Top 10 Richest Football Clubs in the World

2023 is shaping up to be one of the biggest years for football. It is already the most popular sport in the world and attracts fans from around the globe. From the Italian Serie A to the ever-popular English Premier League that pulls 3.2 billion people together worldwide, football clubs at the top are revered and worshipped by their die-hard fans. 

Merchandising, sponsorships, ticket sales, and broadcasting rights all play a huge part in making these clubs the monoliths that they are. With so many people watching, these legendary football clubs generate revenue in the hundreds of millions annually. Let’s go through the total revenue generated by clubs in 2022 and find out who the top 10 richest football clubs in the world are. 

10. Tottenham Hotspur - $450 million

Based in Tottenham, London, Tottenham Hotspur F.C. is one of the most popular football clubs participating in the Premier League. They have played a total of 1186 games in the league and won 518 of them. The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the biggest in the country, with a seating capacity of 62,850 people. 

The club has had some of the biggest players in the game associated with them, like Harry Kane and Gareth Bale. With names like that, it should come as no surprise that the club had a total revenue of more than $450 million in 2022 and holds the rank of the tenth richest football club in the world. The club has 26 trophies to its name, including two UEFA Cups, four League cups, and eight FA cups.  

9. Juventus - $476 million

Beating Tottenham Hotspur by a small margin is one of the oldest and most prestigious football clubs in Italy. Based in Turin, Italy, and founded in 1897, Juventus F.C. holds many Italian and European titles. The club calls Allianz Stadium their home, and they have a seating capacity of 41,507 spectators. 

Juventus has also had some of the best players in the sport's history, such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Gianluigi Buffon, and Paul Pogba, play within their ranks. According to 2022 data, their total revenue for the year was just shy of $476 million, which gets them the ninth spot. The club has 70 titles to its name, including 36 league titles and 14 Coppa Italia titles, making them the highest-ranked club in the country. 

8. Chelsea - $540 million

The number eight spot is occupied by Chelsea F.C., based in London, England. Another club with a deep and prestigious history alongside worldwide acclaim, Chelsea Football Club first came about in 1905. Their stadium is historic, too, as Stamford Bridge is one of the oldest football grounds in the country, with a capacity of 40,341 fans. 

Chelsea has had legendary names like Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba, and Frank Lampard be part of their team. Last year’s data suggests they had a massive revenue of $540 million which makes them the eighth highest-paid club in the UK. They have won 31 trophies since their inception ranging from six league titles to the UEFA Champions League trophy. 

7. Liverpool - $604 million

Another English football club that is loved and cherished not just in Britain but also around the world is the Liverpool Football Club. Founded back in 1892, Liverpool is named after its namesake in England. The Anfield football stadium operated by them has space for 54,000 visitors and also has plans to hold 60,000 people after renovations that will cost $60 million. 

Liverpool has seen many creative and talented players within them, like Mohammed Salah, Luiz Suarez, and Steven Gerrard. Their earnings were said to be $604 million, which puts them firmly on the seventh spot in the list. The club boasts of 50 major wins, including two UEFA Champions League victories and 19 league titles. 

6. Paris Saint-Germain - $610 million

Often abbreviated to PSG, Paris Saint-Germain is the only French entry in our list. Founded in 1970, the club may be young but has quickly risen to be one of the most formidable across the country and in Europe. Their stadium Parc des Princes has a capacity of 47,929 people, which only suits the most successful football club in French history. 

PSG has had very recognizable names play for them, like Lionel Messi, Neymar, Kylian Mbappé, Zlatan Ibrahimović, Thiago Silva, and many more. Their annual revenue was set at $610 million, which narrowly puts them at the number six spot. They boast over 45 titles to their name, with ten French league titles and one UEFA Winner’s Cup. 

5. Manchester United - $612 million

Coming to our fifth entry, Manchester United is another prestigious English football club founded in 1978. Man United fans are known to be the most loyal and optimistic fans, with very few betting against it. Their stadium at Old Trafford holds 74,310 people, making it the biggest in the Premier League. 

The club boasts big names like Christiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and David de Gea, just to name a few. Their 2022 earnings were set at $612 million, making them win the fifth spot by a whisker. Manchester United has won over 68 trophies since its inception, including three UEFA Champions League titles, twelve FA Cup titles, and twenty English League titles. 

4. Barcelona - $638 million

FC Barcelona is a name anybody on the planet has a passing resemblance with. Created in 1899 out of Barcelona, Spain, the club changed the history of the sport with continued excellence. Their stadium Camp Nou is the second largest football stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of 99,354 people. 

The club has had countless well-known players in their ranks, like Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Gerard Piqué, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, and many more. Their total revenue in 2022 was valued at $638 million, which makes them the fourth-richest football club in history. They have won a record-setting 76 trophies so far, including five UEFA Champions League titles and twenty-six La Liga titles. 

3. Bayern Munich - $670 million

Our only entry from Germany comes with the famous Bayern Munich. Based in Munich and founded in 1900, they have quickly risen to be the most loved and celebrated football club in Germany. Their stadium, called Allianz Arena, has a capacity of 75,000 spectators, making it the second-largest stadium in the country. 

They have had players like Robert Lewandowski, Thomas Müller, and Manuel Neuer play for them. With impressive performance and a large stadium, it comes as no surprise that their revenue totaled $670 million in 2022. Bayern Munich is the only German club to win all three of UEFA's main club competitions, along with thirty-two national titles and eighteen DFB cups. 

2. Real Madrid - $706 million

Another Spanish entry into our list comes in the form of the iconic Real Madrid. Founded in 1902, the club’s rivalry with Barcelona dates back to the 1900s and is now dubbed El Clásico. The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium that the club calls home can host 81,044 fans and is the second largest in the country. 

Real Madrid has a track record of signing the best players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Luka Modrić, Gareth Bale, and many more. Their 2022 earnings were an astronomical $706 million putting them firmly in second place on this list. The club has a total of 68 titles to its name, with thirty-five La Liga titles and eight UEFA Champions League titles, just to name a few. 

1. Manchester City - $711 million

Perhaps not the first guess when thinking of the richest football clubs, Manchester City takes the crown with a leap and a half. Founded in 1880, Man City is one of the oldest English football clubs to date. The City of Manchester Stadium, also known as the Etihad Stadium, is their home and has a modest capacity of 53,400 when compared to other clubs. 

The club has also produced top talents like Sergio Aguero, Kevin De Bruyne, and Raheem Sterling, just to name a few. Their annual revenue for 2022 was set to be $711 million, making them the current richest football club in the world. Manchester City has also gotten 29 major trophies, including eight league titles and six FA cups, to name a few. 

That concludes our list of the top 10 richest football clubs for 2023. With a multi-million dollar entertainment industry like football, it should come as no surprise that the clubs at the top are also making a ton of money. 

When all is said and done, the emotions and passion of football have created rivalries and historical moments that everybody can enjoy. What is your favorite football club to bet on? 

[Images source: wikipedia.org]