Every year Forbes releases a list of the top 50 richest football clubs globally. For many years Spanish giants Real Madrid and Barcelona topped the rankings. However, they have remained top in recent years but have been challenged by clubs from England, Germany, and France. Here we bring you a breakdown of who makes up the top five richest football clubs in the world.
Barcelona – $4.8 billion
Barcelona is one of the most successful clubs in the world, having won more trophies than any other club in Europe. They have won the Champions League five times, La Liga twenty times, and Copa del Rey thirty-six times.
They are also one of only three clubs to have never been relegated from La Liga, with the others being Athletic Bilbao and Real Madrid. The club has a very large fan base worldwide and has over 170 million followers on social media networks like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Real Madrid – $4.8 billion
According to Forbes magazine, Real Madrid is the second most valuable football club globally, worth an estimated $4.8 billion. It’s also the most successful club in European football history, having won the Champions League 13 times – a record no other team will likely ever match.
The club’s owner, the Spanish business mogul, Florentino Perez, has overseen Real Madrid since 2009 and has invested heavily in players and facilities. He’s also spent big on marketing deals with companies like Adidas and Coca-Cola.
Bayern Munich – $4.22 billion
According to a study by Brand Finance, Bayern Munich is the richest club in the world. The German team is worth $4.22 billion, more than any other sports team globally.
Bayern Munich is one of the biggest clubs in the world and has won the Champions League five times, including once in its current format as a group stage knockout competition with matches played over two legs.
Bayern has won 31 Bundesliga titles (the most in Bundesliga history), 25 DFB-Pokal Cups (the most out of all teams), five UEFA Champions League (tied for second-most), and five FIFA Club World Cups (second only to Real Madrid).
Manchester United – $4.2 billion
Manchester United is the most valuable football club in the world as of 2021, with total revenue of €702 million, an increase of 23% from 2020. The club’s revenue is estimated to reach €1 billion in 2021. The club was founded by businessman John Henry Davies in 1878 and has since then won 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups, and 3 European Cups.
The current president of Manchester United is Avram Glazer, who took over the position in 2003. The club’s home ground is Old Trafford, with 76,000 seats, making it one of the largest stadiums in Europe.
Liverpool – $4.1 billion
Liverpool is the richest club in England and has been since it launched the first Football Money League. The Merseyside outfit’s revenue has grown by an incredible £10m per year. That trend is expected to continue as Jurgen Klopp’s side looks set to challenge the Premier League title again this season.
The club’s owners Fenway Sports Group, have invested heavily in Anfield, with a new main stand costing £115m and bringing their capacity up to 54,000. Liverpool has spent around £300m on players since FSG took over, but they have also brought in over £400m through player sales and commercial deals, including shirt sponsorship with Standard Chartered Bank.
