The last 12 months have seen transfer fees rocket and records set, with Neymar’s €222 million (£198m/$258m) move to Paris Saint-Germain setting a new benchmark.
The ‘Neymar Effect’ is also in evidence in the latest 'Soccerex 20 Under 21 Report' which values players born on or after January 1, 1997.
Using the Football Value Index compiled by Prime Time Sport, the report takes into account the player’s age, position, current club, contract length, market value perception, international caps, minutes played, goals, injuries and technical quality from a variety of sources to arrive at a final valuation.
The combined total of the top 20 players has now surpassed €1bn (£892m/$1.2bn), a 66 per cent increase on 12 months ago, while there are five players who still command a place high on the list for a second year running.