Climb Puig & Torres
Lionel Messi (36) had a month to show his class at Inter Miami in the USA. He succeeded with ten goals in seven games and a first title. In a market value update of the MLS, this does not result in an increase in the previous 35 million euros, but at least not in a market value minus despite the alleged career setback. Rather, it shows what effect the world champion has on the team. Ten teammates followed in Messi’s slipstream and are now valued at 6 million euros more.
In view of the advanced age of the multiple world footballer and the move from France to the weaker North American league, a devaluation of Messi was discussed accordingly. “We have decided to leave Messi’s market value at the current value,” says Transfermarkt’s North America admin Dominic Becker. “Messi has dominated the headlines since he arrived in the league. But Messi has more than lived up to the high expectations that were placed on him and it doesn’t look like he’s here to end his career in comfort.”
MLS update: Almada misses market value record because of Messi
Messi is hot on his heels as LaLiga’s most valuable player Thiago Almada (22). Without Messi, Atlanta United’s national team colleague would now be the most valuable player in MLS history. His valuation increases from 20 million to 27 million euros. Almada has eight goals and nine assists in 21 MLS games this season. Atlanta United have been average at best this season, and without Almada, the seventh-placed East side would probably have no chance of a playoff spot.
“His development was impressive,” says Becker about Almada. “Although he is only 21 years old, he is already a complete playmaker. Top European sides like Arsenal and Napoli have shown interest and a transfer to a team of this size seems only a matter of time.” Atlanta is said to be asking around €30m for Almada. Such a move would make him the most expensive transfer in MLS history.
Messi at the top: MLS Most Valuable Players
Meanwhile, former Barça talent Riqui Puig is new among those MLS professionals who can book an eight-figure market value, which is now €12 million from €8 million and thus the same value as German attacker Hany Mukhtar is taxed. “Puig is currently the most important Galaxy player,” says Becker, explaining the plus of the 24-year-old, who has been upgraded for the second time since leaving Barcelona. “Puig is the protagonist of every game. You can feel that leaving Europe has liberated him and given him the freedom to express himself on the pitch. But if his development continues like this, sooner or later Puig will return to Europe.”
Devaluations: Ex-stars Insigne and Bernadeschi disappoint at Toronto FC
While Puig worked his way up the rankings with his 50 percent plus, ahead of him – also new to the top MLS shelf – Facundo Torres (23) from Orlando City, who has jumped into the top 5 with an appreciation of 40 percent to 14 million euros. On the other hand, Lorenzo Insigne (32) has to say goodbye. He’s not the only former European star at Toronto FC to drop.
For the former Napoli star Insigne it is clearly down by 4 million to 8 million euros. Teammate Federico Bernardeschi sees his market value shrinking by 2 million to 6 million euros. In the Canadian metropolis, the two Italians had their difficulties in fulfilling the expectations placed on them. The 2017 champions sit bottom of the Eastern Conference standings and last won a league game on May 27. This was followed by three draws and then seven defeats in a row.
This is how the Transfermarkt market values work
The Transfermarkt market values are created taking into account various pricing models and a strong involvement of the Transfermarkt community, which deals with the values in detailed discussions. The transfer market market values are not to be equated with the transfer fees actually paid.
The goal is not to predict a price, but an expected value. When determining the market value, both individual transfer modalities and situational framework conditions are relevant to a certain extent. Examples of this are listed here. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (for detailed market value definition).
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