Lionel Messi sixth most valuable player in Europe: Five Premier League stars make top 10

The latest research from CIES Football Observatory claims that Lionel Messi is only the sixth most valuable footballer in the transfer market across Europe’s big five leagues (Serie A, La Liga, Bundesliga, Premier League, Ligue 1).

The Barcelona legend is now 31, and according to an algorithm which takes into account factors such as age, contract length and performance to estimate transfer value, he is now worth £149.37m.

That puts him behind five other players, including Premier League pair Harry Kane and Mohamed Salah.

PSG’s World Cup-winning striker Kylian Mbappe is the top dog, valued at just over £189m – around £17m more than his team-mate Neymar, who is the actual most expensive player in the world, having moved for £198m last year.

Messi’s Barcelona team-mate Philippe Coutinho – who joined back in January – is now valued as more than him, although only just.

The most surprising name in the top 10 is surely Romelu Lukaku of Manchester United.

The big striker has a very good record with Belgium, but has failed to find top form during his first year and a quarter at Old Trafford, and has been dropped by Jose Mourinho recently.

Raheem Sterling, Dele Alli and Antoine Griezmann make up the top 10 – all being valued about £138m.

Cristiano Ronaldo is missing from the top 10 altogether, with the Juventus star’s age (33) seeing his value decrease – with Eden Hazard another notable absentee.

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