What would top soccer players be worth in Adam Smith’s barter economy?

Cristiano Ronaldo: A better statue

Surely you remember Ronaldo’s statue. For those that don’t, look up.

(Shudder)

But Ronaldo is worth so much more than that ugly bust. For example, the most expensive statue ever sold at auction, L’Homme au doigt. It’s French for “pointing man.” Why is it so valuable? Beats me, I’m not an art guy. It just kind of looks like some rusted iron pulled into a vaguely humanoid shape. And the fact that he’s pointing doesn’t really strike me as a bold artistic expression. I don’t understand it, but then again, it’s not up to me to tell people how to spend their money.

That’s not important, anyway. Somebody thought this sculpture was worth $140 million. We all know Ronaldo is worth that much. He creates that much value for his club just in jersey sales and memorabilia.

Does the sculpture sell jerseys? I don’t think so. All it does is stand there, representing achievement or mankind’s search for answers or something.

It’s kind of fitting that Ronaldo would be traded for a statue. Ronaldo prides himself on keeping in shape. He keeps his body in constant and perfect form. He refuses to get tattoos. The man is basically a sculpture in and of himself.

I’m sure if you set him up in your living room and made him point, you couldn’t tell the difference between him and L’Homme. But put the sculpture on the field and it would perform worse than a … well, you name it, it’s an inanimate object.

And that proves sports are better than art.