Market values Portugal: Núñez extends lead - 2nd downgrade in a row for Sporting’s Gonçalves

Transfermarkt has updated the market values of all Liga Portugal players after the end of the season, highlighting the dominance of Darwin Núñez in particular. After an inconsistent first season, the 22-year-old forward has shown this year why Benfica paid a record fee of €24 million to UD Almería two years ago. Thanks to 26 goals in the league and six more in the Champions League, including against Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona and Liverpool, it goes up by €15 million to now €55 million for the striker who was already the most valuable player in Portugal ahead of the update.

“Núñez is a fast, physically strong striker who is difficult to defend. Virgil van Dijk recently said in an interview that Darwin was among the attackers who were the most difficult to defend – alongside players like Haaland, Messi, Mbappé and Agüero. The Uruguayan still has one or two technical flaws in his game and, in my opinion, still needs to work on his ball control. However, if he can get that right, he will have a great career ahead of him,” says Marcel de Almeida, Area Manager Portugal at Transfermarkt.

With the jump to €55 million, Núñez reaches a new personal best and is the most valuable player ever under contract in the Liga Portugal after João Félix (2019, €70 million at Benfica) and Bruno Fernandes (2020, €60 million at Sporting). In addition, Núñez continues to extend his lead as the most valuable player outside the top 5 leagues, although this status may be lost if he moves in the summer. The centre-forward has been linked with a move to Manchester United in particular.

Despite Núñez’s strong season, Benfica failed to win the league for a third time in a row. This year, FC Porto were too strong and secured their 30th title as well as the cup win. A big part in this was played by midfielder Vitinha, who rises from €24 million to €30 million and is now the most valuable player in the squad, together with Otávio (+€5 million to €30 million). “Vitinha is a technically very strong player who sets the rhythm of the game. Porto is lucky that Wolves did not exercise their option to buy him last summer,” de Almeida says, describing the 22-year-old Portuguese, who was rewarded with a call-up to the national team in March.

Other upgrades at FC Porto include Fábio Vieira (+€8 million to €25 million), Mehdi Taremi (+€3 million to €20 million), Pepê (+€3 million to €18 million), João Mário (+€2 million to €15 million), Evanilson (+€2 million to €22 million), Mbemba (+€2 million to €17 million), Zaidu (+€2 million to €10 million) and first-choice keeper Diogo Costa. The 22-year-old Portuguese with Swiss roots has not only ousted long-time number one Agustín Marchesín (-€2 million to €4 million) from the Porto goal, but also Rui Patricio in the national team. This is rewarded with an increase of €9 million to €25 million.

Overall, the total value of the Porto squad increases by €39.2 million to €298.5 million, with the Dragões surpassing Benfica (-€2.5 million to €269 million) and Sporting (+€2.4 million to €263.6 million) again.

Sporting: Another minus for former top scorer Pedro Gonçalves

The season was less successful for last year’s top scorer, Pedro Gonçalves. “The 23-year-old was unable to match his performances from 2020/21 despite good scoring figures at Sporting. He repeatedly had to deal with injuries this season and therefore never really got going. He was also not considered for the national team recently. However, he is still one of the best and most intelligent players in the league,” says de Almeida, describing the winger’s situation.

As in the interim update in March, Gonçalves has to accept a minus. From €35 million it goes down to €30 million. As a result, the right-footed forward loses his status as Sporting’s most valuable player and drops behind Matheus Nunes, who goes the opposite way and rises by €5 million to now €35 million. In the league-internal ranking, the central midfielder also jumps to second place as a result.

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).