We dug out Forbes’ latest research on which football teams are the most valuable and presented this list with a table and a graph. The figures used are based on the income each team receives from match days, commercial events and broadcasting rights, but do not include the value of real estate owned by the clubs.
The figures are sourced from a combination of the Deloitte football money league report, credit rating agency reports, and teams’ annual reports and are accurate as of May 2022.
So, without further ado, here is the list of the 10 most valuble football teams in the world in 2022.
,#1: Real Madrid
Real Madrid Clube de Fútbol has seen a 7% increase in value since last year, bringing it up to the top spot from second on the list last year. Its value in 2022 is $5.1 billion, and it has an operating income of $90 million.
Real Madrid was founded in 1902 and it is unusual in that its members have owned the club since it was founded.
The word ‘real’ in its title means ‘royal’ in Spanish, and is an honorary title that was given to the club in 1920 by the Spanish king at the time, King Alfonso XIII. This is why there is a ,crown in the logo.
,#2: Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona, affectionately known as Barça, comes in at second on our list, with a value of $5.0 billion. This is an increase of 5% from last year. Their operating income is $17 million.
No. Since the Primera División was formed in 1929, only three of its founding members have never been delegated. These are Barcelona, Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao.
Barcelona was the first Spanish club to win the continental treble. This treble is La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Champions League. They won all three titles in 2009. They did it again in 2015, becoming the first European club to win the continental treble twice.
,#3: Manchester United
At number three comes Manchester United with a value of $4.6 billion. This is an impressive 10% increase on last year. Their operating income is $128 million.
Manchester United it based at Old Trafford, in the area of Stretford, about 2 miles southwest of Manchester city centre. When the club was founded as Newton Heath Football Club in 1878, it was based there, but moved from Newton Heath to Old Trafford in 1910.
Manchester United is owned by the Glazer family. In 2005, the club was bought for almost £800 million by Malcolm Glazer, an American businessman. The family continues to retain overall ownership of the club.
,#4: Liverpool
Liverpool Football Club is valued at $4.5 billion and is fourth on our list. It also saw an impressive increase in its valuable since last year, at 9%. It has an operating income of $104 million.
Originally, the Liverpool home strip was red top and white shorts. In 1964, however, the home strip was changed to red top and red shorts. Bill Shankly was the manager at the time. The home strip has ,remained all red ever since.
Liverpool’s anthem is ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’. It is a show tune from Carousel, a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical from 1945. It became famously linked to Liverpool in 1963 when local group Gerry and the Pacemakers’ cover version reached number one in the UK Singles Chart.
#5: Bayern Munich
Fußball-Club Bayern München comes in at number five, with a value of $4.3 billion. It has an operating income of $102 million and a small increase in value of 1% since last year.
Yes, Bayern Munich is the most successful club in German football history. They have won 32 national titles, 20 national cups and 6 European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles. They have also won the UEFA Cup, the European Cup Winners’ Cup, the UEFA Supers Cup (twice), the FIFA Club World Cup (twice) and the Intercontinential Cup (twice).
Bayern Munich used to play at Munich’s Olympiastadion, but moved to the Allianz Arena in 2005, in time for the 2005-6 season. The Allianz Arena was the first stadium in the world to have a full colour changing exterior.
#6: Manchester City
Manchester City Football Club has seen a 6% increase from last year, bringing its value up to $4.3 billion. It has an operating income of $156 million.
Manchester City won the FA Cup in 1904, which was their first major title. They first joined the Football League in 1892, 4 years after the league was formed, and 12 years after the club was founded, as St Mark’s (West Gorton).
The Abu Dhabi United Group took over Manchester City in 2008. This was driven by Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of the ruling family of Abu Dhabi, who is currently the deputy prime minister of the United Arab Emirates. The Abu Dhabi United Group is an investment company for the Abu Dhabi royal family.
#7: Paris Saint-Germain
The only French club on our list, Paris Saint-Germain has a value of $3.2 billion. They have had the biggest increase since last year, at a staggering 28%. They have an operating loss of $102 million.
Paris Saint-Germain, or PSG for short, was founded in 1970 by the merger of two clubs, Paris Football Club and Stade Saint Germain. Stade Saint Germain was founded in 1904 and was named after the town in which it was based, Saint-Germain-en-Laye. Paris FC was founded in 1969, but after merging to form Paris Saint-Germain in 1970, it split from them to go it alone again in 1972.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, owns Paris Saint-Germain. In 2011, he bought the club through Qatar Sports Investments (QSI). This takeover and huge increase in investment, made Paris Saint-Germain the richest club in France.
#8: Chelsea
Chelsea Football Club is the only club in our list which saw a drop in value from last year. It is still valued at $3.1 billion, which is a 3% decrease. It has an operating income of $45 million.
Chelsea plays at Stamford Bridge and has played there ever since the club was founded in 1905. Before being used by Chelsea, the ground was used for 28 years by the London Athletic Club.
Ron Harris has made the most appearances for Chelsea. The ex-captain played in 795 games between 1961 and 1980. Two other players have made over 700 appearances; Peter Bonetti, who played in 729 games between 1959 and 1979, and John Terry, who played in 717 games betweem 1998 and 2017.
#9: Juventus
The only Italian team on our list, Juventus Football Club, like Paris Saint-Germain has had a huge increase in value since last year, going up 26% to $2.5 billion. Its operating income is $26 million.
Juventus means ‘youth’ in Latin and the club is known affectionately as ‘Juve’. It also has the nickname Vecchia Signora which means ‘the Old Lady’ in Italian.
The black and white stripes of the ,,Juventus shirts come from the Notts County Football Club stripes of the same colour.
Juventus initially played in pink shirts but in 1903 the club was looking for ideas for a change. Team member John Savage, who was English, was asked if he had any contacts who could help. His friend, who lived in Nottingham and was a Notts County supporter, supplied some shirts with the famous black and white stripes These colours have have been used by Juventus ever since.
#10: Tottenham Hotspur
Last on our list is Tottenham Hotspur, with a value of $2.4 billion, a small increase of 2% from last year. It has an operating income of $127 million
Tottenham Hotspur’s emblem is a cockerel standing on an old-fashioned style football. The cockerel’s name is Harry Hotspur. The emblem also has the Latin motto of Audere est Facere, which means ‘to dare is to do’. The emblem used on the home strip is navy blue on a white background.
Tottenham Hotspur’s previous ground was known as White Hart Lane. It was named after a public house called the White Hart on Tottenham Court Road, behind which the ground was located. A new stadium, called Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, was built to the north of the White Hart Lane stadium, and games started being played there in 2019. The White Hart Lane stadium was demolished to make way for the new stadium.
Want to know more about the amount of money invested in football? Have a look at the the ,world’s 10 highest paid football players in 2022.