By Alan Nicolea -
June 19th 2009 @ 1:08am
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Lionel Messi is the most expensive footballer
As Cristiano Ronaldo baths himself in his world record 92 million Euro deal with Real Madrid, his new contract with the Spanish giants does not make him the most expensive player, according to an English report.
A study by Europe’s leading financial Consultancy, Frontier Economics, reveals that Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is the most expensive player in world football, carrying a price tag of US $177 million.
That, ladies and gentleman, is US $47 million more than what Ronaldo is currently on, despite his massive transfer from Manchester United to Madrid.
Frontier Economics utilised this finding by using complex statistics to determine the value of the maximum figures in world football.
The statistics that were used to calculate Messi’s earnings consisted of goals scored, shots at goal, minutes played, international experience, individuals awards received, age, and titles won as a player.
According to the findings of Frontier Economics, the value of a player rises approximately 3 per cent every 90 minutes on the field, 1 per cent for every international cap gained and nearly 4 percent for every goal scored.
Although I am not a maths genius, Messi’s statistics this season for Barcelona would indeed produce a hefty sum.
At just 21 years of age, the Argentine international has won a Copa Del Rey, Spanish Primera, Champions League title and an Olympic Gold Medal, while playing for both club and country.
This season alone saw him score 38 goals, including nine in Europe, to see him leading the goal scoring charts in the Champions League and the major European leagues.
Throw in the fact that Messi is hot favourite for the Ballon De Or and the FIFA World Player of the year awards next season, and it is easy to see why he is the most valued footballer in the world, game according to Frontier Economics.
All this without the looks of David Beckham or the glamour of Cristiano Ronaldo.
If he continues to bring fans through the turnstiles on a constant basis, and play the football that kids use a foundation to try out the world game, than he is worth every cent.
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(10)
MVDave said | June 19th 2009 @ 7:08am | Report comment
Ronaldo is the most expensive footballer in the world…check the record books! No good saying what may or may not be the price of Messi…until someone pays up it is just speculation.
Slippery Jim said | June 19th 2009 @ 8:17am | Report comment
MVDave – what you said.
Alan Nicolea said | June 19th 2009 @ 8:47am | Report comment
MV Dave and Slippery Jim
Messi’s buy out clause at the moment stands at 128 million Euro, making him the most expensive player to poach. At the moment. But i doubt he will leave Barcelona anyway so i do not think we will see that value tested. The two of you raise good points. What do you guys think Messi is worth?
Limpet #7 said | June 19th 2009 @ 8:59am | Report comment
Alan Nicolea, I really must disagree, agreeing with someone can hardly be called making a good point!
Anyhoo, Uli Hoeness at Bayern slapped a 150 million euro price tag on midfielder Franck Ribery in January according to this article:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=611298&&cc=3888
I can tell you with all confidence that although there are plenty that want him, there is not a single club that will pay that for Ribery (with the loonies at Manchester City a possible question mark).
Brian said | June 19th 2009 @ 10:42am | Report comment
Agree with MVDave & SJ. With regards to valuing a plyer are we talking shirt sales or wining championships? Real spent 92m Euros on Ronaldo, since they already have Kaka, Robben etc. in footballing terms would the money have not been better spent sy bringing in 3 or 4 players like Buffon, Essien, Fabreagas etc. Ronaldo was bought to buy fans and make them the biggest club in the world.
Getting back to Messi, based on the market prices paid for Ronaldo & Kaka I would say he would be around 85m Euros.
. said | June 19th 2009 @ 11:42am | Report comment
Messi is priceless.You can’t buy him even with 200m euro.barca will not let him go.When he does leave the club ,however,he will surely break all records.
Slippery Jim said | June 19th 2009 @ 1:40pm | Report comment
., that’s what they said about Kaka, and he was sold anyway…
messi just started the first pages of a long book said | June 21st 2009 @ 11:49am | Report comment
u cant compared kaka to messi slippery jim!!!!
ivan said | June 22nd 2009 @ 9:08am | Report comment
sorryyyy messi is good but deff not the most expensive player….no one has even offered tobuy him i dont see man city offer 150 million for him like they did for casillas i dont see anyone offering…wonder why? too small?
destroyer said | June 28th 2009 @ 2:38am | Report comment
ivan – because no football club in the world actually believes Barca would want to sell him. You think there is anyone on the planet that will say “nah, don’t buy him, he’s too small”, you’re probably one of those dudes that thinks only physique matters.