La Derecha Diario Neymar's new record: he becomes the world's most expensive signing for the longest time
Eight years after his transfer to PSG, the Brazilian has surpassed Zidane as the player who has held the record transfer tag for the longest time since 1980
From the talent of Diego Armando Maradona and Roberto Baggio to the media impact of Cristiano Ronaldo or the phenomenon of Ronaldo Nazario, several of the greatest stars football has produced have at some point held the title of the most expensive signing in history. This distinction not only involves astronomical figures, but also living with pressure, meeting expectations, and assuming superstar status.
In the last five decades, transfer values have continued to rise: in 1980, Andy Gray set the record with his move from Aston Villa to Wolverhampton for 3 million euros; by 1999, Christian Vieri raised it to 46.5 million when moving from Lazio to Inter. Today, that figure has multiplied by almost five.
In 2017, Paris Saint-Germain broke the market by paying the 222 million euro release clause for Neymar, when the Brazilian was shining at Barcelona. That operation doubled the previous record, the transfer of Paul Pogba from Juventus to Manchester United for 105 million in 2016.
Eight years later, no signing has reached that amount and, since last Thursday, Neymar has surpassed Zinédine Zidane as the player who has held the record the longest since 1980. The Brazilian has accumulated 7 years, 11 months, and 28 days as the most expensive, one day more than the Frenchman achieved after his arrival at Real Madrid in 2001 for 77.8 million euros.
Behind Neymar and Zidane is Gianluca Vialli, whose move to Juventus in 1992 for 20.6 million kept him as the world's most expensive signing for five years. Cristiano Ronaldo also ranks high (between 2009 and 2013); his transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid for 94 million made him the great star of the Spanish capital, where he signed a golden era and 16 titles.
Diego Maradona sneaks into the top 5. His arrival at Barcelona in 1982 for 7.3 million euros, after shining at Argentinos Juniors and Boca, was one of the most iconic transfers in Argentine and world football.
The ranking is completed by Gareth Bale (the first signing to surpass 100 million, when he joined Real Madrid in 2013 from Tottenham for 101 million), Roberto Baggio, the Hungarian Lajos Détári, Christian Vieri, and Ronaldo Nazario.
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