A study conducted by the CIES Football Observatory study, an European academic Institution, has calculated the values of the the most valuable players in Europe and their findings are leaving people just a little bit shocked.

Whilst Barcelona’s Lionel Messi is generally considered the world’s best player and most valuable, the study finds it is another one of his teamates who takes top spot.

Brazilian winger Neymar da Silva Santos Jr takes the top spot, according to CIES. Using a combination of criteria to determine value – age, length of contract, ability, etc – the study finds the Brazilian to be the most valuable at £216m.

Lionel Messi follows at £149m, whilst Manchester United’s French midfielder and world’s most expensive player, Paul Labile Pogba, is third, valued at £136.4m.

Antoine Griezmann and Luiz Suarez complete the top five, whilst world player of the year Cristiano Ronaldo only comes in at 7th (£126.5m) and Chelsea’s Eden Hazard props up the top ten, at a value of £101.5m.

CIES explained how they reached their values: “The statistical model through which prices are calculated includes multiple variables on player performance (minutes, goals, etc.) and characteristics (age, contract, etc.), as well as data on employer clubs and potential recruiting ones.”

View top twenty list below...full list here…