People may have a vague idea about the richest football clubs in the world. However, clubs’ finances don’t remain the same and change from time to time. Below we have listed the top 10 richest football clubs in the world, as per the report from the reputed Deloitte.
Top 10 richest football clubs in the world 2021
1- Barcelona one of the most richest football club
According to the latest Deloitte report, Barcelona is the richest football club in the world. Their total revenue in the year stood at a staggering €715.1 million, which is slightly ahead of Real Madrid’s €714.9m. They bagged in an astronomical sum from their sponsorship deals with kit supplier Nike and the shirt sponsor Qatar Airways. A major source of revenue was also through their broadcast rights. They also earned a hefty sum through their matchday ticket sales.
Barcelona is also one of the most supported teams in the world, with its social media following spanning many different countries and cultures around the globe. Barcelona have never been relegated from the top-flight since its inception in 1929.
The Catalans have been incredibly successful domestically as well as internationally. Joan Gamper is regarded as the founder of the club who first expressed his wish to form a football club in 1899. They won the inaugural Spanish League in 1929 in which ten teams had participated.
Their successes continued over the years, and now they have the distinction of winning 26 La Liga titles. The Catalans have been more dominant in recent years. They claimed an incredible five league titles from the last ten years. Their most recent title came at the end of the 2018-19 campaign. They have also the distinction of winning 31 Copa del Rey, and thirteen Supercopa de Espana as well.
Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy has produced some of the best players in the world. Notable alumni include Lionel Messi, Xavi Hernandez, Andres Iniesta and Pep Guardiola. Messi, who is regarded as the greatest footballer of all time won a record six Ballon d’Or awards during his time at Nou Camp. The Argentine is such a popular figure that even Messi autism generates a lot of interest among people than other big stories.
The great Johan Cruyff also played for Barcelona between 1973 and 1978. He also remained as a coach of the club and led them to many great trophies.
The La Liga side have also been very successful in Europe. They won their first Champions League trophy in 1992, defeating Sampdoria in the final. Their next victory came in 2006 when they got the best of Arsenal. The Catalans twice defeated Manchester United in 2009 and 2011 to swell their trophy cabinet. Their most recent European victory came in 2015 when they beat Juventus in the final in Germany.
2- Real Madrid
Real Madrid is one of the most widely supported football clubs in the world. It is also one of the most successful sides in Europe. Los Blancos won five consecutive European Cups during the 1950s. Its subsequent successes in the prestigious competition made it the only club to have lifted the European Cup an incredible 13 times.
Real Madrid’s most recent Champions League trophy came in 2018 when they defeated Liverpool 3-1 in Ukraine. That was their fourth trophy in five years, having also claimed the title in 2014, 2016, and 2017. Cristiano Ronaldo, who is also known as one of the most fashionable footballers, was one of the most popular players at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Los Merengues have also been very dominant on the domestic front. They have the distinction of winning a record 34 La Liga titles, 19 Copa del Rey, and 11 Supercopa de Espana. They also have the most loyal fans around the world. According to Goal.com, the club boasts a tremendous 252.1 million social media followers. That makes Real the most followed club on social media, surpassing Barcelona and Manchester United.
With total revenue of €714.9m this year, Real Madrid is the second richest football club in the world (as per Deloitte). There was no Champions League trophy for the club in 2019 and 2020. However, Los Blancos benefited from a huge share of La Liga television revenue. They also earned great revenue through the commercial deals with their jersey sponsor Emirates and kit supplier Adidas. A major source of income for them was also through ticket sales.
3- Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich is the best football club in Germany. It is based in Munich, Bavaria and was founded in 1900 by 11 football players. The club made a staggering €634.1m in revenue in the new year which is far more than their previous years’ earnings, making them one of the richest clubs in 2021. Their jersey sponsor is Deutsche Telekom while their technical kit supplier is Adidas. The major source of income for them was their broadcasting rights and ticket sales.
It is highly surprising to know that Bayern weren’t even invited to be part of the newly created Bundesliga fifty years ago. However, it made great strides over the following years and is now one of the best clubs in the world. It has also the distinction of being one of the best-supported clubs in world football.
Bayern Munich are easily the most successful club in Germany. They have won 31 league titles in Germany, far ahead of Borussia Dortmund’s eight and Schalke’s seven trophies. They have been enormously dominant in the last few years. The Bavarians have claimed nine Bundesliga titles in the last ten years. No other German club looks capable of challenging their dominance in the league.
The German outfit saw a period of incredible success in the mid-1970s when Franz Beckenbauer was its captain. Der Kaiser led the Bavarians to three consecutive league titles. Under his captaincy, they also won the European Cup three consecutive times between 1974 and 1976.
Bayern Munich won their next Champions League trophy in 2001, defeating Valencia in the final at the San Siro. The 2012-13 season was greatly successful for German clubs when two Bundesliga outfits made it to the final of the European Cup. Die Roten locked horns with Jurgen Klopp’s Borussia Dortmund. The Bavarian struck two goals to win by 2-1 at Wembley Stadium and lift the coveted trophy.
Their most recent Champions League came in 2020 when they faced Paris Saint-Germain in the final. At Estadio da Luz, Kingsley Coman struck a goal in the 59th minute and that proved sufficient to give his side victory.
The club plays its matches at the Allianz Arena which has a capacity of over 70,000. Herbert Hainer is its current president and Julian Nagelsmann is its current head coach. Franz Beckenbauer, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, Gerd Muller, and Oliver Kahn are regarded as some of the greatest Bayern Munich players. While Manuel Neuer, one of the best goalkeepers of all time, has also played the majority of his career at the Allianz Arena.
4- Manchester United
Manchester United is one of the most successful and richest football clubs in the world. One of their major sources of income in the new year was through merchandising and sponsorship deals. Their shirt sponsor is Chevrolet and their technical kit sponsor is Adidas. They also made a huge sum from their broadcasting rights. As per Deloitte, their total revenue in the new year was €580.4m.
The Red Devils have won more trophies than any other club in English football. They have won a record 20 league titles, as well as 12 FA Cups and five EFL Cups.
Manchester United have many famous rivalries with other English clubs. Its rivalry with Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are world-famous. The club witnessed a very tragic incident in 1958 when the Munich air disaster claimed the lives of eight players. However, Matt Busby rebuilt the team and turned them into a formidable side again. The Red Devils won the European Cup in 1968 under the management of the Scottish football expert.
The club saw a period of great success during the tenure of Sir Alex Ferguson. The Scot was appointed the manager at Old Trafford in 1986. Within a few years, he changed the fortunes of the club. He landed the first league title in 1993 before repeating the same feat the following year. Over the following years, Manchester United showed great dominance in the Premier League. By the time Sir Alex retired, the club had won 13 Premier League titles under his leadership.
During his tenure, the Red Devils also landed two Champions League trophies. They achieved a unique treble of the league title, FA Cup and the Champions League in 1999. Sir Alex’s side also won the Championship League trophy in 2008, claiming a penalty shoot-out victory over Chelsea in the final.
Like the other clubs mentioned above, Manchester United is also one of the most widely supported football clubs in the world.
5- Liverpool
Liverpool boasts great history. It was founded in 1892 and John Houlding is regarded as its founder.
As per the Deloitte report, the Reds are also one of the richest football clubs in 2022. Its revenue in the new year stood at €558.6m. They obtained a hefty sum from their revised broadcasting rights deal. They also made millions from their commercial deals with shirt sponsor Standard Chartered and kit sponsor New Balance. While ticket sales on match-days was also a major source of income for them.
Bill Shankly is regarded as one of the greatest managers of the club. When he was first appointed, Liverpool were in shambles. He led the side to First Division promotion in 1962 and later won it in 1964, breaking the 17-year title drought. The Reds then won their first FA Cup in 1965 before claiming the First Division again the following year. In 1972-73, the Merseyside club won both the league and the UEFA Cup. In 1974, Shankly retired as a manager and Bob Paisley was announced as his successor at the club. He also guided the club to enormous successes, both domestically and internationally.
Under the management of Paisley, Liverpool won six League Championships, three European Cups and three League Cups. The tenures of Joe Fagan and Kenny Dalglish also brought many successes for the club.
Rafa Benitez’s side won the 2005 Champions League in the most memorable way. The Reds found themselves three goals behind against AC Milan by the time of the interval. However, they initiated a great comeback in the second half and restored parity soon with Gerrard, Smicer and Alonso all getting on the scoresheet. The match headed to penalties and Liverpool ultimately won.
Their next Champions League trophy came under their current manager Jurgen Klopp in 2019. They faced Tottenham Hotspur in the final and the Merseysiders won thanks to goals from Mohamed Salah and Divock Origi.
Liverpool hadn’t won a league title during the Premier League era but that changed in 2020 when Klopp led them to victory. They finished 18 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City in the table that season.
Manchester United and Everton are two of its biggest rivals. Its home ground is Anfield which has a capacity of more than 53,000. The club is currently owned by Fenway Sports Group, while Tom Werner is the club’s chairman.
6- Manchester City
Manchester City is one of the biggest and richest football clubs in the world. It has also seen incredible successes since the club was purchased by Abu Dhabi United Group in 2008.
In terms of total revenue in 2021, Manchester City are sixth in the rankings. Their revenue stands at €549.2m. Their main sponsor is Etihad Airways while their kit supplier is Nike. A major source of income for them was also through their matchday ticket sales.
The Citizens entered the English Football League in 1892. They claimed their first major honour in 1904 by winning the FA Cup that year. The club’s future looked bleak when they suffered relegation to the Second Divison in 1963. However, the management team of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison changed the fortunes of the club. The Sky Blues landed the league title in 1968, with their rivals Manchester United finishing second. The following year saw the FA Cup triumph for City before they went on to claim European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.
The 1980s saw a period of decline for the Manchester club. The lowest point was when they went down to the third tier of English Football in 1998. However, they fought back to the top flight in 2001-02.
In 2008, Abu Dhabi United Group bought the club for £210 million and they invested heavily in new recruits over the following years. They became a formidable force in England after signing some of the highest paid soccer players. City landed the 2011-12 Premier League title in the most dramatic fashion, with Sergio Aguero winning them the title with the last kick in the final league game of the season.
After the appointment of Pep Guardiola, Manchester City have become more dominant in England. They put together a record 100 points in the 2017-18 season on their way to the league title. They won four trophies the following year to achieve the domestic treble.
Manchester City have the distinction of winning five Premier League titles. They have also won six FA Cups and eight Football League Cups. They used to play at Maine Road but since 2003, their home ground is the City of Manchester Stadium.
7- Paris Saint-Germain
Unlike the other clubs mentioned above, Paris Saint-Germain is a relatively young club. It was founded in 1970, with Guy Crescent and Pierre-Etienne Guyot playing a big role in its creation.
The French giants are seventh in the rankings of the world’s top richest football clubs in 2022. In the new year, they made €540.6m in revenue. They earned a staggering amount from their key sponsor Emirates and kit supplier Nike. Broadcasting rights were also a major source of revenue for them.
The Paris based club won their first major honour in 1982 by claiming the French Cup. Four years later, they won their first Ligue 1 title. They enjoyed a highly successful period during the 1990s. The Parisians golden era saw them winning nine trophies and making it to the European semi-finals in five successive years.
The 2000s witnessed a decline in their fortunes. However, they were turned into a powerful side after Qatar Sports Investments bought the club in 2011. The takeover meant that PSG could afford to bring some of the highest paid footballers. They became one of the richest clubs in the world.
They have now been dominating French football. In the last ten years, they have won seven league titles. Their latest Ligue 1 title came in 2019-20.
8- Chelsea
Chelsea is based in Fulham, West London and was founded in 1905. The Pensioners’ home ground is Stamford Bridge which has a capacity of over 40,000.
In terms of revenue, Chelsea are the eighth richest football club in the world. They made €469.7m in the new year, thanks to their new deal with drinks company Carabao. Their jersey sponsor is Yokohama Tyres while their kit provider is Adidas. They also made a hefty sum from their lucrative broadcasting rights.
The London based side won their first major honour in 1955 when they lifted the League Championship. Their first FA Cup title came in 1970, while they landed the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1971. They went through a period of decline during the late 70s and 80s. However, the 90s saw a period of revival and they achieved more success in cup competitions.
Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich bought the club in the summer of 2003 for £140 million. The new owner invested a great sum on new players, and soon they became ready to challenge for big trophies. After the appointment of Jose Mourinho, the Blues won back-to-back Premier League titles. The club then went on to lift two League Cups in 2005 and 2007 while also claiming an FA Cup in 2007.
Under manager Avram Grant, they made it to the final of the 2008 Champions League. However, they eventually lost to Manchester United on penalties. They claimed their first FA Cup and Premier League Double in 2009-10 when Carlo Ancelotti was at the helm of affairs. In 2012, the Pensioners lifted their first Champions League title. They defeated Bayern Munich on penalties in the final.
Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge in 2013 and led his side to League Cup and the Premier League title in his second stint but he was sacked after a series of poor performances.
Antonio Conte was announced as the new coach in 2017. The Italian manager led his side to a league title and an FA Cup. But his stint at Stamford Bridge proved to be short-lived as well. The Londoners brought Maurizio Sarri who lasted a year before Frank Lampard was handed the important role. But the former Chelsea player failed to revive the fortunes of the club, despite being heavily backed in the transfer market.
Thomas Tuchel was announced as the new manager of the club in January 2021. Under the German, Chelsea landed their second Champions League title. They defeated Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in Porto, with Kai Havertz scoring the decisive goal. They have now signed Romelu Lukaku, one of the current tallest soccer players at Stamford Bridge, and will be aiming to challenge for the 2021-22 Premier League title.
9- Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur is a very famous club in the world. It plays its home matches at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium which has a capacity of over 60,000.
Tottenham Hotspur is also one of the richest football clubs in the world. It made over €440m in revenue in the new year (as per Deloitte report). They earned a big sum from its commercial partnerships and merchandising. Their jersey sponsor is AIA while their technical kit sponsor is Nike.
The Lilywhites won the FA Cup for the first time in 1901. In 1960-61, they landed the League and FA Cup Double. The London based side claimed the FA Cup in the following season as well. And then in 1963, they won the European Cup Winners’ Cup, which made them the first British club to do so. In total, they have won two league titles, eight FA Cups and four League Cups.
Tottenham Hotspur haven’t been very successful in recent times. It has been a long time since they won the league title. They were relatively more successful when Mauricio Pochettino was at the helm of affairs. The Argentine boss secured them Champions League football regularly. And he even led the Spurs to the final of the 2019 Champions League. However, they eventually lost 2-0 to Liverpool.
After Pochettino’s departure, Jose Mourinho was appointed as the new manager in November 2019. However, the Portuguese failed to revive the fortunes of the club and was sacked in April 2017. Now Nuno Espirito Santo, who previously managed Wolverhampton Wanderers, has taken charge of the club.
10- Arsenal
Arsenal is also one of the most popular football clubs in the world and was the first club from the South of England to join the Football League in 1893. They have only been relegated once, and that happened in 1913.
Arsenal is also one of the richest football clubs in the world. Its revenue stands at €388m in the new year. The major sources of earnings for them came through their broadcast rights and ticket sales.
The club was highly successful during the 1930s when they lifted five League Championships and two FA Cups. The Gunners achieved their first League and FA Cup Double in 1970-71.
Arsene Wenger is their longest-serving manager who was first appointed in 1996. He changed the fortunes of the club within a short time. The French manager changed the dietary and fitness practices and brought attacking football at the club.
The football expert also signed some of the best players, including Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry. During his reign, Arsenal won three Premier League titles as well as seven FA Cups. He led his side to their first league title in 1997-98, beating Manchester United by a single point. That was the season when they claimed the FA Cup as well.
Wenger’s side claimed their second League and Cup double in 2001-02. That season, they finished seven points ahead of second-placed Liverpool and also defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup final. The Frenchman’s greatest achievement came in the 2003-04 season when they remained unbeaten on their way to the Premier League title. No other team have been able to replicate this feat in the Premier League era.
Arsene Wenger departed Arsenal in the summer of 2018 after remaining at the helm of affairs for 22 years and Unai Emery took charge replacing him.
