MLS market values: Minus for Messi and Müller – Son at 10-year low

837 players re-rated

After the MLS Cup playoff final, Transfermarkt updated the market values ​​of 827 Major League Soccer professionals. A star trio consisting of Inter Miami’s title holder Lionel Messi, LAFC attacker Heung-min Son and Vancouver’s Thomas Müller recorded devaluations. LA Galaxy’s Riqui Puig, the league’s most valuable player to date along with Son, also has to accept a loss. For the Spaniard it goes from 20 million euros to 18 million euros, but he still remains at the top of the league-wide ranking.

After missing the entire season due to a torn cruciate ligament, the midfielder is back in training but has not played in a single game. There is no doubt that when fully fit he is one of the best players in the league. Nevertheless, the long outage is also reflected in its market value.

During Puig’s absence, the focus in this year’s playoffs was entirely on Messi. Although the Argentine broke one record after another, a demotion is inevitable for the 38-year-old. “Messi has once again played a fantastic season,” says Dominic Becker, data administrator for North America at Transfermarkt. “He remains the focal point of Miami’s game and was crucial to the club winning its first-ever MLS Cup. But even if you don’t notice it by his performances, he is getting older. Despite the demotion, he remains the most valuable player in his age group.” In fact, Messi’s minus has been much discussed, but the similar demotion of Cristiano Ronaldo at the same age makes Messi’s demotion by 3 million euros from 18 to 15 million euros inevitable.

MLS market values: Ups and downs for Miami – Son and Müller demoted

Messi isn’t the only Inter Miami star on the decline. Defensive midfielder Rodrigo De Paul also has to accept a decline in his market value for the second time in a row. De Paul was one of the heroes in the MLS Cup final, but Messi’s compatriot isn’t getting any younger either. The loss of 5 million from 20 to 15 million euros corresponds to the purchase option in his loan contract. While Messi and De Paul are seeing a decline, there is positive news elsewhere: the upgraded players include the “prodigy” Mateo Silvetti (+1 million to 6 million euros), goalgetter Tadeo Allende (+2 million to 5 million euros), who broke the MLS Cup playoff record with nine goals, and Telasco Segovia (+1.5 million to 4.5 million euros).

Away from Miami, two former European top stars are being downgraded: At LAFC, Heung-Min Son has caused a sensation with twelve goals and four assists since his arrival in the MLS. “He didn’t need any time to get used to his new surroundings,” says Becker. “Together with Denis Bouanga (unchanged at €8m) he formed a dangerous duo. But Son is now 33 years old, which means an age-related demotion is inevitable at this point,” says Becker. In fact, the South Korean, who is popular on and off the pitch and has broken all sorts of jersey sales records in Southern California, has had his market value downgraded by €3 million to €17 million, making him the second most valuable player in MLS. It is the lowest market value for Son since June 2015, when he was still playing in the Bundesliga for Bayer Leverkusen.

With the Vancouver Whitecaps, Thomas Müller helped his team reach the MLS Cup final for the first time, where they narrowly lost to Miami. Despite the defeat, Müller became the most successful German player of all time after winning the Canadian championship earlier this season. “Müller’s influence was noticeable from day one,” says expert Becker. “His footballing skills and character have taken the Whitecaps to a new level both on and off the pitch. He takes responsibility, is a leader and an important part of a very strong team. Despite a slight devaluation from 6 million to 5 million euros, he remains one of the most valuable players in his age group.”

In terms of market value, Müller’s teammates, the former HSV professional Sebastian Schonlau (-200 thousand to 800 thousand euros) as well as, among others, the German professionals Erik Thommy (Kansas City; from 1.8 to 1.2 million euros), Cedric Teuchert (St. Louis City; from 3 to 2.5 million euros) and Marco Reus (LA Galaxy; from 2 to 1.8 million euros) also went down in terms of market value. euros). From a German perspective, things are only going up for Minnesota’s Morris Duggan and Salt Lake’s Noel Caliskan (each from 500 to 800 thousand euros) and

MLS market values: Dreyer and Berhalter among biggest winners

One of the biggest winners of the MLS update is US national team midfielder and Müller’s teammate Sebastian Berhalter. The 24-year-old has caused a sensation with his performances this season and has been in the spotlight for the winter transfer window. Its market value increases from 3 million to 5 million euros. Andres Dreyer is one of the up-and-coming professionals at Western Conference finalists San Diego FC. “We don’t have the words to describe his achievements,” explains Becker, adding: “The 41 direct goal involvements speak for themselves, and he is an important member of the Danish national team. At just 27 years old, he has now reached his peak and was one of the finalists for the MLS MVP for good reason.” Dreyer’s market value increases from 12 to 15 million euros.

MLS Market Values: Cavan Sullivan Biggest Winner with Starting Market Value

Cavan Sullivan is undoubtedly one of the top talents to emerge from the MLS season and one to keep an eye on. The 16-year-old Philadelphia Union youngster became the youngest player in league history in the 2024 season and continues to make great progress. “He is considered the greatest talent in US soccer,” said Becker. “This season he was a regular player in the Union squad and was used several times. He also showed excellent performances in the MLS Next Pro.” It is an open secret that Sullivan will move to Man City at the age of 18 for a transfer fee of $5 million (€4.3 million). With this in mind, Transfermarkt has set Sullivan’s initial market value at €3.5 million, giving him the highest rise in the league.

This is how transfer market market values ​​work

The transfer market market values ​​are created taking into account various pricing models as well as a strong involvement of the transfer market community, which deals with the values ​​in detailed discussions. The transfer market market values ​​cannot generally be equated with the transfer fees actually paid.

The goal is not to predict a price, but rather an expected value. When determining the market value, both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant to a certain extent. Examples of this are listed here. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (for detailed market value definition).