Liverpool and Manchester United stars also make the top 20…
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The CIES Football Observatory, a Swiss based think tank, has released its study on the 20 most valuable players in world football, based on a comprehensive revue of the transfer market in recent seasons, the Daily Mail reports.
Various Premier League aces from the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester United and Manchester City all feature, but a certain Argentine attacker is way, way out in front at the top of the list…
=19) Daniel Sturridge – Liverpool – Price range: £29.4m – £34.2m
The first of four English players on the list, Sturridge is expected to lead the line for Roy Hodgson’s side after a 21 goal Premier League season.
=19) Andres Iniesta – Barcelona – Price range: £29.4m – £44.2m
The legendary midfielder is ageing, but has won everything there is to win the Barcelona and Spain throughout an awesome career.
Click through the pages to read the rest of the world’s 20 most valuable players!
=17) Wayne Rooney – Manchester United – Price range: £29.6m – £34.4m
Rooney is the highest paid player in Britain, after signing a £300k-per-week contract last season.
=17) Thomas Muller – Bayern Munich – Price range: £29.6m – £34.4m
Bayern’s versatile German attacker contributes goals and assists wherever his club or international managers choose to deploy him.
16) Ross Barkley – Everton – Price range: £29.7m – £34.5m
Barkley showed off his immense talent with Everton last term, and if he continues to develop, he’ll no doubt be snapped up a true European heavyweight at some point.
15) Raheem Sterling – Liverpool – Price range: ££31.2m – £36.2m
The only teenager on this list, Sterling’s pace and ability with the ball at his feet is breathtaking. Has the ability to develop into a truly world-class operator.
14) Isco – Real Madrid – Price range: £33.0m – £38.3m
Isco signed for Real for huge money last summer, but actually struggles to get into the side because of Bale and Ronaldo.
13) Sergio Aguero – Manchester City – Price range: £36.5m – £42.4m
City could be bracing themselves for a mega bid from Barcelona for the Argentine ace this summer.
12) Oscar – Chelsea – £37.1m – £43.1m
The Brazilian plays the pivotal central attacking midfield role for Chelsea and Brazil, despite being only 22-years-old.
11) Diego Costa – Atletico Madrid – Price range: £37.8m – £44.0m
The Spanish forward looks set to complete a £32m move to Chelsea this summer.
10) Mario Gotze – Bayern Munich – Price range: £37.9m – £44.0m
The prodigiously talented German playmaker has mesmeric quick feet, and the vision to slip teammates through on goal seemingly at will.
9) Edinson Cavani – PSG – £38.7m – £45.0m
The Uruguayan powerhouse can shoot powerfully off either foot, and is valued higher than teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic, according to this study.
8) Mesut Ozil – Arsenal – £39.7m – £46.1m
Ozil cost Arsenal £42.5m last summer, and although injuries marred his debut Premier League season, he’s arguably the world’s best playmaker on his day.
7) Gareth Bale – Real Madrid – £47.1m – £54.7m
The most expensive player of all time, Bale cost Real Madrid £85m last summer, which was a very inflated fee, reckons CIES.
6) Paul Pogba – Juventus – £48.9m – £56.8m
Manchester United will be kicking themselves for letting go off this brilliant young Frenchman when he was on the Old Trafford books…
5) Neymar – Barcelona – £50.6m – £58.9m
The Golden Boy of Brazilian football, Neymar will be desperate to fire his country to World Cup glory this summer.
4) Eden Hazard – Chelsea – £61.2m – £71.2m
The Belgian is the no.1 target for PSG this summer, although has just been given the no.10 shirt at Stamford Bridge.
3) Luis Suarez – Liverpool – £79.4m – £92.3m
The highest Premier League star on the list, Suarez established a reputation as one of the best in the business this term with 31 top flight goals.
2) Cristiano Ronaldo – Real Madrid – £85.2m – £99.1m
The world’s most effective and probably best player right now, the only reason Ronaldo isn’t no.1 is because he’s approaching his 30th birthday.
1) Lionel Messi – Barcelona – £161.5m – £187.6m
Astonishingly, CIES rate Barcelona’s Argentine star as worth up to £187.6m. If he fulfils his potential and leads his country to World Cup glory, he could go down as the greatest player ever to grave the game.
