Real Madrid have solidified their status as the world’s most powerful football club, becoming the first in history to surpass the €1.1 billion revenue mark. The findings, published in the 2026 Deloitte Football Money League, highlight a widening financial gap between the Spanish giants and the rest of Europe.
Los Blancos: The Financial Kings
The report reveals that Real Madrid generated a staggering €1.161 billion during the 2024/25 season. This unprecedented growth is largely attributed to the full commercial exploitation of the renovated Santiago Bernabéu and the club’s continued dominance in European competitions.
FC Barcelona secured second place with €974.8 million, a remarkable feat considering they have been playing away from the Camp Nou. With the legendary stadium’s renovation set for completion in late 2026 expanding capacity to 105,000 the Culés are well-positioned to challenge Real Madrid for the top spot in the coming years.
Nova edição da Deloitte Money League com os maiores faturamentos do futebol mundial (transferências não incluídas).
Pela primeira vez Liverpool é o melhor inglês. Barcelona volta ao top-3 depois de cinco anos. Flamengo o melhor não-europeu (30°, 202,7).https://t.co/pgsJ2uc0es pic.twitter.com/PuLQcV0HGa
— Leonardo Bertozzi (@lbertozzi) January 22, 2026
The Premier League Shift and Man Utd’s Decline
While English clubs still dominate the Top 20, Manchester United’s slide is the report’s most discussed negative point. Historically the benchmark for football revenue, the Red Devils have fallen to 8th place (€793.1m), now trailing domestic rivals Liverpool, Manchester City, and Arsenal.
According to Sky Sports, this is a significant fall for a club that led the Money League in ten of its previous 29 editions. The decline reflects United’s recent struggles on the pitch and the rapid commercial growth of their Premier League counterparts.
Women’s Football: A Different Hierarchy
Interestingly, the financial landscape shifts dramatically in the women’s game. Despite their men’s team leading the way, Real Madrid’s women’s side sits in 6th place (€12.3m). The revenue throne belongs to London, with Arsenal (€25.6m) and Chelsea (€25.4m) leading the charge, followed by Barcelona.
| Rank | Club | Revenue (EUR) |
| 1 | Real Madrid | €1.161 Billion |
| 2 | FC Barcelona | €974.8 Million |
| 3 | Bayern Munich | €860.8 Million |
| 4 | PSG | €837.0 Million |
| 5 | Liverpool | €836.1 Million |
| 6 | Manchester City | €829.3 Million |
| 7 | Arsenal | €821.7 Million |
| 8 | Manchester United | €793.1 Million |
| 9 | Tottenham | €672.6 Million |
| 10 | Chelsea | €584.1 Million |
Gabriel Lucio is a football analyst covering La Liga, focusing on match analysis, tactical trends, and the race for domestic and European positions.
