Prolific Manchester City striker, Erling Haaland has been ranked as the Most Valuable Footballer presently, according to research group CIES Football Observatory.
The statistics company based their metrics on estimated transfer value in world football when churning out the list, which features the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and Haaland among a raft of promising young talents.
Sports Brief takes a look at the top 10 players with the highest transfer market values:
10. Kylian Mbappe (Paris Saint-Germain)
$174 million
Touted as one of the heirs apparent to the Ronaldo-Messi GOAT throne, Kylian Mbappe continues to etch his name in the sands of time, even at the tender age of 24.
Currently ranked 10th on the most valuable footballer list by CIES Football Observatory, Mbappe finished the just-ended season as the top scorer in the French Ligue 1 for a fifth consecutive time.
9. Phil Foden (Manchester City)
$178 million
Despite appearing sporadically in Manchester City’s starting line-up since the season resumed after the 2022 World Cup, Foden’s value has not been affected drastically.
Glorified as a ‘diamond’ by Man City manager Pep Guardiola, the Englishman stands the chance of winning the treble with the Cityzens.
8. Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich)
$182 million
Musiala’s value as a burgeoning talent continues to appreciate as he climbs his way to superstardom. He possesses excellent technical skills, pace, and an eye for goal.
His stunning last-gasp strike helped Bayern win an unprecedented 11th Bundesliga on the bounce.
7. Gavi (FC Barcelona)
$186 million
Gavi has established himself as one of Spain’s brilliant football stars. To underline his immense potential, the teen midfielder scooped home the FIFA Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy accolades in 2022.
The 18-year-old exhibits striking resemblances in both name and playing style to Xavi. Despite his youth, Gavi has already shattered numerous records, solidifying his place as the fourth-youngest player to grace the field for Barcelona and the third-youngest goal scorer in the history of the club, per Foottheball.
6. Pedri (FC Barcelona)
$190 million
Pedri possesses a blend of exceptional attributes that set him apart on the field. He is renowned for his speed, intelligence, creativity, and unwavering work ethic.
His technical prowess, impeccable ball control, precise passing, heightened awareness, and visionary abilities contribute to his outstanding performances.
Furthermore, Pedri impresses with his remarkable dribbling skills, remarkable stamina, composed demeanour in high-pressure situations, and his versatility in utilizing both feet effectively.
5. Rodrygo (Real Madrid)
$197 million
Dubbed the “new Neymar” by the Brazilian media when he was just 12 years old, with the added accomplishment of becoming the youngest athlete ever to secure a sponsorship deal with Nike a year prior, one might have expected the pressure and hype to overshadow Rodrygo’s exceptional footballing abilities.
But the Real Madrid forward has not only lived up to the expectations, he has also earned the prestigious title of ‘Mr. Clutch’.
4. Jude Bellingham (Borussia Dortmund)
$203 million
Currently one of the hottest prospects in the transfer market, Jude Bellingham is courting interest from a number of Europe’s heavyweights, with Real Madrid heavily linked to the Dortmund midfielder.
Despite missing out on winning the Bundesliga, the 19-year-old midfielder has still emerged as the best player in Germany’s top flight.
3. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)
$209 million
Arsenal put up a strong fight against Manchester City in the Premier League, narrowly missing out but still achieving a commendable season overall.
Among their standout players, Bukayo Saka shone, notching double figures in both goals and assists, tallying 14 and 11 respectively. The talented English youngster secured the third position for the most successful dribbles (63), according to WhoScored.
2. Vinicius Junior (Real Madrid)
$210 million
Undoubtedly Real Madrid’s best player this season, Vinicius churned out superlative performances week-in and week-out with little fuss, despite suffering persistent racial attacks.
Explaining Vinicius’ form to SiriusXM as quoted by All Football, Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti said: “I think Vinicius is a really talented player. He arrived here in Madrid when he was really, really young and of course, it took time for him to reach the top. Because now, in football, talent isn’t enough to reach the top.
“You have to improve your tactical knowledge, your physical condition. I think Vinicius has done really well this season because of this reason. He was able to show his talent because of a base of tactical knowledge and a better physical condition.”
1. Erling Haaland (Manchester City)
$262 million
Erling Haaland’s exceptional debut season with Manchester City has placed him at the pinnacle of the football world, boasting the highest estimated transfer value and securing the top spot on the podium. His outstanding performance aligns perfectly with his status as the ideal choice for leading the pack.
Throughout the season, opposing defences have been grappling with the challenge of halting Erling Haaland’s goal-scoring prowess for Manchester City. However, their efforts have ultimately amounted to mere fuss and commotion as Haaland continues to excel unabated, boasting a jaw-dropping stat of 52 goals from 52 matches, per Transfermarkt.