Lionel Messi, PSG
Age: 34
Cost: € 60 million (according to Transfermarkt)
Price change: minus € 40 million
At the beginning of the year, Messi was worth € 100 million. In August, when he left Barcelona for PSG, it was already € 80 million. And on New Year's Eve, the price of the Argentine striker fell by another € 20 million.
The fall in the value of Messi turned out to be a record in the world. This can be explained primarily by three factors. First, he is 34 years old. Secondly, Messi in the stellar PSG does not show the kind of football that they are used to expecting from him. In 15 games, he scored six goals, of which one in the league.
By comparison: Ronaldo, who also changed clubs, fell in price over the year by € 15 million (25%) - to € 45 million. This is the 47th place in the ranking of the cheapest players. Unlike a long-term rival in the struggle for the title of the best player in the world, the Portuguese still demonstrates enviable performance - 13 goals in 18 matches for English “Manchester United”, inferior to PSG in terms of composition.
Filipe Coutinho, Barcelona
Age: 29
Cost: € 20 million
Price change: minus € 40 million
In January 2018, Barcelona bought Coutinho from Liverpool for € 135 million. This transfer is one of the three most expensive in the history of football.
But in Spain, Coutinho never played. In the spring of 2018, having adapted, the Brazilian midfielder seemed to have scored several goals, but he could not even reach the level of play at Liverpool. From January to June of this year, he did not play due to a meniscus injury.
Coutinho's value fell regularly and for a long time. Over the past year, it decreased by another € 40 million.
Neymar, PSG
Age: 29
Cost: € 90 million
Price change: minus € 38 million
Not so long ago, Neymar was the most expensive football player in the world - PSG paid Barcelona € 222 million for him.
But since 2017, from the moment when the historic deal between the French and Spanish clubs took place, the Brazilian forward has been scandalous, aging and playing worse.
If in the first season as part of the Parisians, Neymar scored 28 goals in 30 matches in all tournaments, then in the second - already 23 in 28. Then it gets worse. As a result of the third - 19 goals in 27 games. In the fourth - 17 in 31. In the current one - three accurate strikes in 14 meetings.
Comparison of the cost of Lionel Messi (white line) and Neymar (blue line). (Photo: Transfermarkt) Sadio Mane, Liverpool
Age: 29
Cost: € 85 million
Price change: minus € 35 million
At its peak, in December 2019, Manet was worth € 150 million. The media wrote that Barcelona would buy him if Messi left, naming astronomical amounts, up to € 260.
However, last season, Manet scored "only" 16 goals in all tournaments and began to cost € 120 million. In the current season - nine - and minus another € 35 million. Most likely, the price of the Senegalese attacking midfielder was affected not so much by the game on the field itself. how much the lack of a ceiling for growth, since in April Manet will turn 30 years old. Performance at this age most often only falls.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, Liverpool
Age: 23
Cost: € 75 million
Price change: minus € 35 million
The most mysterious drop in prices. Perhaps it was an injury that caused Alexander-Arnold to miss the European Championship, as well as injury, as a result of which the defender did not enter the field in several matches in the fall, but minus € 35 million still looks like an overkill.
In November, fans recognized Alexander-Arnold as the best player in the English Championship, and in the poll at the end of the year he took 17th place.
Eden Hazard, Real Madrid
Age: 30
Cost: € 25 million
Price change: minus € 35 million
The transfer of Azar from Chelsea to Real in 2019 is still in the top 10 most expensive - € 115 million. True, the midfielder came to Madrid with an injury and overweight. His career went downhill - one goal the year before last, four last and not one this year. Hence the natural price drop.
Photo: Transfermarkt There are nine clubs in the top 25. The largest number of players play for Liverpool - there are seven of them (total loss in value - € 190 million). Next come PSG - four players (€ 125 million), Atletico - four (€ 105 million), Barcelona - three (€ 92 million).
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