In this article, we will be taking a look at the 25 most valuable football clubs in the world. If you want to skip our detailed analysis of the global football industry, you can go directly to see the 5 Most Valuable Football Clubs in the World.

Football is without a doubt one of the most popular and the most powerful sports in the world. With an unmatched passion that surrounds the sport, football has long had the capacity to link communities, stir powerful emotions, and even break down cultural barriers. Football has also become one of the most profitable industries with billions upon billions of dollars being generated every year.

From the players and fans to sponsorships and TV rights, a lot of factors come into play to make football a very profitable business. Football as a sport has been around for generations and is enjoyed in many countries around the world. Previously, in the top 20 richest football leagues in the world, we looked at the most valuable football leagues in terms of value. In this piece, we will be looking at the 25 most valuable football clubs in the world. First, let’s take a look at the global football industry and the market in the US.

Analysis of the Global Football Industry

Previously, the COVID-19 crisis had negatively impacted the global sports industry as well as the football market because of closures and cancellations of several tournaments around the world. Sports stadiums all over the world were either shut down or left empty.

However, post-COVID-19 crisis the market has been recovering. The success of the FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar provided the global sports industry and the football market with a much needed boost. According to FIFA, the 2022 World Cup tournament was the most profitable in FIFA’s history where the ticketing program alone generated as much as $686 million in revenue.

According to Research and Markets, the global football market size was valued at $3.2 billion in 2022. Looking forward, the market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3.79% during 2022-2028, propelling the market to reach $4 billion by the end of the forecasted period. The increasing passion for the sport has led to a surge in professional association football tournaments and leagues at different levels around the world. The growing awareness among individuals about the health benefits of playing football has resulted in an increased demand for football goods and products, which continues to influence the global football market positively. The emerging trend of physical fitness activities and the development of stadiums, parks, and clubs to encourage the participation of individuals in footballing events and outdoor games should further augment market growth.

Without a doubt, Europe has the largest football market. According to Deloitte Football Money League 2023, 30 of the highest revenue generating clubs in world football were all from Europe. The huge number of famous football clubs combined with the increasing number of supporters and football participants positively influences the demand for football among all age groups. This provides an excellent opportunity for football manufacturing companies to grow their business in the region. Some of the biggest European Football Clubs are Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU), Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB), and Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE). 

On June 16, Reuters reported that English football club Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU) is negotiating to grant exclusivity to the consortium led by Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani, the son of Qatar's former prime minister who is one of the richest men in the Gulf state, in talks to sell itself for more than $6 billion. This would be one of the biggest ever deals in the sports world. On August 1, Reuters reported in another post that Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU) signed a $1.1 billion deal with Adidas AG (ETR:ADS) to renew the football club's partnership with its official kit supplier for 10 more years. The post also mentions that the club is still in talks to sell itself after its American owners, the Glazer family, launched a formal sale process late last year and mentions Qatar's Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani among the potential suitors for the club.

According to a report by Transparency Market Research, the global Football Merchandise market was valued at $11.4 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.5% during 2023-2031, to reach a value of $20 billion by the end of the forecasted period. Football fans are more enthusiastic about supporting their favorite players and teams. The rise in football fans around the world is driving the sales of football jerseys and other accessories to create a positive outlook for the market. Some of the key players in this market that are expected to benefit from the increased demand for football merchandise include NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE), Adidas AG (ETR:ADS), and Puma SE (ETR:PUM).

Saudi League has also joined the race after signing a number of famous football stars from European Clubs. On August 10, Reuters reported that the Saudi Pro League will herald a new dawn for football in the Gulf kingdom which has spent close to half a billion dollars to lure some of the biggest names from Europe. The Saudi Pro League entered the spotlight when Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Al-Nassr last season in a deal which made him the highest-paid athlete on the planet. With so many big names coming to the Saudi Pro League, the demand for football merchandise is on the rise in the region. The hottest news right now in the football world is that the Brazilian star Neymar has joined the Saudi club Al-Hilal as the latest star signing of the Saudi Pro League. On August 15, Reuters reported that Neymar has signed a two-year contract at Saudi Arabia's Al-Hilal with a reported fee of $98.24 million. The interest around the Saudi Pro League looks set to reach yet another peak. The number of transfers, the money being offered to some of the biggest football stars highlights the ambition of the Saudi league to become one of the major competitions in the world in the coming years.

Lionel Messi and the Market in the US

For decades the quality of football, or soccer, in the US was not at the same level of excellence domestically compared to European and even Latin American leagues. However, since the advent of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the 90s things have started to change. MLS has been growing its fan base steadily and the sport is quickly becoming a fan favorite in the US. Moreover, on June 9, Reuters reported that the MLS announced what might as well be the most significant news since its foundation: the arrival of Lionel Messi, arguably one of the best football players to have ever played the sport and also the 2022 FIFA World Cup champion with Argentina.

On August 10, Reuters reported that Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami could significantly raise the profile of MLS and of the sport as a whole in the US. Messi has brought with him a wave of devoted fans to the MLS and the league continues to draw attention from all around the world. The post also mentions that since the announcement of Messi's signing, there has been a huge surge in searches for match dates and tickets to see the Argentine play. Fans are also looking to buy Messi’s official pink Inter Miami shirt. The post also mentions that in 2022, Apple TV (NASDAQ:AAPL) and MLS announced a 10 year partnership and with Messi’s arrival, the MLS's viewership is also expected to skyrocket.

Here are some comments from Apple Inc.’s (NASDAQ:AAPL) Q3 2023 earnings call that discuss more on this:

On July 18, CNBC reported that Jorge Mas, managing owner of Inter Miami, said that the arrival of Messi is expected to double the club’s revenues over the next 12 months and that the team’s valuation could reach above $1.3 billion in the next year. Jorge Mas also confirmed that Messi jerseys are sold out and Adidas AG (ETR:ADS) is printing them around the clock.

We may see Inter Miami rank among the most valuable football clubs in the near future. For now, let’s take a look at the 25 most valuable football clubs in the world as of 2023.

Photo by Mario Klassen on Unsplash

Methodology

In this article, we have listed the 25 most valuable football clubs in the world. We have ranked the football clubs using data we collected from Forbes. While Forbes publishes an annual list of the most valuable football clubs in the world, we used data obtained for the latest year in their dataset, which is 2023. We have listed the most valuable football clubs in the world below in ascending order.

25 Most Valuable Football Clubs in the World

25. Everton

Current Value: $744 million

With a value of $744 million, Everton is one of the most valuable football clubs in the world. Based in Liverpool, England, the club competes in the Premier League, the top division of English football. Everton, nicknamed the “Toffees” after the local toffee shops, are known for their passionate supporters. As one of the most successful clubs in English football history, Everton has won one European Cup Winners' Cup, nine league titles, and five FA Cups.

Some of the top market players in the football space include NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE), Adidas AG (ETR:ADS), Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU), Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB), Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE), and Puma SE (ETR:PUM).

24. Aston Villa

Current Value: $756 million

Nicknamed the “Villans”, Aston Villa is a professional football club based in Birmingham, England. They compete in the top division of English football, the Premier League. As a successful football club, Aston Villa has won both the league title and the FA Cup seven times each, and the European Cup Winners' Cup once.

23. Leicester City

Current Value: $781 million

Based in Leicester, England, Leicester City is another football club that competed in the Premier League in the 2022-23 season. However, after a difficult campaign where the club lost 22 of their 38 league games, Leicester City has exited the Premier League and will be playing Championship football next season. Leicester City, nicknamed “The Foxes”, won the Premier League in 2015-16, which is considered to be a fairytale campaign by many football fans around the world while others argue that it was one of the biggest upsets in sports history.

22. Newcastle United

Current Value: $794 million

Competing in the Premier League, Newcastle United is a professional football club based in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. Nicknamed the “Magpies” after the black and white stripes of their home kit, Newcastle United ranks among the top clubs in English football with four league titles and six FA cups to their name. As one of the most valuable clubs in the world, Newcastle United had a rather impressive campaign as they qualified for UEFA Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

21. New York City FC

Current Value: $800 million

Based in New York City, New York City FC is a professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top division of American soccer. The club was founded by the City Football Group Limited, which also owns Manchester City and Melbourne City football clubs. Some of the big names that have played for New York City FC include Andrea Pirlo, David Villa, and Frank Lampard.

20. Crystal Palace

Current Value: $806 million

Based in Selhurst, South London, England, Crystal Palace is yet another football club that competes in the top division of English football, the Premier League. While being one of the most valuable football clubs in the world, Crystal Palace has not had much success when it comes to major trophies and titles.

19. Atlanta United FC

Current Value: $850 million

Competing in Major League Soccer (MLS), Atlanta United FC is a professional soccer team based in Atlanta, Georgia. As one of the most successful clubs in MLS history, they have won the MLS Cup, the Campeones Cup, and the US Open Cup. Nicknamed “The Five Stripes”, Atlanta United FC is one of the most valuable football clubs in the world.

18. LA Galaxy

Current Value: $925 million

LA Galaxy competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), and is one of the original clubs of MLS. While being one of the most valuable football clubs in the world, LA Galaxy is also one of the most successful clubs in MLS history with two US Open Cups, five MLS Cups, and four Supporters' Shields in their trophy cabinet. LA Galaxy also won the CONCACAF Champions League in 2000. Over the years, some big names like Zlatan Ibrahimovi?, Javier Hernández, and David Beckham have played for LA Galaxy.

17. Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC)

Current Value: $1 billion

As of 2023, Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is the most valuable team in Major League Soccer (MLS). LAFC was founded in 2014 and has quickly become one of the most successful clubs in MLS history with a huge fan base. The club has won the MLS cup once and the Supporters' Shield twice.

16. Inter Milan

Current Value: $1.03 billion

Inter Milan competes in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. Inter Milan, nicknamed the “Nerazzurri” after their black and blue home kit, is the first Italian team in our list of 25 most valuable football clubs in the world. As one of the most successful teams in the football world, the club has won 3 European Cups / UEFA Champions League titles, 19 league titles, 9 Coppa Italia and 7 Supercoppa Italiana. Inter Milan reached the 2022-23 UEFA Champions League final but failed to win the title for the fourth time.

15. West Ham United

Current Value: $1.08 billion

Nicknamed the “Hammers”, West Ham United is a professional football club that competes in the Premier League. The club has won three FA Cups, and the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2023. Currently valued at $1.08 billion by Forbes, West Ham United is one of the most valuable football clubs in the world.

14. AC Milan

Current Value: $1.4 billion

AC Milan, nicknamed the “Rossoneri”, compete in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. 

The club has seen much success domestically and internationally as well, winning 19 Serie A titles, 5 Coppa Italia titles, and 7 European Cups/UEFA Champions League titles, the most by any Italian team. The club has a magnificent history and many famous football stars have represented the Rossoneri.

13. Atletico de Madrid

Current Value: $1.54 billion

As one of the most valuable football clubs in the world, Atletico de Madrid competes in  La Liga, the top division of Spanish football. The club won 11 La Liga titles, more than any other club after Real Madrid and Barcelona. Atletico de Madrid also has 3 UEFA Europa League titles and 10 Copa del Rey titles to their name. Atletico de Madrid is also the only team to reach the UEFA Champions League final 3 times without having won the title.

12. Borussia Dortmund (ETR: BVB)

Current Value: $1.93 billion

Borussia Dortmund (ETR: BVB), known for being a fertile breeding ground for world-class football players, competes in the Bundesliga, the top division of German football. The club ranks among the most valuable football clubs in the world and is known for their passionate supporters as well as their famous “Yellow Wall” because of the intense atmosphere it breeds. Borussia Dortmund (ETR: BVB) have won 8 Bundesliga titles, 5 DFB-Pokal titles, and 1 UEFA Champions League title.

11. Juventus FC (BIT: JUVE)

Current Value: $2.16 billion

Based in Turin, Italy, Juventus FC (BIT: JUVE) competes in Serie A, the top division of Italian football. They have won the Serie A title 36 times, more than any other club. Because of the club's long history and tradition, they are nicknamed "The Old Lady”. As one of the most successful and valuable football clubs in the world, Juventus FC (BIT: JUVE) have also won the Coppa Italia 14 times and the UEFA Champions League 2 times.

10. Arsenal 

Current Value: $2.26 billion

Arsenal is another football club in our list of the most valuable football clubs in the world that competes in the Premier League. Nicknamed the “Gunners”, they have a huge fan base and have won the FA Cup for a record 14 times and the Premier League 13 times, including the 2003/04 season where they remained unbeaten to earn the title of “The Invincibles”.

9. Tottenham Hotspur

Current Value: $2.80 billion

Tottenham Hotspur, also known as “Spurs”, compete in the Premier League, the top division of English football. Spurs have won the FA Cup 8 times, UEFA Europa League twice, and in 1963 they became the first English club to win a UEFA club competition – the European Cup Winners' Cup. They have a long-standing rivalry with Arsenal, and the meeting of the two clubs is famously known as the North London Derby.

8. Chelsea FC

Current Value: $3.1 billion

Chelsea FC also competes in the Premier League. They have won the Premier League 6 times, the FA Cup 8 times, and the UEFA Champions League twice. Nicknamed the "Blues", Chelsea FC are one of the most successful clubs in English football history.

7. Paris Saint-Germain 

Current Value: $4.21 billion

Paris Saint-Germain or PSG are based in Paris, France and they compete in Ligue 1, the top division of French football. PSG have won Ligue 1 11 times, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup once. Nicknamed the “Parisians”, PSG is the only football club from France in our list of the 25 most valuable football clubs in the world.

6. Bayern Munich

Current Value: $4.86 billion

Bayern Munich is the second German club in our list of the most valuable football clubs in the world. As the most successful German club, Bayern Munich have won the Bundesliga 33 times, the DFB-Pokal 20 times, and the UEFA Champions League 6 times. They are nicknamed the "Bavarians" and are one of the most successful clubs in European football history.

For investors looking to increase their exposure to the football industry, some stocks they can research and consider investing in include NIKE, Inc. (NYSE:NKE), Adidas AG (ETR:ADS), Manchester United PLC (NYSE:MANU), Borussia Dortmund (ETR:BVB), Juventus FC (BIT:JUVE), and Puma SE (ETR:PUM).

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Disclosure: None. 25 Most Valuable Football Clubs in the World is published on Insider Monkey.