Messi tops list of most valuable players at $180m

Messi tops list of most valuable players at $180m
December 07, 2012 12:18 PM last update 12:21 PM

Made of gold: Lionel Messi is valued at $180 million by a study conducted by a Brazilian consulting agency.
Photo: Getty Images

SEBASTIAN DEL MARMOL

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If the whole soccer-loving world took a collective gasp on Wednesday whenLionel Messi went down with what looked like a serious knee injury, its probably because he is widely recognized as the most valuable player on the planet.
And for those who question his worth, a Brazilian consulting firm made it official this week: Messi is the most valuable player in the world, and by a some distance.
Pluri Consultoria placed Messi at the top of its list of the 60 most valuable soccer players with a market value of $180 million, more than $55 million over second place Cristiano Ronaldo ($124 million).
The consulting firm said it used software which took into account 16 different criteria in determining a players value, including technical quality, level of championship titles won, international caps, scoring, marketing value and other factors.
The study may come as a surprise to some as Messi has generally been considered to be a notch belowRonaldo in overall marketing value, even if he is arguably viewed as the best player in the world.
Andres Iniesta rounded out the top three on the list as he was valued at $88 million. Not coincidentally, the top three on the list are also the three finalists for soccers premier award, the Ballon dOr, to be awarded in January.
Others making the top ten, include: Wayne Rooney ($77m), Radamel Falcao ($72), Neymar ($71), Sergio Aguero($69m), Cesc Fabregas ($66m) David Silva ($66m) and Mesut Ozil ($57).

Fonte: http://sports.terra.com/soccer/messi-tops-list-of-most-valuable-players-at-180m,ba6ea5818567b310VgnVCM5000009ccceb0aRCRD.html