Is Rafael van der Vaart A-List?
NoC
No — Rafael van der Vaart is currently ranked C tier — recognizable within their niche but with limited mainstream visibility.
Reached A-list in 2008
Moves to Real Madrid
Lost A-list status in 2010
Dropped to B tier — Tottenham Hotspur
Ranking Timeline
2000D$0.1M
Ajax Debut
Begins professional career with Ajax.
2003C▲$0.5M+$0.4M
Eredivisie Title
Wins Eredivisie title with Ajax.
2005B▲$1M+$0.5M
Joins Hamburger SV
Transfers to Hamburger SV.
2008A▲$3M+$2M
Moves to Real Madrid
Transfers to Real Madrid.
2010B▼$5M+$2M
Tottenham Hotspur
Joins Tottenham Hotspur.
2018C▼$20M+$15M
Retires From Football
Announces his retirement from professional football.
2026C$20M
Former Footballer
Remembered for skill but never reached top tier.
Last updated: February 21, 2026