RANKED: The 25 most valuable soccer players in Europe

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RANKED: The 25 most valuable soccer players in Europe

Neymar and Mbappe

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Neymar and Kylian Mbappé.

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A prominent research group in Switzerland has put together a list of "estimated transfer values" for the most expensive soccer players in Europe.

The ranking makes for interesting reading as Cristiano Ronaldo, a five-time Champions League winner, barely makes the list (down from 11th last year) and Neymar, who smashed the world transfer fee record when he left FC Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain in a $260 million deal last summer, fails to make top spot.

Football think tank CIES Football Observatory researched data from 5,000 paid transfers over a seven year period and used those figures to assess "fair" transfer values for active soccer players in the top five European leagues - the Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), Bundesliga (Germany), Serie A (Italy), and Ligue 1 (France).

Factors like talent level, contract duration, and the age of each specific soccer player come into effect in this ranking, as does the status of the recruiting club.

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CIES discovered, through speaking with market actors (club executives operating in elite soccer), that "the status of the recruiting club has a major influence in determining the transfer price."

Here are the 25 most valuable soccer players competing in Europe right now, ranked in ascending order:

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25: Marc-André ter Stegen, FC Barcelona goalkeeper — €100.5 million ($117.7 million).

25: Marc-André ter Stegen, FC Barcelona goalkeeper — €100.5 million ($117.7 million).

24: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid striker — €103.4 million ($121.1 million).

24: Cristiano Ronaldo, Real Madrid striker — €103.4 million ($121.1 million).
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23: Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli attacker — €104.2 million ($122 million).

23: Lorenzo Insigne, Napoli attacker — €104.2 million ($122 million).

22: Gonzalo Higuaín, Juventus striker — €104.5 million ($122.4 million).

22: Gonzalo Higuaín, Juventus striker — €104.5 million ($122.4 million).
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21: Ederson Moraes, Manchester City goalkeeper — €104.6 million ($122.5 million).

21: Ederson Moraes, Manchester City goalkeeper — €104.6 million ($122.5 million).

20: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder — €106.2 million ($124.4 million).

20: Christian Eriksen, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder — €106.2 million ($124.4 million).
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19: Samuel Umtiti, FC Barcelona defender — €111.5 million ($130.6 million).

19: Samuel Umtiti, FC Barcelona defender — €111.5 million ($130.6 million).

18: Luis Suárez, FC Barcelona striker — €120.4 million ($141 million).

18: Luis Suárez, FC Barcelona striker — €120.4 million ($141 million).
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17: Eden Hazard, Chelsea attacker — €124.7 million ($146 million).

17: Eden Hazard, Chelsea attacker — €124.7 million ($146 million).

16: Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City striker — €140.3 million ($164.3 million).

16: Gabriel Jesus, Manchester City striker — €140.3 million ($164.3 million).
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15: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool FC striker — €142.6 million ($167 million).

15: Roberto Firmino, Liverpool FC striker — €142.6 million ($167 million).

14: Paul Pogba, Manchester United midfielder — €144.9 million ($169.7 million).

14: Paul Pogba, Manchester United midfielder — €144.9 million ($169.7 million).
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13: Leroy Sané, Manchester City forward — €152.2 million ($178.3 million).

13: Leroy Sané, Manchester City forward — €152.2 million ($178.3 million).

12: Philippe Coutinho, FC Barcelona forward — €154.6 million ($181 million).

12: Philippe Coutinho, FC Barcelona forward — €154.6 million ($181 million).
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11: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City forward — €155.1 million ($181.7 million).

11: Raheem Sterling, Manchester City forward — €155.1 million ($181.7 million).

10: Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United striker — €163.4 million ($191.4 million).

10: Romelu Lukaku, Manchester United striker — €163.4 million ($191.4 million).
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9: Paulo Dybala, Juventus forward — €164.2 million ($192.3 million).

9: Paulo Dybala, Juventus forward — €164.2 million ($192.3 million).

8: Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid forward — €164.5 million ($192.7 million).

8: Antoine Griezmann, Atletico Madrid forward — €164.5 million ($192.7 million).
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7: Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City midfielder — €167.2 million ($196 million).

7: Kevin de Bruyne, Manchester City midfielder — €167.2 million ($196 million).

6: Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder — €171 million ($200.4 million).

6: Dele Alli, Tottenham Hotspur midfielder — €171 million ($200.4 million).
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5: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool FC forward — €171.3 million ($200.7 million).

5: Mohamed Salah, Liverpool FC forward — €171.3 million ($200.7 million).

4: Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona forward — €184.2 million ($215.9 million).

4: Lionel Messi, FC Barcelona forward — €184.2 million ($215.9 million).
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3: Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain forward — €186.5 million ($218.6 million).

3: Kylian Mbappé, Paris Saint-Germain forward — €186.5 million ($218.6 million).

2: Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain forward — €195.7 million ($229.4 million).

2: Neymar, Paris Saint-Germain forward — €195.7 million ($229.4 million).
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1: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur striker — €201.2 million ($235.8 million).

1: Harry Kane, Tottenham Hotspur striker — €201.2 million ($235.8 million).
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