855 players updated
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A week after the conclusion of the MLS Cup Final in Los Angeles, Transfermarkt updated the market values of 855 Major League Soccer players, and there was a change at the top of the hierarchy. Inter Miami CF superstar Lionel Messi is no longer the undisputed king of MLS in terms of market value as LA Galaxy playmaker Ricky Puig is being rewarded with a significant upgrade following incredible performances during his club’s successful MLS Cup playoffs. Both now top the market with a market value of €20m each.
“With 30 goal contributions in 19 games, Messi remains the best player in the league,” said Dominic Baker, Transfermarkt Data Administrator North America. “But father time has also affected the best footballer of all time. As a result, we had to make age-related adjustments to his market value. Messi’s market value has dropped by €5m to now €20m. But even with that latest decline, Messi remains the most valuable player over the age of 34 in the world, €5m ahead of Barca striker Robert Lewandowski and his eternal rival Cristiano Ronaldo (overview).
LA Galaxy market value: Puig, Peck and Paintsil all receive significant upgrades
While Messi remains the most valuable over the age of 34, a €20 million drop means he is no longer alone at the top of the MLS market value rankings. Instead, he will have to share that title with Los Angeles Galaxy superstar Ricky Puig. “Puig has taken the LA Galaxy to new heights,” Baker said. “His performance was fundamental for the club winning the MLS Cup for the first time in ten years. His technical abilities, eye for teammates and finishing ability are unmatched in MLS. Should he maintain his form following his ACL injury, it is only a question of time for him to return to the league’s top five.
Puig suffered an ACL injury 20 minutes before the MLS Cup Western Conference Final. Despite that injury, the Spaniard provided the game-winning assist in the conference finals against Seattle (1–0). The fact that the Galaxy won the Finals without Puig is a testament to the incredible depth this LA team has built this season. In fact, the other three stars, Josef Paintsil (+€500,000 to €10m), Dejan Joveljic (+€1.5m to €6.5m), and Gabriel Peck (+€4m to €12m) also received significant deals after an impressive playoff run. Upgrade received. run.
Of those three, Brazilian Gabriel Peck could be the next big MLS export. “Gabriel Peck, along with Joveljic and Paintsil, have formed one of the best attacking trios in MLS history,” said Baker. “Peck has everything an elite winger needs: pace, technical ability, an eye for his teammates and good finishing. It is not surprising that Arsenal and Liverpool are both interested in the 23-year-old Brazilian. Although he failed to score in his first four MLS games, Peck still scored 21 goals and 18 assists in 41 games in all competitions for the Galaxy this season. Signed from Vasco da Gama for €9.3m before the season, that transfer now looks like a steal for the Galaxy.
MLS market value: Kucho Hernandez in top 3 – Evander in top 5
Columbus Crew star Kucho Hernandez has been rewarded for another incredible season. “Kucho has not only maintained his form since the last update but has also improved,” Baker said. “The contribution of 40 goals in 41 games in all competitions speaks for itself. “He is also becoming more interesting for European clubs.” Signed from Watford in 2022 for €9.55m, Hernandez has seen his market value rise from €9m when he was signed for an impressive €15m. It is a testament to the incredible work done by Wilfred Nancy in Columbus, as the Crew was one of the best clubs in MLS despite an early exit from the playoffs.
Elsewhere, other notable upgrades in this update include Portland Timbers’ Evander (+€4m to €14m), LAFC’s Mateusz Bogusz (+€2m to €10m), New York Red Bulls’ Lewis Morgan and Real Salt Lake City’s Diego Luna ( Both) are included. +€1m to €6m). Morgan, in particular, stands out. The Scottish winger has been one of the main reasons for the Red Bulls to reach the MLS Cup final, where the Harrison, New Jersey club was defeated by the LA Galaxy (2-1) by a narrow margin. Morgan, voted the Comeback Player of the Season, has also been recalled to the Scottish national team and will remain a player to watch next year.
How transfermarket market prices work
Transfermarkt market values are calculated by taking into account various pricing models. A key factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, transfermark market values should not be combined with transfer fees.
The goal is not to predict price but to predict the expected value of a player in the free market. Both the individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market prices. Examples of this are listed below. TransferMark does not use any algorithms (you can find the detailed market value definition here).