ranks higher than the likes of De Bruyne and Griezmann. But the Englishman is considered a future superstar of the Premier League and is surely on his way to achieving that status.
With 14 goals and 14 assists in the Premier League and the Champions League, the 22-year-old has cemented his reputation as one to look forward to. Along with a long-term contract at Spurs, Alli is considered by many to be as important to the Londoners as Harry Kane.
A €171 million valuation makes him the second most expensive English player in the world and the most expensive attacking midfielder in the footballing world.
#5 Mohamed Salah - €171.3 million
With dozens of individual accolades to his name, Mohamed Salah had the most impressive season amongst all his peers. Scoring a record 32 goals in the Premier League and a further 11 more in the Champions League, Salah has emerged as a prime candidate to usurp Ronaldo and Messi to the Ballon d'Or.
A €171.3 million valuation isn't a surprise for Salah who will now be itching to represent Egypt in the World Cup - guiding his nation to the biggest trophy in the world. His injury in the Champions League became the biggest talking point of the game with many believing that the result could have been completely different had Salah been on the field for 90 minutes.
Salah has been a talismanic figure for Liverpool and has had a hand in some memorable goals for the Reds. Be it his solo efforts against Spurs and Watford or his long-range effort against Manchester City, Salah did it time and again this season.
#4 Lionel Messi - €184.2 million
There seems to be no stopping the Argentine superstar! Guiding Barcelona to yet another domestic double, Lionel Messi also won the European Golden Shoe and the Pichichi award. Messi scored 45 goals in all competitions for the Catalans and was the highest goalscorer in Europe across the top five leagues.
Playing in a slightly deeper role, Messi proved his worth yet again and was consistent as ever before in La Liga. He recently scored a hattrick against Haiti in a friendly which was his 47th international hattrick (for club and country), keeping him in perfect shape for the World Cup.
A €184.2 million value seems justified for a player that simply can do it all. If he continues his terrific run in Russia, expect that figure to shoot up and Messi to snatch the Ballon d'Or from his closest competitors.
#3 Kylian Mbappe - €186.5 million
There is no doubt over the fact that Kylian Mbappe is the most highly rated youngster in the world right now. Winning back to back Ligue 1 titles, Mbappe has carved his niche in the French league and has played brilliantly alongside Neymar and Edinson Cavani at PSG.
The teenager scored 21 goals for PSG last season and is going into the World Cup in prime form. He is already dubbed by many to rule the footballing world in the coming years and is being monitored closely by Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Mbappe is valued by CIES at €186.5 million and it can be said that he deserves that price for being the best at his age. If the 19-year-old scores a few in Russia and follows that up with yet another convincing season for PSG, expect Mbappe to be the most valuable player in Europe next season.
#2 Neymar - €195.7 million
One cannot leave the most expensive player out of this elite list! Though the Brazilian has been injured for the past few months, his valuation hasn't taken even the slightest hit. Sitting at the second spot, Neymar is valued close to the €200 million figure that saw him join PSG from FC Barcelona.
Despite playing just 20 league games for the Parisians, Neymar scored 19 and assisted 13 goals and was adjudged the Ligue 1 player of the year. He is now back for the Selecao and will lead the Brazilians in their search for the sixth World Cup title.
Neymar scored on his return for Brazil against Croatia and will see his valuation rise if he performs up to expectations in Russia. Also, if he engineers a move to Real Madrid this summer, the title of the most expensive player in the history of the game won't get off his head for the years to come.
#1 Harry Kane - €201.2 million
Ladies and gentlemen! Harry Kane - England talisman and Tottenham Hotspur hitman is currently the most valuable player in the world. CIES Football Laboratory's study has judged the Englishman to have the highest value among any current superstar.
It comes as a huge surprise to see Kane beating the likes of Neymar and Messi to top this list. But scoring more than 80 goals in the last two seasons and still being under 25 years of age, there's a case to be made for the striker.
Kane continued his consistent run this season and once again bagged 30+ goals in the Premier League. He also netted against Real Madrid and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League. The striker will now lead his troops in Russia as he has been made the captain of the Three Lions.
Meanwhile, it is brilliant to see a traditional striker (an old school no.9) be the most valuable player in the world at the moment.
