Lionel Messi has lost his position as the most valuable player in Major League Soccer according to the latest Transfermarkt update. The Argentine superstar dropped by €2 million to €18 million, now sharing second place with Atlanta United's Emmanuel Latte Lath.
"Despite his age, Messi continues to perform consistently well this season," explained Transfermarkt Data Administrator North America Dominic Becker. "But of course you can't ignore the fact that he is getting older."
Interestingly, at 37 years old, Messi remains the second most valuable player in his age category globally, trailing only behind the younger Antoine Griezmann and just ahead of Robert Lewandowski.
Inter Miami's struggles have affected more than just Messi's valuation. After being eliminated by Vancouver Whitecaps in the Concacaf Champions Cup semifinals with a 5-1 aggregate defeat, several Miami stars saw their market values decrease, including Federico Redondo (-€1.5m), Luis Suárez (-€200,000), and Jordi Alba (-€300,000).
On the flip side, Brian White of the Vancouver Whitecaps continues his meteoric rise. The 29-year-old striker's market value increased by another €500,000 to €5 million after scoring 15 goals in 22 games this season. His performances have even earned him a return to the US national team.
"White is currently playing a really strong season," Becker noted. "His goals so far have ensured that the Whitecaps have made it to the CCL final and are undisputedly in first place in the MLS' Western Conference."
Expansion side San Diego FC has also made waves in the market value update. Danish winger Anders Dreyer saw his value increase by 12.5% to €9 million after netting 13 goals in 17 games. Meanwhile, Hirving Lozano suffered one of the biggest drops, falling €2 million to €10 million due to injury issues and his approaching 30th birthday.
Age seems to be a determining factor in this update. Miguel Almirón of Atlanta United also dropped €2 million to €10 million, while LA Galaxy veterans including Gabriel Pec, Joseph Paintsil, and German legend Marco Reus all saw significant decreases.
With three MLS clubs – Inter Miami, Seattle Sounders, and Los Angeles FC – set to participate in this summer's FIFA Club World Cup, could these market values shift dramatically again? The tournament will certainly provide another measuring stick for how MLS talent stacks up on the global stage.
