Manchester United have been crowned the world’s most valuable club according to a new ranking by Sportico. This list includes a surprising number of Major League Soccer (MLS) teams, with 20 finding themselves within the top 50 globally.
Top 50 most valuable football clubs in the world in 2024
1. Manchester United ($6.2bn)
2. Real Madrid ($6.06bn)
3. Barcelona ($5.28bn)
4. Liverpool ($5.11bn)
5. Bayern Munich ($4.8bn)
6. Manchester City ($4.75bn)
7. PSG ($4.05bn)
8. Arsenal ($3.91bn)
9. Tottenham ($3.49bn)
10. Chelsea ($3.47bn)
11. Juventus ($1.77bn)
12. Borussia Dortmund ($1.64bn)
13. Atletico Madrid ($1.62bn)
14. AC Milan ($1.2bn)
15. Los Angeles FC ($1.15bn)
16. Inter Milan ($1.06bn)
17. Atlanta United ($1.05bn)
18. Inter Miami ($1.02bn)
19. LA Galaxy ($1bn)
20. New York City FC ($840m)
21. Austin FC ($800m)
22. Seattle Sounder ($795m)
23. Lyon ($780m)
24. Roma ($770m)
25. America ($750m)
26. Ajax ($740m)
27. West Ham ($725m)
28. Toronto FC ($725m)
29. DC United ($720m)
30. Portland Timber ($715m)
31. Guadalajara ($710m)
32. Newcastle ($700m)
33. Napoli ($690m)
34. Philadelphia Union ($685m)
35. Benfica ($675m)
36. Charlotte FC ($655m)
37. Columbus Crew ($650m)
38. FC Cincinnati ($645m)
39. Minnesota United ($640m)
40. Nashville FC ($635m)
41. Sporting Kansas City ($630m)
42. New York Red Bulls ($615m)
43. RB Leipzig ($610m)
44. Aston Villa ($600m)
45. Atalanta ($695m)
46. Eintracht Frankfurt ($580m)
47. Flamengo ($570m)
48. Monterrey ($565m)
49. San Jose Earthquakes ($560m)
50. Houston Dynamo ($550m)
Man Utd Reigns Supreme As World’s Most Valuable Club
Sportico’s valuation places Manchester United at a staggering $6.2 billion (£4.96 billion), narrowly edging out Real Madrid ($6.06 billion) for the top spot. Following these European giants are Barcelona ($5.28 billion), Liverpool ($5.11 billion), and Bayern Munich ($4.8 billion) to round out the top five most valuable clubs.
MLS Punches Above Its Weight
Los Angeles FC leads the MLS charge, claiming 15th place with a valuation of $1.15 billion. Atlanta United, Inter Miami, LA Galaxy, and New York City FC all find themselves nestled within the top 20, showcasing the rising financial clout of American soccer clubs.
Premier League Dominates by Value, Not Numbers
The Premier League boasts the second-highest number of clubs represented on the list with nine, nearly double that of La Liga (3). However, the financial muscle of the English league is undeniable, with its clubs collectively valued at $29 billion – nearly twice the valuation of all 20 MLS teams combined ($15.1 billion).
European Leagues Round Out the Top
La Liga takes the third spot in terms of cumulative league value at $13 billion, despite only having three representatives (Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Atletico Madrid). Serie A features six clubs on the list but misses out on the top 10 most valuable clubs entirely, with Juventus ($1.77 billion, 11th), AC Milan ($1.2 billion, 14th), and Inter Milan ($1.06 billion, 16th) leading the way for Italian clubs.
Germany’s Bundesliga outshines Serie A in terms of total valuation with its four clubs reaching a combined $7.6 billion, while Ligue 1 sits at fifth place among the represented European leagues with a total of $4.8 billion.
Beyond Europe and the US
The top 50 most valuable clubs list also features a smattering of teams from outside Europe and the US, including three Liga MX clubs (Club América, Guadalajara, and Monterrey), Ajax (Eredivisie), Benfica (Primeira Liga), and Flamengo (Serie A).
How Sportico Values Football Clubs
Understanding how Sportico arrives at these valuations provides valuable insight into the financial health of these football clubs. Here’s a breakdown of their methodology:
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Revenue Streams: Sportico gathers data from publicly available club accounts to calculate revenue streams. These are broken down into three categories: broadcast, commercial, and matchday.
- Broadcast revenue includes domestic and international media deals alongside competition prize money.
- Commercial revenue encompasses income from sponsorships, advertising, corporate hospitality, catering, and non-matchday events, with kit and stadium sponsorship deals playing a significant role.
- Matchday revenue is derived from ticket sales, membership programs, cup competitions, and preseason tickets.
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Team-Specific Multipliers: In addition to the raw revenue figures, Sportico applies “team-specific multipliers” that take into account various factors such as:
- Historical sales figures
- Market size, saturation, and attractiveness to potential owners
- Brand strength
- On-field performance (both historical and recent)
- Stadium lease terms
- Debt burden and other financial obligations
- Expected future performance of the team and the league itself
- External factors such as relegation risk (applicable to European leagues)
These factors provide a more nuanced picture of a club’s value beyond just its current financial performance.
