Cristiano Ronaldo will go down as one of the world’s greatest ever footballers – but his heroics haven’t seen him named in the most valuable XI.

The 39-year-old has won league titles with Manchester United, Real Madrid and Juventus, while also scooping five Champions League crowns.

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With 908 goals for both club and country, the Portuguese striker has scored more times than anyone else in history.

His goalscoring antics saw him win the Ballon d’Or in 2008, before winning a further four more between 2013-2017.

He also boasts more hat-tricks (66) than any other active player in football today – seven more than closest rival Lionel Messi.

But it is Messi who has been named in Transfermarkt‘s Most Valuable XI of the last 20 years instead of the Al Nassr skipper.

The website, who once valued Ronaldo at £100million, has compiled a star-studded line compiled of players’ highest transfer valuation from their careers so far.

It states that each of the 11 players reached their career-peak valuation after the 2017/18 season.

That season saw Paris Saint-Germain break the world transfer record when they signed Neymar from Barcelona for £200m.

But incredibly, the Brazilian forward has also been left out of the line-up, whose highest market value was £150m from January 2018 to December 2019.

However, Messi, who was also valued at £150m for his highest value, reached the whopping estimation before Neymar, therefore has been named over his ex-teammate.

Here talkSPORT.com runs you down the full XI, which includes players from nine countries and seven different clubs.

Jan Oblak – GK – Atletico Madrid – £83m

The Slovenian shot-stopper reached his highest market value during the 2020/21 season.

That campaign saw him help Atletico win their first LaLiga title since 2014.

It also saw the 31-year-old win the Ricardo Zamora Trophy having conceded just 25 goals from 38 matches – keeping 18 clean sheets.

Oblak has regularly been heralded as one of the finest goalkeepers of his generation, with the ex-Benfica star closing in on 500 appearances for Atletico.

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Trent Alexander-Arnold – RB – Liverpool – £92m

One of England’s most gifted ever right-backs, the 26-year-old has been a mainstay in Liverpool’s side his debut in 2016.

The Three Lions international is one of two defenders to reach the €100m benchmark.

And he amassed his £92m valuation during the 2020/21 season, which saw him help the Reds finish third in the Premier League table.

He chipped in with two goals and nine assists from 45 games in all competitions.

With the player a target for Real Madrid next summer, there remains every chance that the defender could eclipse the £100m barrier in the future.

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Raphael Varane – CB – Real Madrid – £67m

The former Manchester United man was regarded as one of Europe’s best centre-backs during his ten-year stay at Real Madrid from 2011-2021.

A three-time LaLiga and four-time Champions League winner, the now-retired Frenchman reached a peak valuation of £67m.

The first time he was valued at that figure came during the 2018/19 term, which saw him win the FIFA Club World Cup.

Both Arsenal star William Saliba and Manchester City’s Ruben Dias are also valued at £67m, but it was Varane who reached the figure first.

Virgil van Dijk – CB – Liverpool – £83m

A teammate of Alexander-Arnold’s at Anfield, Van Dijk became the first defender to be valued at €100m [£83m].

The Dutchman has been labelled as the Premier League’s best ever centre-half by City legend – and now Bayern Munich boss – Vincent Kompany.

It was in the 19/20 season which saw Van Dijk reach his £83m valuation where he helped Liverpool end their 30-year wait for a top-flight title.

That season saw him feature in all 38 Premier League matches, with the Merseyside giants shipping in just 33 goals – the lowest tally in the division.

Alphonso Davies – LB – Bayern Munich – £67m

The Canada international burst on the scene in the 2019/20 season, where he helped Bayern win the Bundesliga and Champions League.

His pace down the left flank proved to be a nightmare for the opposing full-back – which was evident in the European Cup wins against Tottenham, Chelsea and Barcelona.

And in September 2020 – just one month on from Bayern’s Champions League final victory over PSG – Davies’ market value shot up to £67m.

Like Alexander-Arnold, he is in the final year of his contract, with Real believed to be eyeing him up over a potential free transfer.

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Jude Bellingham – CM – Real Madrid – £150m

A world superstar, the Englishman is worth a staggering £150m at just 21 years of age.

Having linked up with Los Blancos from Real Madrid in 2023, the midfielder marked his maiden season in Spain by claiming LaLiga and Champions League glory.

He fired in 23 goals from 42 matches, while also providing 13 assists – including one in the Champions League final against BVB.

This season Bellingham has struggled in front of goal, finding the back of the net just once for Real, though he has retained his £150m valuation.

Kevin De Bruyne – CM – Man City – £125m

The Belgian is undoubtedly one of the finest players to have ever played in the Premier League – chipping in with 69 goals and 113 assists from 265 top-flight appearances.

While he struggled for game time at Chelsea, the 33-year-old has been nothing short of sensational while wearing the blue of City.

And in May 2018, he was valued at £125m following a season which saw him win the Premier League and Carabao Cup.

From 52 appearances, he scored 12 times, while laying on an whopping 21 assists.

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Lionel Messi – RW – Barcelona – £150m

Viewed by many as the greatest player to have ever lived, the Argentina hero has won everything there is to win.

One World Cup, two Copa Americas, four Champions Leagues, ten LaLiga crowns, two Ligue 1 titles and a record eight Ballon d’Ors, Messi has left a lasting legacy in football.

And in January 2018, he reached a career-high valuation of £150m.

From the 2008/09 season to the 2020/21 campaign, Messi scored at least 30 goals per term.

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Vinicius Jr – LW – Real Madrid – £167m

The Brazilian winger is a two-time Champions League winner with Real – scoring in the 2022 and 2024 finals against Liverpool and Dortmund respectively.

And he has started this season in devastating fashion – chipping in with 12 goals and seven assists from 17 outings.

His fantastic form has seen him valued at €200m [£167m] – one of two players today that is worth that figure.

He had been tipped to scoop the coveted Ballon d’Or, but was pipped to the individual award by City midfielder Rodri.

Now in his seventh season at the Bernabeu, he is just five strikes shy of reaching a century of goals for Real.

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Erling Haaland – ST – Man City – £167m

Along with Vini Jr, Haaland is worth a staggering £167m, with the pair boasting the joint-highest valuation.

And it’s no surprise why, with the Norwegian striker having already scored 15 goals – with 12 coming in the top-flight.

Haaland recently brought up 100 goals for the Citizens – just two years after joining from Dortmund.

His form saw him valued at £167m in October, and the 24-year-old shows no signs of slowing down.

Kylian Mbappe – ST – PSG – £167m

Mbappe became the first player on Transfermarkt to reach the €200m [£167m] valuation in December 2018.

The French forward was directly involved in 56 goals in the 2018/19 season [39 goals, 17 assists] – helping PSG win the Ligue 1 title.

He made the move to join Real in the summer in one of football’s biggest ever free transfers.

While he has scored eight times so far, he has somewhat flattered to deceive with fans expecting more from the 2018 World Cup winner.

Now regarded to be worth £150m, Mbappe will be hoping it’s only a matter of time before he reaches his former valuation.

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