Spanish soccer champions Barcelona have overtaken La Liga rivals Real Madrid as the highest earning club in the world, according to the 23rd edition of the Deloitte Football Money League.
The annual study estimates that the 20 top-earning clubs worldwide generated a record €9.3 billion (US$10.3 billion) of combined revenue during the 2018/19 season, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.
Of that, Barcelona brought in €840.8 million (US$936.2 million) to top Deloitte’s list for the first time, also becoming the first club to break the €800 million (US$890 million) barrier. Deloitte credited Barca’s revenue growth to their decision to bring their licensing and merchandising operation in-house, which contributed to the club generating €383.5 million (US$427.0 million) in commercial revenue.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, brought in total revenue of €757.3 million (US$843.2 million), representing only a slight increase on the €750.9 million (US$836.1 million) that saw them claim top spot last year as they failed to win the Uefa Champions League for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
The €83.5 million (US$92.9 million) margin between Barca and Real is the widest gulf between first and second in the history of the Money League.
Dan Jones, a Deloitte Sports Business Group partner, said of Barcelona: “Barca is a clear example of a club adapting to changing market conditions, reducing the reliance on broadcast revenue and focusing on growing revenues within its control.”
Manchester United, who came out on top of the list in 2018, remain third with total revenue of €711.5 million (US$792.2 million), although the study notes that the English giants ‘are at risk’ of losing their status as the Premier League’s highest earning club for the first time after forecasting revenues of between UK£560 million (US$726 million) and UK£580 million (US$752 million) for the ongoing financial year.
German champions Bayern Munich (€660.1 million/ US$735 million) and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (€635.9 million/ US$708 million) complete the top five.
Juventus are the only Serie A side in the top ten, which is once again dominated by English clubs, with Premier League champions Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all featuring. Outside the top ten, Arsenal, West Ham United and Everton also make the top 20.
Spanish soccer champions Barcelona have overtaken La Liga rivals Real Madrid as the highest earning club in the world, according to the 23rd edition of the Deloitte Football Money League.
The annual study estimates that the 20 top-earning clubs worldwide generated a record €9.3 billion (US$10.3 billion) of combined revenue during the 2018/19 season, an increase of 11 per cent on the previous year.
Of that, Barcelona brought in €840.8 million (US$936.2 million) to top Deloitte’s list for the first time, also becoming the first club to break the €800 million (US$890 million) barrier. Deloitte credited Barca’s revenue growth to their decision to bring their licensing and merchandising operation in-house, which contributed to the club generating €383.5 million (US$427.0 million) in commercial revenue.
Real Madrid, meanwhile, brought in total revenue of €757.3 million (US$843.2 million), representing only a slight increase on the €750.9 million (US$836.1 million) that saw them claim top spot last year as they failed to win the Uefa Champions League for the first time since the 2014/15 season.
The €83.5 million (US$92.9 million) margin between Barca and Real is the widest gulf between first and second in the history of the Money League.
Dan Jones, a Deloitte Sports Business Group partner, said of Barcelona: “Barca is a clear example of a club adapting to changing market conditions, reducing the reliance on broadcast revenue and focusing on growing revenues within its control.”
Manchester United, who came out on top of the list in 2018, remain third with total revenue of €711.5 million (US$792.2 million), although the study notes that the English giants ‘are at risk’ of losing their status as the Premier League’s highest earning club for the first time after forecasting revenues of between UK£560 million (US$726 million) and UK£580 million (US$752 million) for the ongoing financial year.
German champions Bayern Munich (€660.1 million/ US$735 million) and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (€635.9 million/ US$708 million) complete the top five.
Juventus are the only Serie A side in the top ten, which is once again dominated by English clubs, with Premier League champions Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea all featuring. Outside the top ten, Arsenal, West Ham United and Everton also make the top 20.
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