Most valuable players 2007: Messi arrives - Robben and Rooney ahead of Ronaldo
Wayne Rooney and Arjen Robben have a higher market value than Cristiano Ronaldo; Lionel Messi made the step from talent to star. In Germany, UEFA Cup starter Bayern Munich sign the most valuable Bundesliga player Miroslav Klose from Werder Bremen.
Totti first, Ronaldo third Europe's Top-Scorers 2006/07 Overview 2007 was the last time for the next ten years in which the Ballon d'Or was not awarded to either Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo. It was also the only time that two Brazilians finished first and second as the most valuable players in the TM-market value ranking.
The 25-year-old Kaká guided Milan to a 2-1 victory in the Champions League over Liverpool and was later crowned the world's best footballer. As a result, his market value grew from €50 million to €70 million—his record. The only player worth more was Ronaldinho, the Barça magician had a market value of €80 million.
Ronaldinho could already see Messi emerge in the review mirror. The Argentine played his first full season as a member of the starting XI and saw his market value grow from €15 million to €60 million, enough to break into the top three. Despite missing three months with a broken foot, Messi was unstoppable, and after his return, the 19-year-old scored 11 goals in 17 LaLiga games.
Most valuable Players in 2007 x
In England, Cristiano Ronaldo made the next step to becoming a world star. The 22-year-old collected 44 scorer points—25 more than the year before—in 53 games for Manchester United. Ronaldo, who would finish second in the Ballon d'Or vote in 2007, had a market value of €34 million, the forward would see his value grow eight times until 2014. Just ahead of Ronaldo was his eighth-month younger teammate Rooney and Real Madrid's new signing Robben (both €36 million.
The top 25 in 2007 was exclusively reserved for players from the Serie A (six players), Premier League (11), and Primera División (eight). The Bundesliga's highest-ranked player was Klose, who was ranked in 28th place.
With a market value of €30 million, the new Bayern signing was on the same level as Andrea Pirlo (Milan), Carles Puyol (Barça) and David Trézéguet (Juventus). Bayern's other star signings of that summer, Frank Ribéry (€25m) and Luca Toni (€28.5m), ranked 48th and 34th.
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jun 24, 1987 (36)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Inter Miami CF
- Contract until:
- Dec 31, 2025
- Position:
- Right Winger
- Market Value:
- €30.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Mar 21, 1980 (44)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Left Winger
- Market Value:
- -
- Date of birth/Age:
- Apr 22, 1982 (42)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Attacking Midfield
- Market Value:
- -
- Date of birth/Age:
- Feb 5, 1985 (39)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Al-Nassr FC
- Contract until:
- Jun 30, 2025
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- €15.00m
- Date of birth/Age:
- Jun 9, 1978 (45)
- Nat.:
- Current club:
- Retired
- Contract until:
- -
- Position:
- Centre-Forward
- Market Value:
- -