Madrid and Barça dominate global football earnings with combined €2.1bn haul
Real Madrid retain top spot in Deloitte's Football Money League with €1.16bn, while Barcelona surge to second place with €975m in a record-breaking year for elite clubs.
Spanish giants continue to rule the financial roost as La Liga powerhouses Real Madrid and Barcelona cement their status as football’s commercial juggernauts.
Madrid reign supreme again
Real Madrid have held onto their crown as football’s biggest money-spinner, raking in a whopping €1.16 billion during the 2024-25 season according to Deloitte’s latest Football Money League report. That’s an increase of €115.5 million from the previous campaign, with commercial revenue (€594m) jumping 23% to offset a 6% drop in matchday income.
Barça’s dramatic financial comeback
Meanwhile, Barcelona have made a stunning leap from sixth to second place - their first return to the podium since 2019-20. The Catalans pulled in €975 million, with Deloitte attributing much of this growth to the sale of permanent seat licenses and VIP access packages at the renovated Spotify Camp Nou.
Atlético holding their own
Atlético Madrid complete the Spanish contingent in the top 20, landing in 13th position with revenue of €454.5 million. While this represents an 11% increase year-on-year, they’ve actually dropped one place in the overall standings. Still, not too shabby for Los Colchoneros.
European giants feeling the pinch
Some traditional heavyweights have taken a bit of a financial knock:
- PSG (4th) - Suffering from French broadcasting issues
- Manchester City (6th) - Dropped from higher position
- Manchester United (8th) - Poor sporting performance impacting revenues
New faces in the money league
The report welcomes two fresh entries to the financial elite:
- Stuttgart (18th) - €296.3 million
- Benfica (20th) - €283.4 million (first club from outside the ‘big five’ leagues since 2021)
How the bread’s being earned
Breaking down the revenue streams for these top 20 clubs:
- Commercial income: 43% (still the primary earner)
- Broadcasting rights: 38% (up 10%)
- Matchday revenue: 19% (fastest growing at 16% year-on-year)
Collectively, these 20 clubs generated a staggering €12.4 billion - an 11% increase from the previous season and the first time they’ve broken the €12 billion barrier. Proper money in the bank, that.
Women’s game financials
In women’s football, Arsenal lead the way with €25.6 million in revenue, just ahead of Chelsea (€25.4m), while Barcelona have dropped from first to third with €22 million.