Real Madrid top Forbes’ most valuable clubs list, Barcelona overtake Man United

By Adegboyega Adeleye

Real Madrid have once again been named the world’s most valuable football club by Forbes, extending their dominance at the top of global football finance rankings as Barcelona overtook Manchester United into second place.

According to Forbes’ 2026 list of the world’s most valuable football clubs released on Friday, Real Madrid are now valued at $9.5 billion, maintaining their position for the fifth consecutive year and the 10th time in the last 13 editions of the rankings.

The Spanish giants, despite enduring a disappointing campaign on the pitch, generated a record-breaking $1.27 billion in revenue during the 2024-25 season — the highest ever recorded by a football club and higher than the Dallas Cowboys’ NFL revenue figure measured by Forbes.

Barcelona climbed to second on the list with a valuation of $7.5 billion, while Manchester United dropped to third at $7.2 billion after a difficult season in which they finished 15th in the Premier League and lost the Europa League final.

Liverpool retained fourth place with a valuation of $6.2 billion after winning the Premier League title, while Paris Saint-Germain rose to fifth at $5.8 billion following their UEFA Champions League triumph.

German champions Bayern Munich were ranked sixth with $5.7 billion, ahead of Manchester City in seventh at $5.5 billion. Arsenal moved into eighth with a valuation of $5.4 billion, while Chelsea and Tottenham completed the top 10.

Forbes noted that the 30 most valuable football clubs in the world are now collectively worth $87 billion, with the average club valuation rising by 21 per cent compared to last year.

The report also highlighted the growing financial power of the Premier League, which has 11 clubs in the top 30 — the highest representation from any league.

Other English clubs on the list include Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Everton, Fulham and Brighton.

Major League Soccer also recorded strong representation with seven clubs in the ranking, including Inter Miami, LAFC and LA Galaxy, underlining the increasing commercial growth of football in the United States.

Forbes attributed Real Madrid’s continued financial dominance to rising commercial revenue, stadium redevelopment projects and increasing global investor interest in elite football clubs.

The publication also noted that American investors continue to expand their influence across European football, with several Premier League and Serie A clubs now controlled by U.S.-based owners or investment firms.

Top 10 most valuable football clubs in 2026 (Forbes)

1. Real Madrid — $9.5bn
2. Barcelona — $7.5bn
3. Manchester United — $7.2bn
4. Liverpool — $6.2bn
5. Paris Saint-Germain — $5.8bn
6. Bayern Munich — $5.7bn
7. Manchester City — $5.5bn
8. Arsenal — $5.4bn
9. Chelsea — $4.2bn
10. Tottenham Hotspur — $3bn

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