Often labelled as the most beautiful game, football, as a sport, has a tendency of capturing the imagination of fans and evoking their emotions like no other. In a matter of seconds, a game of football can change its natural course, bringing some on their feet and others with their hands on their knees. It's not a sport. It's a way of life. 

For many loyalists who are fixated with the game, getting close to the men who make the magic happen on the pitch is no less than coming face-to-face with god which, in turn, is equally difficult, if not impossible. Thus, in a bid to connect with the footballing stars, fans often chase the football memorabilia signed by their favourite stars.

Owing to the huge demand of such memorabilia, the autographs of football stars end up fetching a lucrative amount at auctions. Whether a footballer is still an active player or retired, the signatures of prominent names in football on distinctive merchandise further add value and, in turn, feed the interest of fans.

But, just like the competition on the pitch, no one can get a fix on the footballer whose signature is worth more than others. Well, not anymore. 

A Daily Mail report suggests that a gambling website, after analysing pieces of signed memorabilia from two auction sites and then comparing to find an average price, has come up with a list of footballers with most expensive signatures. Here's a look at the top 10:

10. Cristiano Ronaldo (Rs 46,190.10)

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9. Kevin De Bruyne (Rs 50,114.71)

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8. Pele (Rs 50,835.22)

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7. Lionel Messi (Rs 50,836.22)

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6. Diego Maradona (Rs 57,826.11)

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5. Mohamed Salah (Rs 65,595.89)

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4. George Best (Rs 89,094.80)

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3. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Rs 89,490.46)

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2. David Beckham (Rs 99,433.51)

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1. Sergio Aguero (Rs 1,35,600.48)

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While the likes of Ronaldo and Messi surely rule the charts with records and astronomical salaries, it's quite a surprise to see them far off the top in this list. 

Not many would have anticipated Sergio Aguero, the Manchester City legend who famously scored the 2012 EPL title-winning goal against Queens Park Rangers, to top the coveted list. 

And, the fact that this list includes four retired stars shows that the value of football memorabilia is governed by legacy, not active careers.

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