Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi is regarded TWICE as valuable as his nearest challenger in rating the most expensive players in the game. The International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) have released their annual football study - including examination of the current transfer market.
The paper takes into account the player's age, length of contract, his position and form over the last 12 months.
Interestingly, there is no room for Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, nor former Chelsea defender David Luiz after his record move to PSG.
TOP TEN MOST EXPENSIVE PLAYERS:
1) Lionel Messi (ARG / FC Barcelona): between 200.2M and 232.6M
2) Cristiano Ronaldo (POR / Real Madrid): between 105.7M and 122.9M
3) Luis Suarez (URU / Liverpool): between 98.5M and 114.5M
4) Eden Hazard (BEL / Chelsea). between 75.9M and 88.3M
5) Neymar (BRA / FC Barcelona): between 62.8M and 73M
6) Paul Pogba (FRA / Juventus): between 60.6M and 70.4M
7) Gareth Bale (WAL / Real Madrid). between 58.4M and 67.8M
8) Mesut Özil (GER / Arsenal): between 49.2M and 57.2M
9) Edinson Cavani (URU / PSG): between 48M and 55.8M
10) Mario Götze (GER / Bayern Munich): between 47M and 54.6M
