Real Madrid tops Forbes 2026 list of most valuable football clubs

Forbes' 2026 ranking places Real Madrid as the world's most valuable football club, valued at $9.5 billion and retaining the top position for a fifth consecutive year. The Spanish club recorded $1.27 billion in revenue during the 2024‑25 season, a 12 % increase and the highest ever for a football team, surpassing the Dallas Cowboys' $1.23 billion.

Barcelona follows in second place with a valuation of $7.5 billion, while Manchester United is third at $7.2 billion. The top ten also includes Liverpool, Paris Saint‑Germain, Bayern Munich, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham, bringing the combined worth of the 30 most valuable clubs to $87 billion and raising the average club value to $2.9 billion, up 21 % from the previous year.

Forbes notes growing investor interest in European football, citing recent deals such as the $2.95 billion acquisition of Atlético Madrid and the fact that a majority of Premier League clubs and many Serie A teams now have American or Canadian ownership stakes.