20 Years of Market Values: The Rise of Ronaldo and Messi
It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since we witnessed the dominance of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi on the pitch. As part of our "20 Years of Market Values" series, we’re going back in time to explore the most valuable players of every season, starting with 2004. And what a season it was.
In the 2008/09 campaign, Pep Guardiola led Barcelona to their first Champions League title, and in the final against Manchester United, two of the most valuable players on the planet faced off: Messi and Ronaldo. Both superstars had a phenomenal season, with market values of €60m each, surpassing Ronaldinho’s previous top spot. Messi, who won the World Footballer of the Year and Ballon d’Or in 2009, scored 38 goals and 19 assists in 51 games for Barcelona, while Ronaldo, who won the English Championship, scored 26 goals and 12 assists in 53 games.
Behind the top duo, notable players like Milan’s Kaká (€55m) and Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard (€46m) and Fernando Torres (€43m) broke through the €50m barrier. This was a remarkable season, with the most valuable starting XI featuring players from eight different teams, including Barcelona and Manchester United.
Check out our most valuable XI from 2008/09:
[Image: Most Valuable XI 2008/09]
These statistics highlight how abundant talent was in the 2008/09 season. Today, 120 players have a market value of at least €50m. The game has evolved, but the fascination with the world’s top players remains the same.
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