WHAT HAPPENED?
Transfermarkt publishes a number of market values for players and in November, they valued the World Cup winner at €35 million (£30m/$38m), but that has now plunged to €30m (£25m/$32m). The downgrade is understandable, too, considering Messi’s age and slight injury issues since his move to the United States.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Messi, 36, played the first three games of the MLS season, scoring three goals in the process, but the Inter Miami captain has since missed the subsequent three games, against Montreal Impact, DC United, and New York Red Bulls, due to a muscle injury. Last season, he made six MLS appearances, and missed five through injury.
WHAT TRANSFERMARKT SAID
Transfermarkt’s data administrator for North America, Dominic Becker, explained: “Messi remains the MLS star and, despite his age, is still one of the best footballers on the planet. But age is a factor, even for Messi. He has increasingly struggled with smaller injuries, and a downgrade was impossible to avoid.”
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