Cristiano Ronaldo misses out as Lionel Messi named in most valuable Real Madrid vs Barcelona combined XI of all time
Cristiano Ronaldo has been excluded, while Lionel Messi has secured his place in the most valuable Real Madrid vs. Barcelona combined XI of all time. The list also contains some of the modern prodigies, thanks to inflation and the exponential boom in European football.
The Cristiano Ronaldo vs. Lionel Messi debate has dominated footballing discourses over the last two decades. The two juggernauts of the game have scored over 1700 goals (combined) and have won a whopping 13 Ballons d'Or between them — eight for Messi and five for Ronaldo.
Football finance website Transfermarkt recently compiled a combined XI of the most valuable players from Real Madrid and Barcelona. While Lionel Messi made the list, Cristiano Ronaldo failed to do so.
This is because Cristiano Ronaldo's valuation peaked in 2014 (€120million), but modern talents have eclipsed it because of an unprecedented hike in football fees in recent times. In 2014, Ronaldo had just won his second UEFA Champions League after joining Real Madrid from Manchester United in 2009 for a world-record €94 million fee.
Meanwhile, Lionel Messi's market value peaked at €180 million in 2018, thereby keeping him on the list alongside today's emerging superstars.
Messi and Ronaldo continue to put up staggering numbers despite approaching the twilight of their respective careers. In 2024, the Argentine maestro recorded 23 goals and 13 assists in 25 games across competitions. He also led Inter Miami to their debut MLS Supporters' Shield.
The Al-Nassr superstar, meanwhile, has already racked up 17 goals and three assists in 20 games across competitions this season.
Who joins Lionel Messi in the most valuable Real Madrid vs. Barcelona combined XI, with Cristiano Ronaldo left out?
As per Transfermarkt's most valuable Real Madrid vs. Barcelona combined XI, Messi is joined by Vinicius Jr., Lamine Yamal, and Kylian Mbappe in the attack.
Vinicius Jr. currently shares Transfermarkt's all-time leading valuation at €200 million alongside Manchester City's Erling Haaland. The Brazilian superstar was also the runner-up of the 2024 Ballon d'Or behind City's Rodri.
Like Messi, Kylian Mbappe and La Masia superstar Lamine Yamal made their places in the attack with a peak market value of €180 million each. At just 17, Yamal has been earmarked by many fans and pundits as the next big thing in world football. Mbappe, meanwhile, joined Paris Saint-Germain from Monaco in 2018 for a whopping €180.00 million. Last year, he joined Los Merengues on a free transfer after much speculation.
The midfield was made of Jude Bellingham (€180 million) and Federico Valverde (€130 million). The prices start plummeting as we move to the defense, with Jordi Alba (€80 million), Raphael Varane (€80 million), Pau Cubarsi (€70 million), and Jules Kounde (€60 million) making up the back four.
With a peak valuation of €90 million, Marc-Andre Ter Stegen completed the combined XI. His peak market value highlights the loss Barcelona have suffered this season because of his long-term injury (patellar tendon rupture).