FC Barcelona forward and Argentine international Lionel Messi (22) outshined Real Madrid’s Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo (25) and Manchester United’s English striker Wayne Rooney (25) who came second and third respectively in terms of media value, a team of Spanish researchers claimed on Friday.

Messi was given a media value of 21.6 while his Real Madrid counterpart Cristiano Ronaldo apparently has a media value of 19.6. England’s Wayne Rooney was given a media value of 13.6.

A research group named Economics, sports and intangibles (ESI) from the University of Navarra rated the last year’s Ballon d’or winner as the player with the highest profile in the world for the second year running.

Real madrid’s Brazilian playmaker Kaka (27) was fourth ahead of the Liverpool pair of Spanish striker Fernando Torres (26) and English midfielder Steven Gerrard (30).

Chelsea’s Ivory Coast centre forward Didier Drogba (32), Ac Milan’s Brazilian winger Ronaldinho (29), Barcelona’s Spanish midfielder Xavi Hernandez (30) and Swedish striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic (28) completed the top ten. Five of the top ten players in the list belong to the Spanish league.

European and Spanish champions Barcelona topped the club ranking, ahead of Real Madrid, Manchester United, Chelsea, AC Milan and Liverpool.

FC Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola was fourth amongst the managers with most media pulling power. Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, Liverpool’s Rafael Benitez and Inter Milan’s Jose Mourinho make the top three.