Forbes ranks Real Madrid as the world's most valuable soccer team, with Barcelona leapfrogging Manchester United in the standings

Real Madrid President Florentino Perez addressed the media at Real Madrid Sports City in Valdebebas, on the outskirts of Madrid, on May 12, 2026, as captured by photographer JAVIER SORIANO.

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For the fifth consecutive year, and the 10th time in 13 editions, Real Madrid has been named the world's most valuable football club by Forbes, with a valuation of $9.5 billion, solidifying their position at the top of global football finance rankings.

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According to Forbes' 2026 list, released on Friday, Real Madrid's revenue for the 2024-25 season reached a record-breaking $1.27 billion, surpassing the Dallas Cowboys' NFL revenue figure and marking the highest ever recorded by a football club.

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Barcelona has climbed to second place with a valuation of $7.5 billion, while Manchester United has dropped to third at $7.2 billion, following a challenging season that saw them finish 15th in the Premier League and lose the Europa League final.

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Liverpool has retained its fourth-place position with a valuation of $6.2 billion, after securing the Premier League title, while Paris Saint-Germain has risen to fifth at $5.8 billion, following their UEFA Champions League triumph.

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Bayern Munich, the German champions, has been ranked sixth with a valuation of $5.7 billion, ahead of Manchester City in seventh at $5.5 billion, and Arsenal in eighth at $5.4 billion.

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Chelsea and Tottenham have completed the top 10, with valuations of $4.2 billion and $3 billion, respectively, as part of the 30 most valuable football clubs in the world, which are now collectively worth $87 billion.

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The average club valuation has increased by 21 per cent compared to last year, according to Forbes, with the Premier League boasting the highest representation from any league, with 11 clubs in the top 30.

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Other English clubs featured on the list include Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Everton, Fulham, and Brighton, while Major League Soccer has seven clubs in the ranking, such as Inter Miami, LAFC, and LA Galaxy.

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Forbes has attributed Real Madrid's ongoing financial dominance to rising commercial revenue, stadium redevelopment projects, and increasing global investor interest in elite football clubs, as well as the growing influence of American investors in European football.

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The top 10 most valuable football clubs in 2026, as ranked by Forbes, are Real Madrid at $9.5 billion, Barcelona at $7.5 billion, Manchester United at $7.2 billion, Liverpool at $6.2 billion, Paris Saint-Germain at $5.8 billion, Bayern Munich at $5.7 billion, Manchester City at $5.5 billion, Arsenal at $5.4 billion, Chelsea at $4.2 billion, and Tottenham Hotspur at $3 billion.