20 years of market values 

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In 2007/08, Cristiano Ronaldo won the first of his five Champions League titles, his second league trophy, and was voted third at the World Footballer of the Year awards. 

In Spain, Real Madrid won the championship, Inter Milan won the race to the title in Italy, and Bayern replaced Stuttgart as the title holder in Germany. As part of 20 years of market values at Transfermarkt, we are looking back to the most valuable players of the 2007/08 season, which was led by two Brazilians. 

After a tremendous season, Ronaldinho saw his market value grow to €80m—a new record and the highest point of the Brazilian’s career. In second place was his compatriot Kaká, who, after winning the Champions League with AC Milan and being voted the best footballer in the world in 2007, had a market value of €70m. While Ronaldinho’s numbers decreased because of injuries throughout the 2007/08 season, Kaká played a tremendous season and was directly involved in 34 goals.

Cristiano Ronaldo (€55m) made his first appearance in the most valuable XI in 2006/07, while Lionel Messi made his first appearance one year later. The Argentine scored ten goals in LaLiga and assisted another 14 while also adding six goals in the Champions League. Aged just 20, Messi’s market value reached €60m, making him the third most valuable player on the planet. Messi finished second among the best footballers in the world. 

Two Spanish European Championship winners, Carles Puyol and Sergio Ramos (both €30m), made the squad. With them in the XI, LaLiga had four players in the team. Aside from Ronaldo, the Premier League was represented by John Terry (€33m), Ashley Cole (€19m), Steven Gerrard (€45m), and Thierry Herny (€45m).