With the transfer window now open in many of the world’s top soccer leagues, the CIES Football Observatory has released their semi-annual list of the most valuable football players in the world.
Lionel Messi of Barcelona in Spain’s La Liga tops the list with a staggering transfer value of $262 million (€220 million) and nobody else is even close.
For many of the world’s top association football leagues, January marks the mid-season transfer window where clubs are given approximately one month to add players from international leagues.
Here is the rest of the top 10:
1. Lionel Messi, Barcelona (Spain) — $262 million (€220 million)
2. Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid (Spain) — $158 million (€133 million)
3. Eden Hazard, Chelsea (England) — $118 million (€99 million)
4. Diego Costa, Chelsea (England) — $100 million (€84 million)
5. Paul Pogba, Juventus (Italy) — $86 million (€72 million)
6. Sergio Agüero, Manchester City (England) — $77 million (€65 million)
7. Raheem Sterling, Liverpool (England) — $75 million (€63 million)
8. Francesc Fàbregas, Chelsea (England) — $74 million (€62 million)
9. Alexis Sánchez, Arsenal (England) — $73 million (€61 million)
10. Gareth Bale, Real Madrid (Spain) — $71 million (€60 million)
(H/T Goal)