The 10 Most Valuable Footballers in the World (Updated)

When I debuted the list this summer, there was much fanfare and interest. What's changed since then? Manchester City has an infinite transfer budget, for one. Here's the updated list of the ten most valuable (in terms of price if sold on the transfer market) football (soccer if you're American) players in the world:

10) Michael Essien— Chelsea made Essien the most expensive African footballer ever when they purchased him from Lyon for £24 million in 2005. Despite injury this season, he'll walk right back into the starting line-up wherever he feels like playing when he's back to health.

He's a straight G and can do it all. There isn't a side in the world that he wouldn't start for.

Value: £35 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £45 million

9) Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas— I ripped Cesc pretty bad first time around, but he's growing on me a bit. He's becoming more tough in the tackle, scoring more goals, and whining less. And he's still a stupendous passer.

Compliments aside, I hate him.

What would Manchester City pay for him? £55 million

8) Valencia's David Villa- A coveted commodity to Europe's best clubs for over five years now, Villa has stepped his game up even more this season. He's second on La Liga's goal scoring charts with 13, had a great Euro 2008, and even looks to have grown an inch or so (making him a gargantuan 5'7" I believe). I still question how much better he is than a Jermaine Defoe or Robbie Keane, but Europe's elite don't seem to share my concern.

Value: £40 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £60 million apparently?

7) Real Madrid's Iker Casillas— It seems just a few years since some were questioning whether Real Madrid needed to pursue a new keeper to relieve Casillas of his duty. After allowing 13 La Liga goals in 2007-08 and (like Villa) sparkling at Euro 2008, managing directors, scouts, and that guy who announcing La Liga on Gol are all over his nuts today.

He's good, but Real is struggling this year. Anything over 30 million for a keeper seems overkill.

Value: £45 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £60 million

6) Liverpool's Fernando Torres- A case could be made that he should be a few spots higher on this list, but the fact that he tattooed his name in J.R.R. Tolkien's Tengwar script on his forearm weighed heavily against him.

Yes, he's a proven goalscorer, Euro 2008 champion, and has lovely hair, but Tengwar?

Value: £45 million

What would Manchester City pay for him?

5) Real Madrid's Sergio Ramos— I still see it. You know what I'm talking about. That something going on between Torres and Ramos. Don't you sense it? Nothing wrong that, it's cool, whatever. Two less guys I gotta compete with.

What isn't cool is their Tengwar tattoos.

Value: £45 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £55 million

4) Atletico Madrid's Sergio Aguero— El Kun is marrying Diego Maradona's daughter and has the whole world comparing him to El Pibe de Oro. Like the three men above him, he seems to have been born with a ball at his feet. He scored three goals in five Champions League group games and is an even money bet to have Real Madrid stalking him once they seal the Ronaldo transfer.

Value: £50 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £60 million

3) Barcelona's Lionel Messi— Let me just say this... Messi is very, very, very, very EFFing good. But that dude on Gol needs to calm down. During Saturday's Barcelona and Real Madrid game, the guy ranted that Messi was a (paraphrasing) "FUCKING COLLOSUS PUT ON EARTH TO SMITE REAL MADRID FANS AND PUT TEARS IN THE EYES OF HUMAN BEINGS THE EARTH OVER, WATCHING HIM PLAY FOOTBALL IS AKIN TO WATCHING BEETHOVEN WRITE HIS SIXTH SYMPHONY. HE'S NOT A MORTAL, HE SHALL BE AROUND TIL THE END OF TIME AS A GIFT FROM THE GODS TO BE CHERISHED AND CELEBRATED AND WORSHIPPED, AMEN!"

Value: £65 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £100 million

What would the guy on Gol pay? Stack all the gold, frankencinse, myrrh women, and women in the history of the world... then double it.

2) AC Milan's Kaká— Behind the angelic baby face and devotional undershirts lies the holy grail of modern midfielders. Kaká blends track speed, surprising power, and ridiculous skill.

He's consistently productive for both club and country, a rare scandal-free star, and still just 26 years old. He's had a quiet season, but who doesn't love Kaka?

Value: £60 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £85 million

1) Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo— The best player in the world (right now), Ronaldo is a master dribbler, shooter, and diver.

In 2007-08, he scored 42 goals in 48 games in leading Manchester United to a Premier League and Champions League double.

Before stumping up the transfer list price for Ronaldo, Madrid and Manchester City should remember that two years ago Ronaldinho would've been atop this list at £100 million. Of course, Ronaldinho never outran a Bugatti. My bad.

As long as he keeps the trash talking, winks, and penalty kicking to a minimum, he may just be worth the investment.

Value: £70 million

What would Manchester City pay for him? £120 million

Still just falling short (hehe)— At age nine, the 4'6" wunderkind next-Pele, next-Maradona, next-Ronaldinho, next-Freddy Adu became an overnight Internet sensation.

Videos of him popping the keeper (who couldn't reach the crossbar jumping), dribbling through players as if they hadn't fully developed their leg muscles yet, and celebrating each of his 10 goals a game like they were World Cup game-winners flooded YouTube.

At the time, it was purported that Chera was the best U-14 player in all of Brazil. Santos may have mined a metaphorical golden talent. But probably not.

Also considered: Bojan, Petr Cech, Micah Richards, Wesley Sneijder, Robinho, Franck Ribery, Wayne Rooney, Gianluigi Buffon, Karim Benzema