10 richest football clubs in the world (2021)

Joan Laporte, Barcelona president
Joan Laporte, Barcelona president

#3 Bayern Munich | €634.1 million

Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski of Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich were one of the top three earners in the financial year ending 2019-20. Their commerical income (€360 million) was their highest income source, followed by broadcasting and match-day income.

Bayern Munich are the most successful club in Bundesliga history, winning 29 titles, which includes the last eight in the competition. Their appearances in the Champions League knockout stage makes them one of the most marketable and the most successful German club, both on and off the pitch.

Last season, the Bavarian giants won the continental treble


#2 Real Madrid | €714.9 million

Real Madrid Unveil New Signing Eden Hazard
Real Madrid Unveil New Signing Eden Hazard

Real Madrid endured a revenue loss, like most other clubs, during a COVID-19-ravaged 2019-20 campaign.

The defending La Liga champions are arguably the most commercially successful football club of the 21st century, thanks to the 'Galactico' transfer policy of their president Florentino Perez. That saw several big-name players like Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckam and Gareth Bale, to name a few, join the club.

In 2020, Los Blancos were one of 32 UEFA clubs with the highest enterprise value (€3.48 million in midpoint enterprise value).


#1 Barcelona | €715.1 million

FC Barcelona president Juan Laporta
FC Barcelona president Juan Laporta

The numero uno in the Deloitte 2021 Football Money League rankings is FC Barcelona, who narrowly edged their arch-rivals Real Madrid by €0.2 million.

Like most clubs, the Blaugrana witnessed a dip in revenue last season - a €125 million fall from what they earned in 2018-19. However, Barcelona also have one the highest debts - €1.2 billion - in Europe’s top leagues. Reportedly, the club owes money for a few transfer deals - including Philippe Coutinho from Liverpool and Frenkie De Jong from Ajax.

In the 2018-19 FY, the revenue of the Spanish giants grew by 22% to €840.8 million - raking up record matchday and commercial income. The brand value of Barcelona recieved a huge boost in 2013 and 2014, owing to big-name signings like Neymar and Luis Suarez.

Under a new manager - Ronald Koeman - this season, Barcelona recovered from an indifferent start and are well and truly in the La Liga title race.

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