Mbappe regarded as world's most valuable football player in CIES report
The 20-year-old Kylian Mbappe from France was regarded as the world's most valuable soccer player in a report by the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) Football Observatory on Monday.
Kylian Mbappe of PSG during the French Cup (Coupe de France) match between GSI Pontivy and Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at Stade du Moustoir on January 6, 2019 in Lorient, France. [Photo: Getty Images via VCG/Jean Catuffe]
Mbappe, who witnessed a skyrocket in past two years, sits atop the rankings with an estimated value of 218.5 million euros, 38.5 million more than the amount of fee paid by Ligue 1 powerhouses Paris Saint-Germain for signing him from Monaco.
Tottenham Hotspur forward Harry Kane is placed second with 200.3 million euros. Mbappe's club teammate Neymar is third at 197.1 million, contrary to the real amount of 222 million, a world record, when PSG recruited him.
Argentine star Lionel Messi makes seventh place, while his arch rival Cristiano Ronaldo, who joined Juventus this season, is ranked 19th on the table.
According to the CIES report, among the 27 footballers with an estimated value of more than 100 million euros, 16 currently play in Premier League, five in La Liga, three in Serie A, two in Ligue 1 and one in Bundesliga.
Eleven nations have representatives with an estimated value of more than 100 million euros, led by Brazil with six players.