Barcelona's Lionel Messi is the most valuable player in the world, well ahead of Real Madrid's Cristiano Ronaldo, according to a study by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory.
The study used an algorithm based on 1,500 fee-paying club transfers since 2009 to determine that Messi's current transfer value is 220 million euros, while Ronaldo trails far behind at an estimated 133 million euros.
Messi, 27, has been increasingly linked with an exit from Barcelona, with both Manchester City and Chelsea reportedly interested in signing the four-time Ballon d'Or winner.
The Argentina captain endured a frustrating 2014 as Barcelona lost the Copa del Rey final and were beaten to the Liga title by Atletico Madrid, before Messi finished the World Cup with a runners-up medal after losing the final to Germany.
By contrast, Ronaldo, 29, lifted the Champions League trophy with Real Madrid and ended the year with over 60 goals in La Liga, with many observers backing him as the heavy favourite to lift the 2014 Ballon d'Or -- FIFA's top individual award which the Real Madrid forward will contest with Messi and Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.
(espnfc.com)
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