When considering the value of a
player, there are a lot of factors that can apply. Some are obvious,
including level of competition, strength of teammates and overall appeal
to the general market. Some are not so obvious and may include factors
such as marketing ability, locker room presence and ability to fit a
particular manager's style.
With a little over two months to go in the European season, the value of players throughout Europe will fluctuate as the season winds down. Some players will continue to showcase their skills, hoping to extract a big transfer fee in the open market. Others will be playing for major trophies and a chance to add to their legacy.
Here is a list of the the most valuable players the game, based on their potential value in the global market, with value numbers being provided by Transfermarkt.
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
With a little over two months to go in the European season, the value of players throughout Europe will fluctuate as the season winds down. Some players will continue to showcase their skills, hoping to extract a big transfer fee in the open market. Others will be playing for major trophies and a chance to add to their legacy.
Here is a list of the the most valuable players the game, based on their potential value in the global market, with value numbers being provided by Transfermarkt.
Jasper Juinen/Getty Images
Market Value: €45,000,00
Similar to Neymar, Sergio Aguero was considered a true prodigy when he was growing up in Argentina. At 15, he was the youngest player to ever play in the Argentine Primera Division, and moved on to be a part of the Argentina team that won the under-20 World Cup twice and the Olympic gold medal in 2008. He moved on to Atletico Madrid and was able to capture a Europa Cup title with them in 2010.
But after notching 75 goals in five seasons for the club, Aguero moved to Manchester City for a reported £38 million. The 2011-2012 season was the best of his career, as he notched 23 goals in the Premier League and proved to be a top striker in Manchester City’s war chest of attacking players.
No matter what else he does for Manchester City, he will always be remembered for his stoppage-time winner against QPR in the final match of the 2012-2013 season, which gave the club its first title in 44 years.
Market Value: €100,000,000
Whatever value Lionel Messi commands, you can expect Ronaldo to not be far behind. The Portuguese winger has proven his worth of late with clutch performances for both club and country.
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo scored three goals and led Portugal to the semifinals. For Real Madrid, Ronaldo has scored an astonishing 20 hat tricks since joining the club in 2010.
At times this season Ronaldo has not been happy with Madrid, and similar to his manager, he has not denied the thought that he could leave the Bernabeu. But Madrid’s recent run of form, including home and away victories against Barcelona, and a major win at Old Trafford, should keep his wandering eyes focused on a potential UEFA Champion’s League trophy.
Similar to Neymar, Sergio Aguero was considered a true prodigy when he was growing up in Argentina. At 15, he was the youngest player to ever play in the Argentine Primera Division, and moved on to be a part of the Argentina team that won the under-20 World Cup twice and the Olympic gold medal in 2008. He moved on to Atletico Madrid and was able to capture a Europa Cup title with them in 2010.
But after notching 75 goals in five seasons for the club, Aguero moved to Manchester City for a reported £38 million. The 2011-2012 season was the best of his career, as he notched 23 goals in the Premier League and proved to be a top striker in Manchester City’s war chest of attacking players.
No matter what else he does for Manchester City, he will always be remembered for his stoppage-time winner against QPR in the final match of the 2012-2013 season, which gave the club its first title in 44 years.
Market Value: €45,000,000
Edinson Cavani has been an offensive force in Serie A since joining Palermo in 2007 and has scored over 100 goals in the Italian League. In Cavani’s first season with Napoli in 2010-2011, he set the club record with 25 goals in Serie A competition.
But like many star strikers on smaller clubs, Cavani is seemingly destined to be picked up by a major club in the summer transfer window. Manchester City and Real Madrid and Arsenal (according to the Daily Mail) are said to be bidding for the striker’s services, and wherever he goes it is unlikely that he will disappoint.
Market Value: €70,000,000
Andres Iniesta does not seem to get the publicity of his teammate Lionel Messi, but he serves as a catalyst to Messi’s success. Over the last two seasons, nobody has assisted on more of Messi’s goals than Iniesta, and he currently leads La Liga with 13 assists in 2012-2013.
Despite sharing the midfield with Messi, Iniesta is still individually considered one of the best players in the world, and twice has finished in the top three of Balon d’Or voting since 2009-2010.
Iniesta’s brilliance is highlighted perhaps even more with Spain, where he scored the game-winner in the 2010 World Cup final and was selected as the player of the tournament for Euro 2012. Similar to Messi, Iniesta grew up in the famous La Masia academy, and it would be hard to see him ever leaving for another club.
Edinson Cavani has been an offensive force in Serie A since joining Palermo in 2007 and has scored over 100 goals in the Italian League. In Cavani’s first season with Napoli in 2010-2011, he set the club record with 25 goals in Serie A competition.
But like many star strikers on smaller clubs, Cavani is seemingly destined to be picked up by a major club in the summer transfer window. Manchester City and Real Madrid and Arsenal (according to the Daily Mail) are said to be bidding for the striker’s services, and wherever he goes it is unlikely that he will disappoint.
Andres Iniesta does not seem to get the publicity of his teammate Lionel Messi, but he serves as a catalyst to Messi’s success. Over the last two seasons, nobody has assisted on more of Messi’s goals than Iniesta, and he currently leads La Liga with 13 assists in 2012-2013.
Despite sharing the midfield with Messi, Iniesta is still individually considered one of the best players in the world, and twice has finished in the top three of Balon d’Or voting since 2009-2010.
Iniesta’s brilliance is highlighted perhaps even more with Spain, where he scored the game-winner in the 2010 World Cup final and was selected as the player of the tournament for Euro 2012. Similar to Messi, Iniesta grew up in the famous La Masia academy, and it would be hard to see him ever leaving for another club.
Whatever value Lionel Messi commands, you can expect Ronaldo to not be far behind. The Portuguese winger has proven his worth of late with clutch performances for both club and country.
At Euro 2012, Ronaldo scored three goals and led Portugal to the semifinals. For Real Madrid, Ronaldo has scored an astonishing 20 hat tricks since joining the club in 2010.
At times this season Ronaldo has not been happy with Madrid, and similar to his manager, he has not denied the thought that he could leave the Bernabeu. But Madrid’s recent run of form, including home and away victories against Barcelona, and a major win at Old Trafford, should keep his wandering eyes focused on a potential UEFA Champion’s League trophy.