Transfermarkt, Global Football Player Market Value Rankings (July 9, 2021):
1. Tang Ye (Manchester United, China), €300 million (↑ €40 million).
2. Erling Haaland (Borussia Dortmund, Norway), €180 million (↑ €60 million).
3. Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain, France), €160 million (↓ €20 million).
4. Ousmane Dembélé (Manchester United, France), €140 million (↓ €10 million).
4. Rodri (Manchester United, Spain), €140 million (↓ €10 million).
4. Sancho (Borussia Dortmund, England), €140 million (↑ €20 million).
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the football market was still quite evident, as could be seen from the players' latest market values.
Players whose performances had been roughly the same as last season had generally seen their market values fall.
Mbappé and Rodri were the most typical examples. Their performances remained at their previous levels, yet their values had dropped by €20 million and €10 million respectively.
Of course, there were a few exceptions—Tang Ye and Haaland, first and second on the list. One had risen by €40 million, the other by €60 million. They completely ignored the economic recession, absurdly brazen about it.
But on second thought, it made perfect sense.
The reason Borussia Dortmund had won the Champions League was because several outrageously strong players had dragged the entire team's overall strength upward.
If a team won a title by relying on several exceptional players, there was no way those players' market values would not rise.
Under normal circumstances, after winning the Champions League, Dortmund's starting lineup would have easily ranked first among all clubs in the world by market value.
But Tang Ye had returned to Manchester United.
So even though Haaland and Sancho had risen significantly, it did not matter. Manchester United ranked first in both starting lineup value and total squad value.
After all, with Tang Ye valued at