Paul Pogba becomes the first £100m footballer... but who was the first £1m player? Sportsmail chart the rise of the world transfer record

As Manchester United get ready to smash the world transfer record for Paul Pogba, the French star is set to become the first £100m footballer in the history of the game.

The move comes 41 years after a rather unheralded Italian became the first £1m player in the game, and breaks Real Madrid's monopoly over owning the most expensive footballer five times since 2000.

Lets quickly look back at how the world transfer record has evolved in that time... 

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1975: Giuseppe Savoldi, Bologna - Napoli, £1.2m

With just four Italy caps to his name, Giuseppe Savoldi is not the most regaled of ex-footballers but the left-winger became the first million pound footballer when he

traded Bologna for Napoli in 1975. 

Giuseppe Savoldi became the first million pound footballer when he traded Bologna for Napoli in 1975

1976: Paolo Rossi, Juventus - Vicenza, £1.75m

Paolo Rossi shot to fame during the 1982 World Cup, but Vicenza were the first side to discover the Italian's goalscoring prowess when they bought him from Juventus in 1976. 

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Vicenza paid £1.75m to bring Paolo Rossi to the club from Juventus back in 1976

1982: Diego Maradona, Boca Juniors - Barcelona, £3m

Diego Maradona emerged on the European stage when Barcelona paid the Argentine's beloved home town club Boca Juniors £3m for his services.  

Diego Mardona emerged on the European stage when Barcelona paid Boca Juniors £3m in 1982

1984: Diego Maradona, Barcelona - Napoli, £5m

After just two years at the Nou Camp, Maradona made the move to Serie A and rose to prominence in a trophy-laden seven-year spell at Napoli. 

The Argentina legend spent only two years at Barcelona before joining Napoli for £5m

1987: Ruud Gullit, PSV Eindhoven - Milan, £6m

After rising to prominence in his native Holland, Ruud Gullit joined AC Milan in 1987 where he went on to win the Ballon d'Or and three Serie A titles.

Ruud Gullit joined AC Milan in 1987 where he went on to win the Ballon d'Or and three Serie A titles

1990: Roberto Baggio, Fiorentina - Juventus, £8m

Roberto Baggio had big boots to fill at Juventus when he inherited Michel Platini's No 10 shirt, but won three trophies and the Ballon d'Or in his five years there. 

Roberto Baggio won three trophies and the Ballon d'Or in his five years at Juventus

1992: Jean-Pierre Papin, Marseille - Milan, £10m

Following a then eyewatering £10m move from Marseille, Jean-Pierre Papin won five trophies - including the Champions League - in just two seasons at AC Milan. 

Jean-Pierre Papin moved from Marseille to AC Milan for £10m back in 1992

1992: Gianluca Vialli, Sampdoria - Juventus, £12m

After proving lethal in front of goal at Sampdoria, Gianluca Vialli moved to Juventus in 1992 for a £12m fee where he won five trophies in four seasons, including the Champions League.

After proving lethal in front of goal at Sampdoria, Gianluca Vialli moved to Juventus in 1992 for £12m

1992: Gianluigi Lentini, Torino - AC Milan, £13m

Gianluigi Lentini enjoyed a successful first season at AC Milan after his £13m move from Torino, but his time at the club stagnated after he was involved in a serious car crash just a year later that left him with a fractured skull. 

Gianluigi Lentini was inovlved in a serious car crash just a year after joining AC Milan for £13m in 1992

1996: Ronaldo, PSV Eindhoven - Barcelona, £13.2m

Ronaldo shot to fame with his eye for goal and enjoyed an extraordinary single season at Barcelona after his £13.2m, where the Brazil striker scored 47 times in 49 games. 

Ronaldo enjoyed an astonishing season at Barcelona after his £13.2m move in 1996

1996: Alan Shearer, Blackburn Rovers - Newcastle United, £15m

Hot on the heels of finishing top-scorer at Euro 96, Alan Shearer completed a memorable return home to Newcastle where he was greeted by thousands of jubilant Geordies. 

Alan Shearer was unveiled in front of thousands of ecstatic Newcastle fans after his £15m in 1996

1997: Ronaldo, Barcelona - Inter Milan, £19.5m

Ronaldo is the second man to feature on this list twice, and became the best striker in world football during his time at Inter Milan, though injuries took their toll after his first two seasons.

After just one year at Barcelona, Ronaldo moved to Inter Milan in a £19.5m deal in 1997

1998: Denilson, Sao Paulo - Real Betis, £21.5m

Real Betis sealed an astonishing £21.5m deal for Brazilian winger Denilson in 1997, before he officially joined after the 1998 World Cup, signing a staggering 11-year deal. 

Real Betis sealed an astonishing £21.5m deal for Brazilian winger Denilson in 1997

1999: Christian Vieri, Lazio - Inter Milan, £32.1m

The world transfer record jumped to £32.1m when Inter Milan splashed the cash on Christian Vieri, with the Italian striker scoring 103 times in 143 appearances.  

The world transfer record jumped to £32.1m when Inter Milan splashed the cash on Christian Vieri

2000: Hernan Crespo, Parma - Lazio, £35.5m

Serie A continued to dominate the big transfers as Argentine hotshot Hernan Crespo traded Parma for Lazio for £35.5m at the turn of the 21st cenutry. 

Argentine hotshot Hernan Crespo traded Parma for Lazio for £35.5m in 2000

2000: Luis Figo, Barcelona - Real Madrid, £37m

Serie A's stranglehold on the world record transfer fee came to an end when Luis Figo made one of the most politcally-charged moves in history as he swapped Barcelona for Real Madrid in 2000. 

Luis Figo made one of the most controversial transfers in history when he joined Real Madrid in 2000

2001: Zinedine Zidane, Juventus - Real Madrid, £46.6m

Real Madrid broke their own transfer record just a year after acquiring Figo as France star Zinedine Zidane continued the club's Galactico project in a £46.4m move. 

Zinedine Zidane continued Real Madrid's Galactico project when he joined for £46.6m in 2001

2009: Kaka, AC Milan - Real Madrid, £56m

Real Madrid returned to the Galactico policy in 2009 as they splashed £56m on former Ballon d'Or winner Kaka from AC Milan. 

Real Madrid splashed £56m on former Ballon d'Or winner Kaka from AC Milan in 2009

2009: Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United - Real Madrid, £80m

Barely a week after sealing Kaka's signature, Real Madrid broke the record once again with a then eye-watering £80m move for Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo. 

A week after breaking the record for Kaka, Real Madrid spent £80m on Cristiano Ronaldo

2013: Gareth Bale, Tottenham - Manchester United, £86m

Gareth Bale's lightning form for Tottenham in 2012-13 saw him become the double player of the year and the most expensive footballer in the world when Real Madrid came knocking.

Real Madrid broke the transfer record for a fifth consecutive time when they bought Gareth Bale for £86m

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