The Swiss CIES Football Observatory has published a list of the 100 most expensive football players in the world at the end of the 2021/22 season. Researchers calculate the cost of players based on a huge array of data - from the results in the season and age to the length of the current contract and even the level of the league in which the player plays.
The salaries and requests of these players are appropriate. Instead of a Ferrari Portofino rental, they can easily buy it. Moreover, they can buy the entire fleet of rental cars from some rental service together with the company itself. So who knows, maybe the rental car you're driving in already belongs to one of these guys.
10. Ferran Torres, Barcelona - €109.5m
The 22-year-old left-winger moved from Manchester City to Barcelona in January of this year for €55m. Apparently, the British miscalculated - it was worth asking for more. In the Catalan club, he managed to play 18 matches in La Liga, in which he scored 4 goals and gave the same number of assists.
9. Ruben Dias, Manchester City - €109.6m
Just € 100,000 ahead of Torres, his former City partner Ruben Dias. In general, it is worth saying that for a central defender, and indeed for any defensive player, getting into such a list is a small feat. But Dias had a good start - less than two years ago, the townspeople bought him from Benfica for €68 million. Since then, he has only grown in price.
8. Luis Diaz, Liverpool - €110m
The Colombian left winger only joined Liverpool at the end of January 2022 but has already become an essential part of Klopp's team. Less than six months ago, the Merseysiders paid €45m for him. Apparently, 18 matches, 4 goals, and one assist in the Premier League are enough to jump in price like that. Although in Porto before that he showed an enviable performance.
7. Frenkie de Jong, Barcelona - €112.5m
Three years ago, the central midfielder Frenkie de Jong moved from Ajax Amsterdam to Spanish Barcelona for an incredible €86 million. Since then, he has not shown anything outstanding at the Catalan club. But this season the Dutchman has developed quite well. Apparently, that's why it has risen in price so much. And yes, there is a demand for it.
6. Phil Foden, Manchester City - €124m
Usually, the prices of football players jump up sharply after a costly transition and a long and very expensive contract. But Phil Foden is an exception to the rule. He is a graduate of Manchester City and has spent his entire 22-year life at the same club. And it is unlikely that the "citizens" will part with such a rarity - their own pupil, able to play at such a high level.
5. Jude Bellingham, Borussia D - €133.7m
A wild rarity is an Englishman playing outside the UK. But Jude Bellingham goes against the rules. He became a celebrity and world football star in Germany, playing for Borussia Dortmund. At one time, Jude set a transfer record for a player of 17 years old when he moved to the camp of bumblebees from Birmingham for € 25 million.
4. Pedri, Barcelona - €135.1m
Last season, 18-year-old Pedri showed an incredible capacity for work - he played an unrealistic number of matches for Barcelona and the Spanish national teams of different ages. This season the football player missed most of it due to injuries. But it was enough to come close to the top three most expensive football players on the planet.
3. Erling Haaland, Manchester City - €152.6m
This season in the career of the 21-year-old Haaland has been phenomenal - 29 goals in 30 meetings for Borussia Dortmund, and another 11 goals in just 7 matches for the national team is simply incomprehensible. It’s also amazing how Borussia agreed to let the player go to Manchester City for only €75 million. Apparently, this amount was prescribed as compensation in his contract.
2. Vinicius Junior, Real Madrid - €185.3m
If Haaland only scores goals, then Real Madrid's Brazilian wunderkind Vinicius Junior also gives assists. 22 goals and 20 assists in 52 games this season is a splendid statistic for a player who has just come of age. Vini became one of the main creators of Real Madrid's Champions League victory - almost on a par with Karim Benzema.
1. Kylian Mbappé, PSG - €205.6m
Kylian Mbappe is the most expensive player in the world at the end of the season. This is not surprising. Just look at his numbers: 46 games, 39 goals, and 26 assists. The football player signed a new expensive and long-term contract with the Parisians. This also played a role in estimating its value.