The International Center For Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory recently released a list of the most valued players in world football and while players from the Premier League and La Liga predictably dominated the list, Ballon D’or candidate Cristiano Ronaldo found himself demoted to 4th place.
Eden Hazard has not had a great season this time around, but the 24-year-old Belgian still finds himself as one of the most valued footballers in the world, coming in 3rd in the top 10 list and leaving the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo behind him in 4th place, according to the CIES Football Observatory, who recently released a list . of the most valued 100 players in the world which was created after crunching performance data and taking age into account.
The top 10 features some of the biggest up and coming talent in football, as well as stalwarts like Messi, Ronaldo and Sergio Aguero, who have been dominating the pitch for a while now.
Messi still on top
There were no surprises at the top of the list however, as Argentine maestro is the world’s most expensive player ny a huge margin. He is valued at 250.7 million Euros, almost a 100 million Euros ahead of second placed Neymar.
The 3 Ballon D’or candidates, Messi, Ronaldo and Neymar, all find themselves in the top 5, though Ronaldo’s decrease in value seems like a sign of things to come as the Portugese captain hits the age of 30.
Premier League and La Liga share the spoils
5 players each from the Premier League and La Liga feature in the top 10 list of most valued players in the world, showing the financial clout of England and Spain when it comes to club football. While the Barcelona trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar make it through thanks to their goal scoring exploits, Ronaldo from Real Madrid and Atletico’s French talent Antoine Griezmann make up the rest of the contingent.
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez, young English talents Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling, Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and the highly rated Eden Hazard, are the representatives from the Premier League.