T-8. David Alaba — Austria
Market value: £35 million ($51 million)
Bayern Munich's Alaba is one of the most versatile players at the highest level. He has played as a defender for his club, but for his country is the chief playmaker and goal-scoring threat. He has won the Austrian Player of the Year award five times and is a hero back home in the central European nation.
T-8. Manuel Neuer — Germany
Market value: £35 million ($51 million)
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Neuer is the current holder of the prestigious IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper prize having won it for the last three years on the bounce. The German is renowned for his lightning fast reflexes and miraculous shot-stopping ability. Neuer was chosen as the best goalkeeper of the 2014 World Cup.
T-8. Cesc Fabregas — Spain
Market value: £35 million ($51 million)
Fabregas — who currently plays his club football in England for London club Chelsea — has won two European Championships and a World Club with Spain. The midfielder has been one of Europe's star players since bursting onto the scene with Arsenal in 2005.
T-7. Mezut Özil — Germany
Market value: £39 million ($57 million)
Ozil became Arsenal's record signing when he joined the club from Spanish giants Real Madrid for just over £38 million in 2013. The attacking midfielder played a huge part in Germany winning the World Cup in 2014 — creating 17 chances for his teammates.
T-7. Ivan Rakitic — Croatia
Market value: £39 million ($57 million)
Rakitic is one of two Croats to appear in the top 17 most valuable players. His move to Barcelona in 2014 led to him becoming one of the most admired central midfielders on the continent. He is revered for his on-the-ball composure and excellent passing range.
T-7. Toni Kroos — Germany
Market value: £39 million (57 million)
Kroos' passing ability and attacking flair made him a star at German giants Bayern Munich before he moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2014. The midfielder was the first player born in East Germany to lift the World Cup when he helped his side to glory in the same year.
T-7. Luka Modric — Croatia
Market value: £39 million ($57 million)
Real Madrid man Modric is the second Croat in the top 17. He first caught the eye as a technically-gifted midfielder at north London club Tottenham Hotspur before moving to Madrid for around £30 million in 2012.
T-6. Kevin de Bruyne — Belgium
Market value: £47 million ($68 million)
After being let go by Chelsea just two years into his five-year contract, it looked like Kevin de Bruyne was another player who had failed to fulfill his potential. However, after a brilliant two seasons in Germany with Wolfsburg, the Belgian returned to England with Manchester City in 2015 and helped himself to 16 goals in a fantastic first season with the northwest club.
T-6. Koke — Spain
Market value: £47 million ($68 million)
Atletico Madrid star Koke is one of three Spaniards who feature in the European Championship's most valuable players. The midfielder has played a key role in the Madrid's club rise to the top under manager Diego Simeone. Fellow Spaniard Xavi described him as having "everything" in an interview with Atletico's website.
T-6. Sergio Busquets — Spain
Market value: £47 million ($68 million)
Busquets has been ever-present for Barcelona and Spain since breaking through as one of Europe's finest defensive midfielders in 2008. His ability to break down opposition attack so effectively has made him an invaluable asset for the Spanish national side — this explains why he has made over 80 appearances for his country despite being only 27 years old.
5. Eden Hazard — Belgium
Market value: £50 million ($73 million)
Hazard is the only player in Transfermarkt's top 17 whose market value has actually dropped over recent months. This was likely a result of a disappointing club season with Chelsea. Nevertheless, the skillful Belgian has proved in the past what a special talent he is. He was voted the PFA Players' Player of The Year in 2015 after his 15 goals and countless star performances helped Chelsea win the Premier League.
T-4. Antoine Griezmann — France
Market value: £55 million ($80 million)
Unlike most of the other players in this list, Griezmann has only very recently become a major name in European football. The Frenchman secured a £23 million move to Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad in 2014 and since then has scored 57 goals in just 107 appearances — that ratio is better than a goal every other game.
T-4. Paul Pogba — France
Market value: £55 million ($80 million)
At 23 years of age, Paul Pogba is one of the world's most promising young footballers. In 2014, former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand predicted that the Frenchman would be one of the world's best midfielders — and he was right. Juventus star Pogba is the complete midfielder. He scores goals, creates chances for teammates, and doesn't shy away from defending, either.
T-3. Thomas Muller — Germany
Market value: £59 million ($86 million)
Thomas Muller is known as the "space invader" back home in native Germany. This is because the Bayern Munich star has a gift for finding himself in the right place at the right time. This explains why he has scored 168 goals in 388 games in club football for Bayern Munich.
T-3. Robert Lewandowski — Poland
Market value: £59 million ($86 million)
In 2010, Polish striker Lewandowski signed for German side Borussia Dortmund for a modest fee of just £3.5 million. Six years and over 170 goals later, the striker is now a superstar at Bayern Munich and is widely regarded as one of the best forwards on the planet.
2. Gareth Bale — Wales
Market value: £63 million ($92 million)
One of the reasons Wales reached this year's Euro championships was the incredible form of Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale. He scored 7 goals in the qualification stages including a hugely important strike in a win against Cyprus. Bale's lightning speed combined with his eye for goal have made him a star of world football. At Tottenham Hotspur, he won the PFA Players' Player of the Year and Young Player of the Year awards in 2013.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo — Portugal
Market value: £86 million ($125 million)
With nearly 500 career goals and a host of trophies and personal awards, Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo is quite simply one of the best to ever play the game. His goal-scoring record at current club Real Madrid is absolutely incredible — 364 goals in 348 games. If it wasn't for the greatness of Argentinian star Lionel Messi, Ronaldo would comfortably be regarded as the world's best player.