Real Madrid named the world’s most valuable and strongest football club brand for third consecutive year | OneFootball

As per Brand Finance, Real Madrid have retained their position as the world’s most valuable and strongest football club brand for the third consecutive year, with a valuation of €2.4 billion, an increase of 25% from the previous year.

Real Madrid lead not only in financial value but also in brand strength, scoring 95.8 out of 100, the highest figure among the 281 clubs analyzed.

The consultancy attributes Real Madrid’s position to their international reach, global fan base, history, star players and ability to turn sporting prestige into commercial appeal.

Barcelona a close second

The Merengues’ arch-rivals, FC Barcelona, remain in second place, with a brand value approaching €2 billion, with an increase of 15% according to Brand Finance’s Football 50 2026 report.

Brand Finance attributes part of that growth to Barcelona’s return to Spotify Camp Nou after more than two years and the club’s two consecutive La Liga titles.

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Arsenal made the biggest leap among the leading clubs, climbing five places to third and reaching a brand value of €1.5 billion after a 28% increase.

Nevertheless, the gap between the two Spanish giants and the rest of world football is once again clear in the rankings.

Bayern Munich are fourth, also valued at €1.5 billion after a 21% increase, while Paris Saint-Germain remain fifth.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Manchester United occupy the next three positions, with Chelsea and Borussia Dortmund completing the top 10.

The top 10 clubs account for almost two-thirds of that total, at €14.9 billion.

Real Madrid at the top. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

The study also highlights record growth among football’s biggest brands. The 50 most valuable clubs have a combined brand value of €23.9 billion, the largest annual increase since the ranking was first introduced 15 years ago.

Spanish football on the rise

Spanish football’s presence extends well beyond its two biggest clubs.

Atletico Madrid have climbed to 11th in the world after increasing their brand value by 22%.

Real Betis also made one of the ranking’s biggest advances, climbing five places to 33rd, with a 14% increase.

Other Spanish clubs among the 50 most valuable brands are Athletic Club in 39th, Villarreal in 45th and Real Sociedad in 50th, which completes the ranking.

La Liga remains the world’s second-strongest league brand

Among domestic competitions, La Liga remains the second-strongest football league brand in the world, behind only the Premier League and ahead of the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1.

Brand Finance believes the next challenge for Spanish football is to use the international reach of Real Madrid and Barcelona to increase the value and visibility of the other clubs and of La Liga as a whole.

The consultancy also points toward the 2030 World Cup, which will be hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco alongside Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay, as another major opportunity for Spanish football’s international profile.