The football industry is one of the richest in the entire sporting world with the European market alone being worth almost $30 billion at the end of the 2021/22 season. This number is only going to grow in the years to come with football’s popularity continuing to rise and more fans tuning into major finals.
The 2022 World Cup in Qatar to said to have engaged five billion people around the world and individual clubs may be able to reap the rewards of more fans in the industry to buy shirts, tickets and just about any other merchandise. However, some clubs simply do this better than others and that’s the reason they have the biggest stars and the largest value.
In our guide below, we’ll be looking at the most valuable clubs in the world as per Forbes’ research, so you can see who has the most power and influence in the most beautiful game in the world.
1. Real Madrid
Football doesn’t get much bigger than Real Madrid and it’s every child’s dream to play here. They’re winners of the Champions League 14 times over and owners of some of the biggest players the world has ever seen with Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham once playing here and current superstars like Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham now taking centre stage for Los Blancos.
That’s why it comes as no surprise that they’re worth a whopping $6.07 billion and are the most valuable club in world football.
2. Manchester United
Falling just short of Madrid is Manchester United with a value of $6 billion. This club is one of the most followed around the world and has seen countless legends come through its doors. Cantona, Rooney, Ronaldo and Sir Bobby Charlton are just a few names to mention and Old Trafford is without a doubt one of the most iconic stadiums in world football.
3. Barcelona
The place that turned Messi into the global superstar he is today, Barcelona sits third on this list with a value of just over $5.5 billion. The club have struggled financially off the pitch for years, however, yet 2023 saw them win the league for the first time in a while and restore some glory to the iconic Nou Camp stadium.
4. Liverpool
In fourth, we have Liverpool, which is one of the most followed clubs in the UK. Worth $5.29 billion, stars like England’s pass master Trent Alexander-Arnold and Mo Salah take the pitch each week for the Reds, helping them battle against the other major teams in the country. Liverpool also share a lot of success with Real Madrid in the Champions League as well with six titles to date.