Top 100 most expensive players in Europe: Salah beats Messi, Hazard 19th, Van Dijk 22nd
LIONEL MESSI has enjoyed another superb season for Barcelona, but the Argentine is far from the most valuable player in Europe according to a new study.
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Messi was in fantastic form once again for Barcelona this season, scoring a staggering 51 goals in 52 appearances across all competitions for the Catalan club.
The Argentine forward also registered an outrageous 18 assists in an age-defying campaign, with the 31-year-old continuing to provide jaw-dropping attacking returns.
However, new research from CIES Football Observatory only ranks Messi as the fourth most expensive footballer currently playing in the ‘big five’ European Leagues.
Using a unique algorithm that takes into account a wide range of variables including age, contract status, position, minutes, goals, international status and team results, the Barca talisman is valued at €167.4million (£148.9m).
This puts Messi fourth on the overall list of transfer values, trailing a couple of Premier League stars after one of the most exciting title races in recent seasons.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid’s newest signing Eden Hazard is ranked 19th with a value of €120.7m (£107.3m) after his official unveiling at the Bernabeu.
Reports claim Los Blancos paid £88m for the Belgian, with the fee potentially rising to £150m with add-ons, which would eclipse his estimated value.
Elsewhere, Liverpool ace Virgil van Dijk is ranked just 22nd in Europe despite his stunning campaign at the heart of the Reds defence – but who else makes up the top 100?
CIES Football Observatory have ranked the top 100 most expensive players in Europe (Image: GETTY)
Virgil van Dijk is only ranked 22nd despite a stellar season at the heart of the Liverpool defence (Image: GETTY)
Top 100 most expensive players in Europe – CIES Football Observatory
92. Federico Chiesa (Fiorentina) – €63.0m (£56.0m)
91. Nicolas Pepe (Lille) – €63.3m (£56.3m)
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Nicolas Pepe has been attracting attention from a host of top clubs this transfer window (Image: GETTY)
90. Houssem Aouar (Lyon) – €63.5m (£56.5m)
89. Fabian (Napoli) – €63.8m (£56.7m)
88. Diogo Jota (Wolverhampton Wanderers) – €64.0m (£56.9m)
87. Lucas Moura (Tottenham Hotspur) – €64.5m (£57.4m)