• Manchester City FC becomes the world’s most valuable football brand, ending Real Madrid’s four-year streak at the top
• Real Madrid CF reigns supreme as the world’s strongest football club brand
• Spanish clubs continue to perform strongly in the 2023 ranking
• Manchester United jumps ahead of rival Liverpool FC to take 4th position
• London football clubs hold onto top 10 ranks, with Arsenal FC seeing the biggest brand value increase
• AC Milan represents Italy as the fastest-growing football club brand for second year running
• Paris Saint-Germain overtakes FC Bayern Munich, while only three French clubs feature in top 50
• Germany holds the second-highest number of clubs in the ranking behind UK, while Bundesliga continues to lose brand value
• Flamengo just holds onto 50th position as the only non-European club in the ranking

Manchester City FC becomes the world’s most valuable football brand, ending Real Madrid’s four-year streak at the top

Manchester City FC (brand value up 13% to €1.51 billion) has achieved a historic milestone by surpassing Real Madrid CF (brand value down 4% to €1.46 billion) as the world’s most valuable football club brand. The club’s brand value has seen a positive increase of 34% growth since the COVID-19 pandemic and has now reached an all-time high. Manchester City FC also boasts the highest revenue in this year’s table, a key driver in its ascent to the top.

Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services at Brand Finance, commented:

“Manchester City FC has achieved an extraordinary feat by surpassing Real Madrid to become the champion of football club brands. For five years, the City team has exerted its dominance in English football, securing four Premier League titles in the past five seasons. However, the club’s performance in this year’s ranking highlights that Manchester City FC are performing off the pitch in terms of building a strong brand and attracting fans and sponsors, and setting the stage for what could be an iconic Champions League final against Inter Milan in June.”

Real Madrid CF reigns supreme as the world’s strongest football club brand

In addition to calculating brand value, Brand Finance also determines the relative strength of brands through a balanced scorecard of metrics evaluating marketing investment, stakeholder equity, and business performance. Compliant with ISO 20671, Brand Finance’s assessment of stakeholder equity incorporates original market research data from over 10,000 football fans in Europe, Brazil, China, and the USA.

While beaten out of the top spot by Manchester City FC this year, Real Madrid CF strikes again as the strongest and second-most valuable football club brand. In 2022, Brand Finance research determined that the Spanish powerhouse were the most likely club to be rated ‘the best club in the world’ by fans. Brand strength is what attracts fans, players, investors, and sponsors to engage with the club –delivering commercial value through higher revenues, prices – especially for sponsorship, higher growth, and sponsors, reducing risks to profitability related to weak on pitch performance.

Spanish clubs continue to perform strongly in the 2023 ranking

Following Real Madrid in 2^nd, FC Barcelona (brand value up 4% to €1.4 billion) defends its 2022 rank in 3^rd, as does Club Atletico de Madrid (brand value down 5% to €549.56 million) in 12^th. Following a period of on-pitch setbacks and financial struggles, FC Barcelona appears to have resurged its reputation, winning the Spanish LaLiga ahead of historic rival Real Madrid in 2^nd and Club Atletico de Madrid in 3^rd.

Sevilla FC (brand value up 6% to €189.27 million) has also shot up five places to 25^th, while Villareal CF (brand value up 5% to €137.38 million) has gone up four rankings to 36^th position. After struggling in LaLiga and changing coaches multiple times, Sevilla FC found stability under the leadership of Jose Luis Mendilibar, who is credited with reviving the team’s success. Further solidifying its international reputation, the club has achieved remarkable results in Europe, defeating British and Italian powerhouses Manchester United FC and Juventus.

Spain adds two more achievements to its 2023 success, as Real Sociedad (brand value €133.63 million) is a new entrant in 37^th place, while Real Betis (brand value up 31% to 153.1 million) shoots up nine positions to 34^th to be named the third fastest-growing football club brand. Finishing 6^th in LaLiga (ahead of Sevilla FC in 12^th), Real Betis is hoping to further boost its brand strength and global recognition through a €70 million renovation of its home stadium. Further, Brand Finance also ranked Real Betis 2^nd, one spot ahead of Real Madrid CF, in its Football Sustainability Index. The club’s commitment to raising awareness about climate change has further bolstered its positive reputation worldwide.

Manchester United jumps ahead of rival Liverpool FC to take 4^th position

Manchester United FC (brand value up 9% to €1.4 billion) now sits one rank ahead of its historic rival Liverpool FC (brand value up 7% to €1.4 billion) in fourth and fifth position respectively. Both clubs have recorded positive brand value trajectories since 2022, finally surpassing their pre-pandemic values. After two Covid-hit seasons, 2022-2023 saw the continued return of live matches and fans to stadiums, resulting in increased ticket sales and revenues.

Jurgen Klopp’s appointment as manager of Liverpool FC in 2015 has propelled the club to unparalleled success, establishing them as one of the country’s most formidable teams. As for its rival, Erik ten Hag’s arrival as Manchester United’s leader in 2022 also seems to have resurged the club’s reputation. The Red Devils’ win against Newcastle United to win the League Cup this year saw them clinch their first trophy in six years.

London football clubs hold onto top 10 ranks, with Arsenal FC seeing the biggest brand value increase 

Arsenal FC (brand value up 14% to €906.28 million) is up two positions from 2022 and now ranks 8^th. Squad investments, (Arsenal FC signed Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko from Manchester City FC in summer 2022) strengthened on-pitch tactics, and Mikel Arteta’s effective leadership have all contributed to The Gunners’ strong season, their 3-1 win over Chelsea FC (brand value up 1% to €860.5 million) on May 3^rd propelling them to the top of the Premier League. Although eventually beaten into a respectable second by Manchester City FC, Arsenal FC set the record for the most days spent at the top of the league without winning it. Furter, their status as the youngest squad in the league instils hope among key stakeholders for a promising future.

AC Milan represents Italy as the fastest-growing football club brand for second year running

AC Milan (brand value up 33% to €357.98 million) ranks 15^th this year and is named the fastest-growing football club brand, closely followed by SSC Napoli, (brand value up 31% to €239.81 million) in 18^th as the second-fastest growing. AC Milan had a successful season, reaching the Champions League semi-finals and holding a respectable 4th position in Serie A. The club’s brand value has increased through royalties and sponsorships, totalling nearly €20 million in 2022. Also solidifying its growing success, SCC Napoli has stormed to the top of the Serie A league following continued on-pitch success. Revenues generated from the Serie A and the Champions League qualifiers, in addition to broadcasting and sponsorship opportunities, have further propelled the club’s growth. 

Paris Saint-Germain overtakes FC Bayern Munich, while only three French clubs feature in top 50 

Paris Saint-Germain (brand value up 10% to €1.1 billion) has moved up one rank into 6^th, overtaking 2022 rival FC Bayern Munich (brand value down 1% to €1.1 billion) who drops to 7^th. PSG, the current top-ranked team in the French Ligue 1, gained global recognition and popularity following the 2022 World Cup, which saw young talent Kylian Mbappé, and footballing legend Lionel Messi go head-to-head in a historic final. The club’s formidable and widely recognised powerhouse trio of Messi, Mbappé, and Neymar, has solidified PSG’s iconic status, in the footballing world and beyond.

Germany holds the second-highest number of clubs in the ranking behind UK, while Bundesliga continues to lose brand value

Germany has 10 clubs in the 2023 ranking, with its strongest and most valuable club brand, FC Bayern Munich holding its top 10 rank in 7^th. Although the team made a record start to the season, they are facing increasing competition from other German clubs. They sit in 2^nd place behind Borussia Dortmund (brand value up 5% to €541.92 million, ranked 13^th) in the Bundesliga, while Bayern also recently suffered their first-ever defeat by RB Leipzig (brand value down 9% to €222.46 million, ranked 19^th). That said, Bayern’s exceptional talent pool, global reputation and popularity remains undisputed; the club have secured more victories than all remaining Bundesliga teams combined and boast an enormous global fan base.

Brand Finance research finds that the Bundesliga’s brand value has decreased by a further 8% since 2022. The perception likely persists that the Bundesliga is less competitive compared to the Premier League and Serie A, as major British and Spanish clubs continue to dominate the brand value and strength rankings, while Bayern Munich remains the sole German club in the top 10.

Flamengo just holds onto 50th position as the only non-European club in the ranking 

Flamengo (brand value up 2% to €97.85 million) have dropped from 49^th in 2022 to 50^th position in 2023. Despite Brazilian hopes for their success, the team were knocked out of the 2023 FIFA Club World Cup in February after a disappointing defeat to Saudi Arabian team, Al-Hilal. That said, the Brazilian club still performs respectively in the BSI ranking, dropping only one place to 16^th.  This strong result indicates that the club maintains a favourable global reputation, attributed to the successful legacy and rich heritage of its nation’s football culture. Flamengo also achieves the second-highest score globally for its passionate fan base. 

View the full Brand Finance Football 50 2023 report here