4 weeks ago
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465 updates
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As the final league of 2025, Transfermarkt has updated the market values of 465 players playing in Mexico’s Liga MX. At the very top, there were significant changes: three players now rank, each with a market value of €10 million. Club América’s Allan Saint-Maximin, who was the most valuable player in Liga MX with a market value of €13m, saw his value drop to €10m, the same level as Toluca’s Alexis Vega. The two are joined at the very top of the standings by one of the biggest talents of the Concacaf region: Gilberto Mora.
“Gilberto Mora has moved from being a high-potential prospect to a consolidated elite youth profile,” Transfermarkt Area Manager Mexico, Osvaldo González Camacho, said about the Tijuana star. “At just 17, he is already a regular starter for his club and a reference point for Mexico at the youth international level. His performances at the U-20 World Cup confirmed what domestic football had been showing: maturity beyond his age, decisive end product, and tactical reliability.” With that in mind, Mora is one of the biggest winners of the update, seeing his market value increase by 122% from €4.5m to €10m. Recently featured as part of the Transfermarkt Talents Calendar, Mora is now one of the ten most valuable players born in 2008.
Going the other direction in terms of market value is América’s star signing, Saint-Maximin. Signed for €10.3m from Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli in August, the French forward saw his market value drop by €3m as part of the update. “Saint-Maximin arrived in Liga MX with a valuation shaped by his European experience rather than his current sporting reality,” Camacho said. “While his technical ceiling remains unquestionable, his market value has been recalibrated to reflect limited match exposure and an adaptation phase still in progress. With only a small sample size of competitive minutes, the adjustment does not penalize his talent but rather aligns his value with verifiable output.”
Liga MX market values: Paulinho and Martial down – Ruiz joins top group
Meanwhile, at Liga MX Apertura champions Toluca, there were both ups and downs. Midfielder Marcel Ruiz saw his market value increase by €1m to €9m, which means he ranks just behind the top group. “Marcel Ruiz has reached a stage where consistency, influence, and tactical intelligence intersect,” Camacho said. “He is no longer just a promising midfielder, but one of the most complete central players in Liga MX. His ability to control tempo, contribute in both phases, and perform under pressure places him among the strongest domestic candidates for a World Cup starting role. The upward adjustment reflects not hype, but sustained performance at peak competitive age.”
Going the other direction at Toluca is Liga MX Player of the Season winner Paulinho. “Few players in Liga MX can match Paulinho’s recent scoring legacy,” Camacho said. “A multiple-time top scorer and a decisive figure in title-winning teams, his output remains elite. However, market value is not only a reflection of past achievements but of future sustainability. At his age, even exceptional consistency must be balanced against natural depreciation curves. The adjustment recognizes his continued relevance while placing him in a realistic comparative bracket alongside experienced European-based veterans.” Paulinho saw his market value decrease by €1m from €7m to €6m.
The Portuguese forward is now level with another former European star: Anthony Martial. Signed by Monterrey for just €1m from AEK Athens last September, Martial saw his market value drop from €7.5m to €6m. “Martial’s valuation correction is rooted in continuity, or the lack of it,” Camacho said. “His struggles in Greece were not an isolated dip, but part of a broader pattern that followed him into Liga MX. Despite his background, expectations have consistently outweighed his on-field impact. Market value must ultimately follow performance, and in this case, the data confirms under delivery relative to reputation. Until production matches status, recalibration is inevitable.”
Liga MX market values: US men’s national team striker among downgrades
Another notable downgrade impacted US men’s national team forward Cade Cowell. “Cowell’s case is not one of declining potential, but of structural mismatch,” Camacho said about the 22-year-old Chivas striker. “Limited minutes and a system that fails to maximize his physical and vertical strengths have stalled short-term growth. At 22, his athletic profile and international upside remain attractive, but market value reflects present utilization, not hypothetical trajectories. A loan move aimed at restoring continuity could quickly reverse this trend, making the current dip more situational than terminal.” Cowell, who will be joining the New York Red Bulls on loan when the transfer window opens in January, saw his market value drop by €200,000 from €4m to €3.8m.
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).
