Real Madrid has claimed the top spot as the world\'s most valuable soccer club at $6.53 billion, surpassing Manchester United ($6.09 billion) in Sportico\'s 2025 rankings. Los Blancos became the first soccer club in history to generate €1 billion in operating revenue during a season, bolstered by their Champions League victory and completed Bernabeu Stadium renovation.
The Spanish giants\' matchday revenue doubled to $346 million, twice as much as any competitor. Personal seat licenses contributed $82 million to this total, according to Sportico\'s analysis.
Real Madrid\'s commercial revenue from sponsorships and merchandise also jumped 23 percent to $439 million. A new sleeve sponsorship deal with tech giant HP helped drive this growth.
Premier League Dominance Continues Despite United\'s Struggles
Manchester United\'s value dipped two percent amid ongoing struggles both on and off the pitch. The club currently sits 15th in the Premier League and has announced significant staff layoffs following Jim Ratcliffe\'s $1.6 billion investment for a 27.7% stake.
The Premier League remains soccer\'s financial powerhouse with 14 clubs in the top 50, up from nine last year. Television rights have been the primary driver, with international broadcast deals now exceeding domestic ones for the first time.
Current Premier League broadcast agreements average £3.5 billion annually ($4.6 billion), with international rights worth more than those of the other four major European leagues combined. Even relegation-bound clubs receive substantial distributions, with last season\'s bottom finisher Sheffield United earning $138 million.
MLS Growth and European Financial Challenges
While European clubs dominate the top of the rankings, MLS heavily populates the lower portion with 19 entries. Los Angeles FC leads MLS clubs at 16th position with a $1.28 billion valuation.
\"You\'ll find LaLiga, Premier League, PSG and Bayern shirts and branding in every corner of the world, and few industries can match football\'s combination of reach and soft power,\" said Alexander Jarvis, whose Blackbridge Sports LLC advisory firm specializes in soccer club acquisitions.
European soccer\'s financial model remains problematic despite rising valuations. Five of the top 15 clubs posted operating losses exceeding $60 million over their past two seasons, with PSG losing $60 million in 2023-24 alone.
\"The absence of effective cost controls on player salaries significantly undermines the financial sustainability of these clubs,\" Jarvis added.
The valuation gap between soccer and other major sports leagues persists. Only Real Madrid and Manchester United rank among the top 20 most valuable sports franchises globally, a list dominated by NFL teams with their strict salary caps and lucrative television contracts.
The minimum valuation required to make Sportico\'s top 50 soccer clubs has risen to $610 million, a 16 percent increase over two years. However, this growth lags significantly behind the NFL (66%), NBA (88%), and NHL (143%) over the same period.
50 Most Valuable Soccer Clubs (2025)
1. Real Madrid: $6.53 billion
2. Manchester United: $6.09 billion
3. FC Barcelona: $5.71 billion
4. Liverpool: $5.59 billion
5. Bayern Munich: $5.21 billion
6. Manchester City: $5.16 billion
7. Arsenal: $4.49 billion
8. Paris Saint-Germain :$4.26 billion
9. Tottenham Hotspur: $3.68 billion
10. Chelsea: $3.57 billion
11. Atletico de Madrid: $1.85 billion
12. Borussia Dortmund: $1.83 billion
13. Juventus: $1.81 billion
14. AC Milan: $1.34 billion
15. Inter Milan: $1.3 billion
16. Los Angeles FC: $1.28 billion
17. Inter Miami: $1.19 billion
18. LA Galaxy: $1.11 billion
19. Atlanta United: $1.08 billion
20. New York City FC: $1 billion
21. West Ham United: $940 million
22. Newcastle United: $930 million
23. Austin FC: $865 million
24. Aston Villa: $850 million
25. Seattle Sounders: $825 million
26. Everton: $825 million
27. Napoli: $775 million
28. America: $770 million
29. Olympique Lyonnais: $750 million
30. AS Roma: $750 million
31. Brighton & Hove: $745 million
32. Guadalajara: $730 million
33. Columbus Crew: $730 million
34. Toronto FC: $725 million
35. FC Cincinnati: $725 million
36. D.C. United: $720 million
37. Portland Timbers: $720 million
38. AFC Ajax: $710 million
39. Charlotte FC: $705 million
40. Philadelphia Union: $700 million
41. SL Benfica: $675 million
42. St. Louis City SC: $655 million
43. Minnesota United: $655 million
44. Sporting Kansas City: $650 million
45. New York Red Bulls: $645 million
46. Nashville SC: $640 million
47. Eintracht Frankfurt: $640 million
48. AFC Bournemouth: $630 million
49. Brentford: $615 million
50. Crystal Palace: $610 million
Via Sportico