With the exception of Raheem Sterling, in the top 10 positions of the ranking are only players under contract with teams that are still competing in the Champions League:
- Lionel Messi (Barcelona) : 220 million €
- Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) : 133 million €
- Eden Hazard (Chelsea) : 99 million €
- Diego Costa (Chelsea) : 84 million €
- Paul Pogba (Juventus) : 72 million €
- Sergio Agüero (Manchester City) : 65 million €
- Raheem Sterling (Liverpool) : 63 million €
- Francesc Fàbregas (Chelsea) : 62 million €
- Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) : 61 million €
- Gareth Bale (Real Madrid) : 60 million €
The club with the most representatives in the top 100 of the table is Spanish giant and Champions League title holder Real Madrid:
- Cristiano Ronaldo: 2nd, 133 million €
- Gareth Bale: 10th, 60 million €
- James Rodríguez: 15th, 50 million €
- Isco Alarcón: 17th, 45 million €
- Karim Benzema: 21st, 43 million €
- Toni Kroos: 23rd, 41 million €
- Luka Modri?: 27th, 37 million €
- Sergio Ramos: 40th, 33 million €
- Daniel Carvajal: 68th, 25 million €
- Raphaël Varane: 87th, 23 million €
- Marcelo Vieira: 94th, 22 million €
The transfer values are calculated using an exclusive algorithm developed on the basis of over 1,500 fee paying transfers occurred since 2009. The variables included in our exclusive econometric model refer to player performances (matches, goals, dribbles, etc.), their characteristics (age, position, contract duration, etc.), as well as competition level and results achieved by their teams (clubs and national sides).
For more information, you are kindly invited to read chapter four of this paper on the CIES Football Observatory’s approach for sustainable success.
