Real Madrid Tops Forbes Football Valuations at $9.5 Billion as Barcelona Climbs to No. 2
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 29
Real Madrid Tops Forbes Football Valuations at $9.5 Billion as Barcelona Climbs to No. 2
8 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 29
Forbes valued Real Madrid at $9.5 billion, keeping them atop world football, while Barcelona rose to second at $7.5 billion ahead of Manchester United at $7.2 billion.
The ranking reflects financial strength rather than recent results: Madrid have finished second in La Liga and exited the Champions League in the quarter-finals in each of the past two seasons.
Manchester United stayed third despite a poor 2024-25 campaign, generating $865 million in revenue even after finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final.
Six Premier League clubs made the top 10 and 11 reached the top 30, more than any other league; Liverpool ranked fourth, PSG climbed to fifth and Manchester City slipped to seventh.
Across the top 30, average club values reached $2.9 billion, up 21% from 2025, underscoring continued growth in football franchise valuations.
As football club valuations skyrocket by 21%, are we witnessing a sustainable boom or the creation of a dangerous financial bubble?
As American investors pour into European football, will the lack of a salary cap ultimately limit their return on investment compared to US sports?
With a Champions League final this Saturday, can an Arsenal victory finally break the long-standing financial dominance of Spain's top two clubs?