Top 5 most valuable footballers when they were only aged 18
Youth talents are always prioritised at top clubs across Europe and it comes as no surprise that some of the most successful teams have a strong academy filled with young prospects waiting to break into the first team. The youngsters form the foundation of clubs who look to build for the future and are nurtured with care in the hope that they become world class when they hit their peak.
But a select few players are worth far more than their counterparts and are already branded world-class when they are only in their teens. And clubs are ready to spend millions to bring them into their teams knowing full well that investing in players at such an early age will prove to be fruitful in the long run.
Here are five players who were worth fortunes when they were just 18 years old.
5) Lionel Messi (Barcelona) – €15m
When looking for young players for their academy, it is not common for clubs to look for players in a separate country, let alone an entirely different continent. But that’s how special this little kid from Rosario, Argentina was and Barcelona, after initially hesitating, convinced his family to move to the city so he could play for the Camp Nou club.
After signing a contract that was written on a paper napkin, Messi joined La Masia and also had the club finance his growth hormone treatment. Soon, he was part of one of Barcelona’s greatest ever youth teams with players such as Cesc Fabregas and Gerard Pique for company.
Other clubs were starting to take note now and, while Fabregas and Pique left for Arsenal and Manchester United, Messi stayed and rose swiftly through the ranks to eventually make his senior debut for the club aged only 16 years.
In 2005, when he turned 18, Barcelona ensured he signed his first senior contract and coolly inserted a release clause of €150m.