Real Madrid most valuable club ranking confirmed by Forbes as the Spanish giants hit a valuation of $9.5bn

Real Madrid have been ranked as the world’s most valuable football club by Forbes in its latest annual valuations released on Friday, reinforcing the Spanish side’s dominant commercial position in global football.

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The Real Madrid most valuable club ranking placed the European giants at a valuation of $9.5bn (£7.06bn), marking a sharp rise from the previous year as the club continued to expand revenues through sponsorship deals, broadcasting income and global commercial partnerships.

FC Barcelona climbed to second place with a valuation of $7.5bn (£5.57bn), overtaking Manchester United, who slipped to third despite generating revenues of $865m (£643m) during the 2024-25 season.

Manchester United endured a turbulent campaign on the pitch, finishing 15th in the Premier League and losing the Europa League final, although the club’s global brand strength continued to sustain its financial standing.

Liverpool FC remained fourth on the list with a valuation of $6.2bn (£4.61bn) after an impressive domestic season, while Paris Saint-Germain rose to fifth following another strong European run.

Bayern Munich retained sixth place at $5.7bn (£4.24bn), ahead of Manchester City, who dropped to seventh with a valuation of $5.5bn (£4.09bn).

Arsenal FC ranked eighth, followed by Chelsea FC in ninth and Tottenham Hotspur completing the top 10.

The Premier League maintained its powerful grip on global football finance, producing six of the top 10 clubs and 11 teams overall in the top 30 rankings, more than any other league worldwide.

Further down the table, Aston Villa FC were ranked 16th, Newcastle United 19th, Everton FC 25th, Fulham FC 26th, and Brighton & Hove Albion 27th.

Atlético Madrid were the only other Spanish club to make the top 30, underlining the dominance of England’s top flight in football’s booming financial landscape.

Forbes also reported a remarkable surge in football valuations globally, with the average value of the top 30 clubs reaching $2.9bn (£2.15bn), representing a 21 per cent increase from the previous year.

The report highlighted the growing financial influence of clubs outside Europe as well, with seven Major League Soccer sides featuring in the rankings alongside representatives from Serie A, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1 and Portugal’s Primeira Liga.

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The latest figures further underline how elite football clubs are increasingly evolving into global entertainment and commercial powerhouses far beyond the sport itself.