Top 10 world’s most valuable football clubs 2025: Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo; know whose team is more valuable

On the financial front, these elite clubs averaged $520 million in revenue and $54 million in EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation) last season. These figures are based on the 2023–24 season for the 22 European clubs and the 2024 season for the three US-based teams included in the rankings.

Despite football’s global appeal, club valuations still lag behind American sports leagues. The average NFL franchise is now worth $6.5 billion, and NBA teams follow closely behind at $4.7 billion. Still, soccer has outpaced Major League Baseball ($2.6 billion average) and the NHL ($1.9 billion average).

Sitting at the top of the valuation list is Spanish powerhouse Real Madrid, worth an impressive $6.7 billion. The club brought in $1.13 billion in revenue, leading the pack. Manchester City wasn’t far behind in revenue, pulling in $902 million. Real Madrid’s numbers surged 26 per cent from the previous year, helped in large part by the revamped Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which more than doubled match-day revenue to $268 million. As the 2025 Deloitte Football Money League notes, the stadium renovation was a game-changer.

The Champions League continues to be a financial jackpot as well. Real Madrid earned $174 million from their 2024 title-winning campaign, marking their record-extending 15th European crown.

Elsewhere, other clubs are poised to see similar financial growth. Barcelona is expected to return to a modernized Spotify Camp Nou in the near future, while Inter Miami gears up for a move to its new home, Miami Freedom Park, in 2026.

English clubs continue to dominate financially, with six Premier League teams making the top 10. This isn’t surprising, considering the Premier League’s unmatched broadcasting muscle—its domestic and international rights are valued at an annual average of $4.4 billion.

The 2025 rankings reflect not just the money a club brings in, but how efficiently it operates. CNBC’s list is built around each team’s revenue and EBITDA for the most recent fiscal year, an indicator of both commercial success and financial sustainability.

Top 10 world’s most valuable football clubs

Source: CNBC

Where does Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo’s team rank:

Lionel Messi’s team Inter Miami which plays in the Major League Soccer (MLS) sits at 22nd position with a valuation of $1 billion. The team is owned by ex-Manchester United player, David Beckham. However, Cristiano Ronaldo’s team Al-Nassr FC did not make it to the list of top 50 most valuable teams 2025.