627 upgrades 

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After the end of the 2024 season, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 627 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players. Unchanged at the top remains future Chelsea star Estêvão, who has once again managed to extend his lead as the most valuable player playing in Brazil. Estêvão aside, several players playing for Copa Libertadores and Brazilian champions Botafogo also saw their market values upgraded. 

“Estêvão was the main protagonist of Brazilian football in 2024, even in a team full of stars and mature players like Palmeiras,” Area Manager Transfermarkt Brazil Marcos Watts said. If it weren’t for him, coach Abel Ferreira’s team would never have fought for any title this season. At 17, Estêvão has better figures than Neymar at the same age and shows that he has a lovely path to be a big name in the Seleção soon.” Estêvão saw his market value increase by 25% from €40m to €50m, making Chelsea’s €34m fee look like a steal.

While Estêvão is the player who wrote all the headlines, Botafogo were the club to shine in Brazil. Owned by the American Eagle Group, Botafogo won the Copa Libertadores by beating Atlético Mineiro 3-1 in Buenos Aires. Then, this weekend, Botafogo secured the first league title since 1994. Not surprisingly, several Botafogo stars like Igor Jesus (+€9m to €15m), Jefferson Savarino (+€3m to €9m), Marlon Freitas (+€3m to €7m) and John Victor (+€3.5m to €7m) were upgraded. 

Brazil market values: Botafogo shine – Luiz Henrique among the big winners 

The player that stood out the most at Botafogo was Luiz Henrique. “Luiz Henrique was reborn in Brazilian football,” Watts said. After a faded spell at Betis in Spain, he returned to Brazil with a high expectation of becoming the biggest star at Botafogo, but he did more than that. He was the best player of Libertadores, turning a key man for the club to win the title, entering the radar of the Seleção and earning a permanent place on coach Dorival Júnior’s squad.” Henrique saw his market value upgraded by 37.5% from €16m to €22m, making him the second most valuable Botafogo player behind Thiago Almada (€27m) and one of the five most valuable players in Brazil.

How Transfermarkt market values work

The Transfermarkt market values are calculated, taking into account various pricing models. A major factor is the Transfermarkt community, whose members discuss and evaluate player market values in detail. In general, the Transfermarkt market values are not to be equated with transfer fees. 

The goal is not to predict a price but an expected value of a player in a free market. Both individual transfer modalities and situational conditions are relevant in determining market values. Examples of this are listed below. Transfermarkt does not use an algorithm (you can find the detailed market value definition here).