AFP/Juan Mabromataview photoMADRID (AFP) - Cristiano Ronaldo may be the world's most expensive footballer, but Barcelona star Lionel Messi outshines him in terms of media value, at least according to a team of Spanish researchers.
The team from the University of Navarra said the Argentine had ousted the Portuguese striker as the player with the highest profile last season.
However, Ronaldo remains the most expensive player, with the researchers valuing him at 82 million euros, less than the world record 93 million Real Madrid paid Manchester United for him this month.
Messi was next at 80 million, followed by Liverpool's Spanish striker Fernando Torres at 67 million.
The study cited Barcelona's European Champions League victory, and Messi's goal in the final, for his leap to number one in the media rankings over last year's winner Ronaldo.
It forecast "an exciting media fight between these two brilliant players" next season.
In team rankings, it recorded a "technical tie" between Barcelona (86.2 points) and Manchester United (86.0 points).
But the manager with the most media pulling power was United's Alex Ferguson, ahead of Barca's Pep Guardiola.
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messi is now the world best player.
With his big ego CR will find it difficult to live alongside LM in La Liga and that might affect his game.
enough with all the Bu.ll.shi.t about messi playing in premier league. find another excuse u fkin blind man utd fans. messi was the best this season and ronaldo's performances all over the year do not place him even in the top 5. the only thing epl has more is money muppets
Definitely he'll be voted the best player FIFA of the year this December. Mark my words! Ronaldo will only be second to him, if not third.
Agree with getachew44.For me I still support Man U..eitheir the team got a big name or not next season.Thanks to Ronaldo for the previous season...next season Ronaldo already put his name into the History of the Club,like Ruud,Becks..and any other name whom already feel the Grass of Old Trafford also the pleasure of "THEATRE OF DREAM".
Agree with getachew44.For me I still support Man U..eitheir the team got a big name or not next season.Thanks to Ronaldo for the previous season...next season Ronaldo already put his name into the History of the Club,like Ruud,Becks..and any other name whom already feel the Grass of Old Trafford also the pleasure of "THEATRE OF DREAM".
I would like to see Messi's so called world ranking after he has spent a year or two in the English Premiership. I think he will find it far too competitive for him. It is no surprise that he does not relish playing in England and the same goes for Kaka, Villa and the rest of the so called World's best.
ronaldo will outshine messi in la liga just watch
we should agree that ronaldo had a bad season if we saw the season before how he played. messi did an amaising job in barca as individual and as team player.
Given that I know a thing or two about this institution, I would assume that the media data used by this reseach team is of Spanish media, NOT global media. If that's the case, which is very likely (since global media data would be very then to obtain) then its absolutely no surprise that Messi has a higher media ranking in SPAIN than Ronaldo. I could have told you that...and not waste the good Univ's time and money.
c.shewan, agree with you. I'm not trying to discredit the whole University of Navarra as they are a fine institution which I actually know quite well. I also know quite well the passion that Catalans (common folk to dignitaries) have for their beloved FC Barcelona. With that, I just question the purpose and validity of this particular piece of research given both their proximity to FC Barcelona and Messi's obvious popularity in the region.
Messi is a joy to watch and plays fantastic football, surely he is a way better than Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a very good footballer, but he does not deserve to be world's #1.
Today, there is no real football star. Its all about marketing. When Ronaldo Rivaldo Zidane etc were best in the world, they were good both at club level and at national team level. Today there is no such player. Messi is good but very greedy because people make him believe he can win single handedly like Maradona used to. I would prefer Ronaldo in my team because he has more in his arsenal than Messi. Messi can get pass three defenders but it doesnt make sense if a fourth gets the ball away especially when ETo'o is begging for the ball. Ronaldinho at his best was more pleasure to watch than Messi.
University of Navarra is a very professional outfit with no political or footballing biases. It seems out of place to criticise their research when people have not taken time to understand the research or who did it.
University of Navarra's main campus is in Barcelona, which is probably were this research came from. Perhaps a little bias in the report??? Waste of time and effort. They should be doing better things...BTW, there is absolutely no question that Ronaldo has more marketing value than Messi.
they should get back to reading books, idiots.
Messi would be @#$% in a decent league like Premier England.
Guess who won the CL Final?????
wtf football is not science to make reaserch
ronaldo is the current golden ball and fifa prize winner
ronaldinho and beckham are still in top 5 TV favour does that make them the best now?
rediculous research!
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