Opinion – The World is a Ball: Vinicius Jr. is worth more than R$ 1 billion, triple that of Neymar

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Vinicius Jr., 21, from Real Madrid, not always called up to the Brazilian national team, has a market value corresponding to triple that of Neymar, 29, from Paris Saint-Germain and untouchable by the team commanded by Tite.

According to a study released by the Cies (International Center for Sports Studies), Vini Jr., who is enjoying an excellent phase in the Spanish team, is worth € 166.4 million (R$ 1.075 billion).

The former Flamenguist occupies the top of the ranking, released every six months by the Swiss institution founded in 1995.

The famous Neymar, who in 2017 was sold by Barcelona for € 222 million (a record to date in a negotiation), occupies the 83rd place, with a value of € 56.1 million (R$ 362.4 million).

The number 10 of PSG and the Brazilian team did not have a great 2021, and his football year ended with a new ankle injury at the end of November, which keeps him away from football.

The player who once aspired to be the best in the world – a feat that seems more and more unattainable – is not only not the most valuable in Brazil but, in the national ranking, he is positioned behind five other compatriots, in addition to Vini Jr.

Ahead of Neymar on the Cies list are Manchester City forward Gabriel Jesus, 24 (28th, €88.2 million), defenders Éder Militão, 23, from Real Madrid (39th, €78.6 million), and Marquinhos, 27, of PSG (66th, €60.9m) and goalkeepers Alisson, 29, of Liverpool (74th, €57.4m) and Ederson, 28, of Manchester City (81st, €56.2m) millions).

In the top 100 of the study, which includes only players who play in the five main leagues on the planet (Germany, Spain, France, England and Italy), there is another Brazilian, midfielder Lucas Paquetá, 24, from Lyon, in 90th position ( €55 million).

The Cies survey is based on a mathematical model, the rules of which were detailed in a publication in the Basel-based scientific journal Economies.

When calculating the value of each player, a series of variables are taken into account, such as age, experience, goals, dribbles and time until the end of the contract.

The second most valuable player is English striker Phil Foden, 21 (€152.6 million); the third, Norwegian striker Erling Haaland, 21 (€142.5 million); the fourth, English striker Mason Greenwood, 20 (€133.9 million); and the fifth, German attacking midfielder Florian Wirtz, 18 (€133 million).

If this ranking were used to rank a team, it would be: Donnarumma (Italy); Alexander-Arnold (England), Rubén Dias (Portugal), Upamecano (France) and Davies (Canada); Bellingham (England), Wirtz (Germany) and Pedri (Spain); Foden (England), Haaland (Norway) and Vini Jr. (Brazil). Average age: 21 years.

The reserve team would have this formation: Alisson (Brazil); Hakimi (Morocco); Eric García (Spain), Gvardiol (Croatia) and João Cancelo (Portugal); De Jong (Holland), Bruno Fernandes (Portugal) and Mount (England); Greenwood (England), João Félix (Portugal) and Sancho (England). Average age: 23 years.

The youngest player to feature in the top 100 is Spanish midfielder Gavi, 17, from Barcelona (€55.8 million), and the oldest, De Bruyne, 30, from Manchester City (€54.6 million). million) – the Belgian is the only thirty-something in this group.

In the division by continents, Europe has 77 athletes, South America, 13 (eight from Brazil, three from Argentina and two from Uruguay), North America, 6 (four from the USA and two from Canada), Africa, 3 (Moroccan Hakimi, Egyptian Salah and Nigerian Osimhen), and Asia, 1 (South Korean Son).

The best represented nationalities are England (19 players out of the 100 most valuable), Spain (10), Germany, France and Brazil (8 each), Portugal (7) and Italy (5).

The Argentine Messi, 34, and the Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo, 36, most likely due to the advanced age for footballers, are not in the top 100.

The editors of the Cies research are Doctors of Humanities Raffaele Poli and Roger Besson, Doctor of Geography Loïc Ravenel and data scientist Thomas Gonzalez.

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