Top 50 most valuable players in the world

A research group in Switzerland named the Football Observatory published a report this week which ranks players in order of their value

The organisation specialises in statistical analysis of football and have researched for both FIFA and UEFA in the past

In order to calculate a player’s worth, the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) uses ‘key indicators’ such as age, position, contract, achievements, international status as well as performance

Results from the study have also revealed a few surprising inclusions:

THE TOP 10 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD

10

JAMES RODRIGUEZ REAL MADRID - €68.8M

James Rodriguez is the tenth most valuable player in the world and is regarded as one of the best young players in the world

He became one of the most expensive players of all time when he swapped Monaco for Real Madrid with the French club receiving around €80m

He was the star of the 2014 World Cup where Colombia reached the quarter finals and Rodriguez received the Golden Boot as top goal-scorer with six goals.

9

ALEXIS SANCHEZ ARSENAL - €74.6M

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez enters the list at number nine after leaving the Nou Camp for the Emirates in a £35m summer move

After a stellar World Cup with Chile, Sanchez enjoyed a similarly productive first season in England as Arsenal finished third and lifted the FA Cup

The former Udinese forward ended his debut season with 25 goals in 52 appearances and was named their Player of the Season.

8

DIEGO COSTA CHELSEA €76.9M

Summer signing Diego Costa ranks eighth in the most valuable players in the world, leading Chelsea to the Premier League title in his first season in North London

Costa was Atletico MadridÂ’s key man in their title winning season before switching Spain for England

The 26 year old was set to run away with the top goal-scorer award in the Premier League until a number of injuries disrupted his progress.

 

7

PAUL POGBA JUVENTUS - €77.3M

Paul Pogba is worth €77.3m according to the report which would represent a significant profit after signing the Frenchman on a free transfer from Manchester United

Pogba featured in the recent Champions League final where Juventus suffered a 3-1 defeat at the hands of Barcelona

PogbaÂ’s agent revealed that it could have been the midfielderÂ’s final game with Barcelona and PSG interested in the 22 year old.

6

RAHEEM STERLING LIVERPOOL - €81M

Raheem Sterling is the most valuable young player with a reported worth of €81m at just 20 years of age

SterlingÂ’s situation at Liverpool is set to dominate the summer headlines with the England international reluctant to sign a new contract at Anfield and seems adamant to leave his current employers

Liverpool will not be bullied into a sale however and any club interested in Sterling will have to fork out a huge transfer fee.

5

SERGIO AGUERO MANCHESTER CITY - €86M

Sergio Aguero was a surprising name that missed out in the PFA Team of the Season after his best season for Manchester City

The Argentine netted 26 goals for his club despite another season troubled with hamstring problems

Such injuries have prevented Aguero from fully displaying his immense talent and the former Atletico Madrid striker is now hoping the worst is behind him and has set his sights on the FIFA Ballon dÂ’Or.

#4 NEYMAR BARCELONA - €98.5M

Brazilian superstar is the fourth most valuable player in the world according to the recent study

The Barcelona attacker was an integral member of the side which recently completed a historic treble under Luis Enrique

Neymar formed one of the most potent attacking trios the world has ever seen alongside Luis Suarez and Lionel Messi who bagged over 120 goals between them last season

Neymar is currently on international duty with Brazil and will hoping for further success in the Copa America.

#3 - CRISTIANO RONALDO REAL MADRID - €124.7M

Perhaps a surprising inclusion in third is Real Madrid dynamo Cristiano Ronaldo

ItÂ’s safe to presume the vast majority of people would have predicted the top two most valuable players in the world would be the two footballers who have dominated the game over the last 7 years

The Messi/Ronaldo debate will always continue but despite beating the Argentine to the Ballon dÂ’Or, he is not worth more than the Barcelona forward

Ronaldo enjoyed another stellar season at the Bernabeu which have left some critics wondering how Real Madrid finished trophyless despite the Portuguese internationalÂ’s success

RonaldoÂ’s long term future has also been brought into question with a move to PSG rumoured and a return to Manchester United another possibility

#2 EDEN HAZARD CHELSEA - €148.9M

PFA Player of the Year Eden Hazard pips Ronaldo to second place after his best season in England to date

Hazard was instrumental in ChelseaÂ’s title success displaying a tremendous amount of consistency

Jose Mourinho has built his strong side around the young Belgian and at the age of 24, he is only going to get better

Many people believe Hazard will be challenging Messi and Ronaldo for the Ballon dÂ’Or soon enough after registering 14 goals and 9 assists for the Blues this season.

#1 LIONEL MESSI BARCELONA - €280.8M

Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is reportedly the world’s most valuable player; worth a whopping €280.8m

After off-field problems last season, Messi is back to his brilliant best after another scintillating season in Spain

He once again spearheaded the Barcelona attack which saw him lift his 7th league title

He was magnificent in BarcelonaÂ’s Champion League triumph scoring the vital goal in sublime fashion against Bayern Munich in the semi-final

Although the Argentine missed out on the Ballon dÂ’Or to Ronaldo last season, the worldÂ’s most valuable player looks set to win his 4th award due to another exceptional season.

THE TOP 50 MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS IN THE WORLD IN FULL

50

MIRALEM PJANIC ROMA €34.9M

49

AARON RAMSEY ARSENAL - €35M

48

JORDAN HENDERSON LIVERPOOL - €35.1M

47

DANNY WELBECK ARSENAL €35.3M

46

SANTI CAZORLA ARSENAL - €35.4M

45

JEROME BOATENG BAYERN MUNICH - €35.6M

44

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN ARSENAL - €36.5M

43

YAYA TOURE MANCHESTER CITY - €36.6M

42

ROSS BARKLEY EVERTON - €37M

41

GONZALO HIGUIAN NAPOLI - €37.5M

40

MESUT OZIL ARSENAL - €37.6M

39

MANUEL NEUER BAYERN MUNICH - €37.7M

38

THOMAS MULLER BAYERN MUNICH - €38.8M

37

ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE LYON - €39.1M

36

ROBERT LEWANDOWSKI BAYERN MUNICH - €39.1M

35

NEMANJA MATIC CHELSEA - €39.2M

34

MARCO VERRATTI PSG - €39.4M

33

WAYNE ROONEY MANCHESTER UNITED - €39.5M

32

KEVIN DE BRUYNE WOLFSBURG - €40.4M

31

ANGEL DI MARIA MANCHESTER UNITED - €40.6M

30

EDINSON CAVANI PSG - €41.5M

29

DAVID SILVA MANCHESTER CITY - €41.8M

28

SERGIO BUSQUETS BARCELONA - €41.9M

27

ALVARO MORATA JUVENTUS - €42.2M

26

WILLIAN CHELSEA - €42.5M

25

TONI KROOS REAL MADRID - €43.6M

24

ROMELU LUKAKU EVERTON - €43.7M

23

CHRISTIAN ERIKSEN TOTTENHAM - €44.2M

22

KOKE ATLETICO MADRID - €45.3M

21

MARIO GOTZE BAYERN MUNICH - €47.1M

20

KARIM BENZEMA REAL MADRID - €49.1M

19

OSCAR CHELSEA - €52.3M

18

THIBAUT COURTOIS CHELSEA - €55.3M

17

PHILLIPE COUTINHO LIVERPOOL - €55.5M

16

GARETH BALE REAL MADRID - €56.4

15

HARRY KANE TOTTENHAM - €58.9M

14

ISCO REAL MADRID - €62.9M

13

CESC FABREGAS CHELSEA - €64.5M

12

ANTOINE GRIEZMANN ATLETICO MADRID - €64.9M

11

LUIS SUAREZ BARCELONA - €66M

10

JAMES RODRIGUEZ REAL MADRID - €68.8M

9

ALEXIS SANCHEZ ARSENAL - €74.6M

8

DIEGO COSTA CHELSEA €76.9M

7

PAUL POGBA JUVENTUS - €77.3M

6

RAHEEM STERLING LIVERPOOL - €81M

5

SERGIO AGUERO MANCHESTER CITY - €86M

4

NEYMAR BARCELONA - €98.5M

3

CRISTIANO RONALDO REAL MADRID - €124.7M

2

EDEN HAZARD CHELSEA - €148.9M

1

LIONEL MESSI BARCELONA - €280.8M

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Source : DSG

Source: DSG