In the current edition of the Copa Sudamericana, several teams that will seek to fight for the title have in their respective squads players who, until a few years ago, were standing out on the big stages of European football.
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During those years, these stars managed to enormously increase their market values, reaching historic figures that today, using data from the Transfermarkt medium, help us compile the most valuable footballers in history who will play in this edition of the second most important continental tournament in South America.
Cavani, Paulinho and Fernandinho, on the podium
We open the podium with the most valuable footballer of the lot: Edinson Cavani, Uruguayan star of Boca Juniors who managed to have illustrious steps for Napoli, PSG and Manchester United. Throughout his career, the Uruguayan managed to add a historical maximum value of 60 million euros.
Today at Boca Juniors, the Uruguayan leads a ranking in which two Brazilian stars with a past in European football also stand out: Paulinho and Fernandinho.
In second place is Paulinho, a Brazilian midfielder who managed to shine at Tottenham and of whom fond memories are kept at FC Barcelona despite his brief time in Barcelona. The maximum marking value achieved by the midfielder who today lives at Corinthians was 40 million euros.
To close the podium, a former Manchester City star and current football leader of Athletico Paranaense, Fernandinho, takes the bronze. Thanks to the 32 million euros of historical value, the veteran Furaçao pivot manages to stand out on the list.
The complete list
- Edinson Cavani (Boca Juniors) – 60 million euros*
- Paulinho (Corinthians) – 40 million euros
- Fernandinho (Athletico Paranaense) – 32 million euros
- Gabriel Verón (Cruzeiro) – 25 million euros
- Rafael Santos Borré (Porto Alegre International) – 20 million euros
- Lucas Alario (Porto Alegre International) – 20 million euros
- Marcos Rojo (Boca Juniors) – 19 million euros
- Yuri Alberto (Corinthians) – 18 million euros
- Fernando Reges (Porto Alegre International) – 17.5 million euros
- Lucas Barrios (Luqueño) – 17 million euros
- Hugo Mallo (Porto Alegre International) – 15 million euros
- Juan F. Quintero (River Plate) – 15 million euros
Maximum market value achieved according to Transfermarkt data*
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the first five episodes available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
