20 years of market values 

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In 2014/15, Barcelona was the benchmark in European football. Led by the excellent Lionel Messi, the Catalans won a famous treble. As part of 20 years of market values on Transfermarkt, we look back to the most valuable XI, which included players from just three clubs. Germany was the only country with multiple players. 

With 58 goals and 31 assists in 57 games, Messi was the top scorer in European club football and won the Ballon d’Or for a fifth time. On his way to a top season, Messi was supported by Neymar and Luis Suárez, who was signed for €82m from Liverpool. The Uruguayan was the most expensive transfer of the summer and was directly involved in 48 goals in 42 games. In his second season with Barca, Neymar scored 39 goals and assisted ten more. Barca had three of Europe’s four most dangerous players under contract, and the club’s squad value was €592m. 

Only Real Madrid’s Cristiano Ronaldo could keep the pace with 61 goals and 21 assists in 52 games. The Portuguese superstar saw his market value increase from €100m to €120m to draw even with Messi at the top of the ranking. Three more Real Madrid stars made it into the top XI of most valuable players: Sergio Ramos, Luka Modric, and James Rodríguez. The latter was after a successful World Cup for €75m from Monaco and together with Ángel Di María, who left Real for Manchester United, the second most expensive transfer of the summer. 

Bayern players dominated the defense of the most valuable XI. The club conceded just 18 goals in the Bundesliga to secure the third title in a row. Goalkeeper Manuel Neuer conceded just 36 goals in 50 games and managed 28 clean sheets. Besides the German national team goalkeeper, Bayern’s David Alaba, Jéròme Boateng, and Philipp Lahm were also in the top XI. The squad of Pep Guardiola’s team had a squad value of €551m.