EXPLAINER - Why some sports stars are worth more than companies.
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An 18-year-old footballer valued at more than R6 billion has reignited a global debate: how do we really put a price on modern sports stars? Following a new long-term contract at Barcelona, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has been named the world’s most valuable footballer — outranking established global icons and even rivaling the valuations of listed companies.
We speak to Nqobile Ndlovu, Research Director at Cash N Sport, to unpack the equation behind sports star valuations across codes. From on-field performance and age-driven potential to commercial power, social media influence and contract dynamics, we explore why athletes are increasingly treated as long-term revenue-generating assets and what this means for teams, sponsors, fans and the business of sport in a global, data-driven era.
We speak to Nqobile Ndlovu, Research Director at Cash N Sport, to unpack the equation behind sports star valuations across codes. From on-field performance and age-driven potential to commercial power, social media influence and contract dynamics, we explore why athletes are increasingly treated as long-term revenue-generating assets and what this means for teams, sponsors, fans and the business of sport in a global, data-driven era.
