Haaland, Vinicius most valuable footballers in history

Erling Haaland (L) and Vinicius Jr. compete in the Champions League. Photo by Reuters

In its October market update, Transfermarkt raised the value of Haaland and Vinicius from nearly $200 million to a record-breaking $220 million.

Previously, Kylian Mbappe was the only player to reach this milestone, valued at $220 million in 2018 at just 19 years old, following a standout season and a World Cup title with France in Russia.

Other players who have held top valuations include Lionel Messi and Neymar, who were valued at $200 million each in 2018. At that time, Messi, 30, and Neymar, 25, were at the peak of their careers. Currently, Messi’s market value has dropped to around $25 million, while Neymar is valued at $30 million.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s highest valuation was $130 million in January 2018 during his time at Real Madrid. By early 2020, his value fell to $80 million, a drop that angered Ronaldo, who accused Transfermarkt of undervaluing him and subsequently blocked the site.

According to Transfermarkt, Real Madrid stars Jude Bellingham and Mbappe are currently the second-most valuable players, with both valued at nearly $200 million.

Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal, who won Euro 2024 at 17, saw his market value skyrocket from $27 million to $165 million in just over a year, making him the third-most valuable player in the world. Phil Foden, who was named the Premier League’s best player last season, also shares the same value.

Other high-value players include Bukayo Saka ($155 million), Florian Wirtz, Jamal Musiala, Federico Valverde and Rodri ($140 million), Declan Rice ($130 million), Rodrygo, Lautaro Martinez ($120 million), Martin Ødegaard, Eduardo Camavinga, Aurélien Tchouaméni and Harry Kane ($110 million). Kane is the only player over 30 years old in the top 20 of most valuable players.

"Vinicius has maintained his high form this season. Along with Valverde, he is a leader and a game-changer for Real Madrid. Meanwhile, Mbappe and Bellingham have shown signs of decline," said Tobias Blaseio, a Transfermarkt expert. on La Liga market values.

Vinicius Jr.'s standout season was last year when he scored 24 goals and provided 11 assists in 39 appearances, helping Real Madrid win the Champions League, La Liga, Spanish Super Cup and European Super Cup.

Transfermarkt, a German-based website, specializes in transfer statistics and player valuations. It calculates market values based on a combination of age, performance, potential and contract duration, though these valuations may differ from actual transfer fees.