Erling Haaland Tops List of Most Expensive Players in the World as per recent statistics:
Young Manchester City Star Erling Haaland continues to dominate the sport, this time topping the list of most expensive players in the world. According to recent rankings by the CIES Football Observatory, Haaland’s transfer value is estimated at €250 million ($270 million), surpassing big names like Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
While Haaland secures the #1 spot, but some of the other rankings on the list may be surprising to some people. Bellingham comes in 4th at €190 million ($206 million), trailing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr. (€196 million or $212 million) and Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (€195 million or $211 million). Surprisingly, Mbappe lands 10th with a €163 million ($176 million) valuation.
Additional top players include Real Madrid’s Rodrygo (€185 million), Barcelona duo Pedri (€178 million) and Pablo Gavi (€174 million), Bayern’s Jamal Musiala (€170 million), and Manchester City teammate Phil Foden (€167 million).
Despite the high-profile rankings, Haaland shockingly trails other Norwegian athletes in popularity at home.
Most expensive players as per CIES’s statistical model. pic.twitter.com/0tBNu487p1
— Madrid Universal (@MadridUniversal) November 15, 2023
Haaland is not favourite in his own Country
A recent survey found Norwegian sprinter Karsten Warholm as Norway’s most liked athlete with 32% of votes. Biathlete Johannes Thingnes Bø and 11 times rowing World Champions Birgit Skarstein tied for 2nd at 32%, while Haaland only got 27% and placed him in 8th position. The 22-year-old goal machine even ranked behind national team captain Martin Ødegaard.
While his popularity lags at home, Haaland continues to lead globally as soccer’s most valuable player. His ability to score goals and his high transfer value make him one of the most talented young footballers in the world. After moving to Manchester City on 1st july 2022, Haaland has scored 52 goals across all competitions. He scored 36 goals in 35 appearances in the premiere league last season.
In this current season he is the top premiere league goal scorer with 13 goals in 12 appearances.
His exceptional talent was further recognized when he was awarded the prestigious Gerd Müller Award at the 2022 Ballon d’Or ceremony in October. The annual trophy is given to the player judged to have scored the most outstanding goals over the previous season.
Haaland’s transfer to Manchester City was one of the biggest moves of 2022. The Premier League champions paid £51 million to activate his release clause from Borussia Dortmund, acquiring one of the most lethal strikers in the world.
Erling Haaland’s rise to fame has been incredibly fast since he started playing for Molde FK and RB Salzburg. His goalscoring records are staggering – 27 goals in 25 games for Dortmund in 2020-21, 41 goals in 41 games across all competitions in 2021-22.
At just 23 years of age, Haaland looks set to shatter goalscoring records wherever he goes. His combination of pace, power and clinical finishing ability is unmatched among soccer’s current generation of stars.
Haaland comes from strong soccer lineage as well. His father Alf-Inge Haaland played for Manchester City, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest. Erling was born in England during his father’s time at Leeds, so his Premier League move has brought him back to his birth nation.
Standing at an impressive 6’4″ with striking blond hair and a signature energetic goal celebration, Haaland has also become a pop culture icon and a viral meme sensation. His popularity extends beyond the soccer world, and his rise to global superstardom seems inevitable if he continues his remarkable success.
Some pundits have compared Haaland to legendary players like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazilian Ronaldo. While such comparisons may be premature, Haaland possesses the talent and drive to potentially reach those lofty heights.
His incredible speed and powerful physique make him almost impossible to defend.
While his popularity lags among Norwegian fans for now, Haaland’s status as international soccer’s most exciting player is undisputed. At just 23, his future looks limitless if he can avoid major injuries.
