Most valuable XI: Messi, Ronaldo & Neymar all ruled out; Liverpool the winner

The algorithms behind the analysis of player values can often raise debates and the latest Most Valuable XI from CIES certainly does.

The CIES Football Observatory has published a list of the hundred players with the highest market value across the five major leagues (see the table below). Among the variables considered in the new and improved algorithms, are factors such as age, contract restrictions, playing position, minutes played, goals scored, national team activity and team results.

Most valuable XI

The top three players in the list are PSG's Kylian Mbappé, Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, and Manchester City's Raheem Sterling, all of whom feature in our most valuable starting XI based on a 4-3-3 formation. That does, however, mean that the likes of Barcelona star Lionel Messi and Juventus' Cristiano Ronaldo sit out. The total estimated market value of this side is a mere 1,614,300,000 euros!!!

Champions League winner Alisson Becker would take his place between the sticks. The Liverpool man has been a key figure for Jürgen Klopp, and was identified as a necessary investment last summer. His value is seen to be €107.5m (24th overall), with Barcelona's German goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen next at €95.2m (30th).

In defence, Liverpool dominate. At right-back is Trent Alexander-Arnold, who would cost €130.2m (13th), and his Scottish teammate Andrew Robertson (€88.3m) fills in on the other flank. In the centre they are joined by The Reds' Dutch rock Virgil Van Dijk currently valued at €112.1m (22th) and Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte (€105.4m, 25th).

The three in midfield are formed by Man City and Portugal star Bernardo Silva (€136.9m, 11th), Barcelona's Brazilian, Phillipe Coutinho (€129.4m, 14th), and Paul Pogba. The Manchester United and France midfielder is valued at €125.1m and is in 16th place overall.

The attacking trident is where you would really be spending the huge bucks. As previously mentioned Kylian Mbappé tops the list at €252m, with Mohamed Salah (€219.6m) and Raheem Sterling (€207.8m) coming second and third respectively.

For all the debate that could be caused about the best starting XI, it would certainly be fun watching this one play together.

All about CIES

The CIES Football Observatory is a research group within the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES), an independent study centre located in Neuchâtel, Switzerland. The CIES Football Observatory specialises in the statistical analysis of football. It was created in 2005 by Dr. Raffaele Poli and Dr. Loïc Ravenel.

Since its creation in 2005 by Raffaele Poli and Loïc Ravenel, the CIES Football Observatory has become a reference point in the demographic analysis of the football players’ labour market, the technical analysis of player performance and the scientific estimation of transfer values.

Researchers from the CIES Football Observatory are specialists in quantitative methods. The services provided include the mining of data and its visual representation. We also have expertise in the production of data through questionnaire surveys, as well as in the editing of research reports.

The CIES Football Observatory has been regularly mandated by prestigious organisations such as,a mong others, FIFA, UEFA, City Football Group, Chelsea FC, Club Atlético de Madrid and SL Benfica. Mandates have also been carried out through the wider remit of the CIES Sports Observatory for organisations such as FIBA and the IOC.