Lionel Messi‘s senior international debut with Argentina at 18 years of age may have not gone as expected, as he sawthe red card only 45 seconds after coming off the bench. However, it didn’t take long for him to live up to the expectations.
While the Rosario-born winger startedto establish himself in the starting lineup of Barcelona, he also became an untouchable player in La Albiceleste. Eventually, Messi wasgiven the emblematic No. 10 shirt—both in Barcaand in the national team, just like DiegoMaradona.
Though he played with other superstars, no other Argentine playercame close to what Messi represented in the modern era. Widely regarded the world’s best player for many years, it was not a surprise to see his market value was higher than everyone else’s. But things may have changed now that he’s 35, despite he continues to be the best in his country.
Lionel Messi is no longer the Argentine player with the highest market value
As a player gets older, his market value will probably decrease. Messi has not been the exception to that rule, and his poor first season with Paris Saint-Germain may have not helped him either.
According to Transfermarkt, Messi is no longer the most valuable player in the Argentina national team. Right now, it’s Inter Milan strikerLautaro Martinez who has the highest market value in Lionel Scaloni‘s squad.
Lautaro Martinez. (Alex Pantling/Getty Images)
It makes sense from a financial point of view, Lautaro is ten years younger than Leo —Martinez turns 25 in August. However, that doesn’t suggest that he’s better. If you ask who is the best player in Argentina, most will agree that continues to be Leo, regardless of his market value.
Top 10 most valuable players in theArgentina national team
Despite he is not atop the list anymore, Messi is still more valuable than most of his teammates even at 35. These are the 10 most valuable players in Argentina according to Transfermarkt:
- Lautaro Martinez (ST, 24 years old, Inter Milan) – $82.50 million
- Lionel Messi (RW, 35 years old, PSG) – $55 million
- Cristian Romero (CB, 24 years old, Tottenham) – $52.80 million
- Rodrigo de Paul (CM, 28 years old, Atletico Madrid) – $44 million
- Paulo Dybala (CAM, 28 years old, Free Agent) – $38.50 million
- Lisandro Martinez (CB, 24 years old, Ajax) – $35.20million
- Emiliano Martinez (GK, 29 years old, Aston Villa) – $30.80 million
- Guido Rodriguez (CDM, 28 years old, Real Betis) – $27.50 million
- Juan Foyth (CB, 24 years old, Villarreal) – $27.50 million
- Nicolas Gonzalez (LW, 24 years old, Fiorentina) – $27.50 million
