Forbes: Real Madrid valued at $9.5 billion, remain world’s most valuable football club
· Yahoo Sports
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According to the latest annual valuation published by Forbes, Real Madrid remain the most valuable football club in the world, a position they have now held for five consecutive years and ten times in the last thirteen editions of the ranking.
The report estimates Madrid’s current value at $9.5 billion, placing the club comfortably ahead of second-placed Barcelona, which is valued approximately $2 billion lower. Even more impressively, Forbes notes that Real Madrid’s valuation has increased by 41 percent compared to last year, highlighting the club’s remarkable commercial growth despite recent sporting frustrations.
While Madrid have fallen short of their own standards on the pitch over the last two seasons—finishing behind Barcelona in La Liga and exiting the Champions League in the quarterfinals in consecutive campaigns—the club’s business operations continue to reach unprecedented heights.
Record-breaking revenue
One of the biggest takeaways from the Forbes report is Real Madrid’s record-setting revenue.
During the 2024-25 season, the club generated approximately $1.27 billion in revenue, an increase of 12 percent from the previous campaign. According to Forbes, that figure represents the highest annual revenue ever recorded by a sports team in its rankings.
The previous record belonged to the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys, who generated $1.23 billion during the 2024 season. Real Madrid have now surpassed that mark, becoming the first sports organization measured by Forbes to exceed it.
The achievement is particularly notable given that the club did not reach the Champions League final, meaning they missed out on additional prize money available to finalists.
Bernabéu transformation paying dividends
Forbes attributes much of Real Madrid’s continued financial success to the club’s global brand strength, commercial partnerships, and the impact of the renovated Santiago Bernabéu.
The publication highlights Madrid’s unmatched history in European competition, noting that no club has won more Champions League titles. Combined with a worldwide fan base, lucrative sponsorship agreements, and a roster filled with marketable stars, the club continues to generate revenue streams that few organizations in global sport can match.
The Bernabéu redevelopment has also become a major driver of growth, opening new commercial opportunities and transforming the stadium into a year-round business asset beyond matchdays.
Setting the standard in football
Real Madrid sit atop a list of 30 clubs that Forbes values at a combined $87 billion, underscoring the increasing financial power of elite European football.
Barcelona remain the closest challenger after becoming only the second football club to surpass $1 billion in annual revenue, excluding player trading. However, Madrid’s substantial lead in overall valuation demonstrates the strength of the club’s business model and commercial appeal.
For a fanbase accustomed to measuring success through trophies, recent seasons have brought disappointment. Yet the latest Forbes rankings reinforce an important reality: even during periods when results on the field fall short of expectations, Real Madrid remain the benchmark institution in world football from a financial and commercial perspective.