Lionel Messi, the world's most expensive player worth between €217.4m and €252.6m (CIES)

With a value between €217.4m and €252.6m, Lionel Messi is the most valuable player in the world according to a study by the CIES's (International Centre for Sports Studies) Football Observatory published on the 13/06/2013.

To determine the economic value of each player, the football observatory examined data such as performances of the club and the player, the number of goals scored, the national team's ranking, the championship level, the position on the field, age, career advancement and the player's contract (salary received, duration, extension).

Of the 25 most valuable players, none play for PSG, French champions in 2012/13. The only Ligue 1 player (on the 14/06/2013) for the 2013/14 season is Radamel Falcao (6^th, between €46.3m and €53.8m), the Colombian striker bought by AS Monaco.

• Top 25 most valuable players (CIES)