Real Madrid is once again crowned the world's most valuable and strongest soccer club, unseating Manchester City FC in Brand Finance 2024's Football 50 ranking. The white team not only regains the top spot in terms of brand value, with a 16% growth that puts it at EUR1.7 billion, but also retains its title as the strongest soccer brand, with an impressive BSI rating of 96.26 out of 100.
This achievement is no accident. Real Madrid has been able to capitalize on multi-million dollar sponsorship deals, such as its partnership with Adidas, and is benefiting from the renovation of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, which promises to boost its commercial revenues. Added to this are its sustainability initiatives that place it at the forefront, reducing its carbon footprint. The signing of Kylian Mbappé and the talent of rising stars such as Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Júnior ensure that the club continues to dominate both on and off the pitch.
For its part, FC Barcelona, despite its recent financial challenges, maintains third place in the world ranking with a value of EUR1.5 billion, up 12%. Its efforts in sustainability, with the Espai Barça project and its partnership with Spotify, reinforce its image as one of the most powerful brands in world soccer.
LaLiga continues to show its power among the global elite, with eight of its clubs in the world's top 50. Among them, Athletic Bilbao's surprising rise stands out, climbing nine positions to 35th place, boosted by an 11% growth in its brand value. However, it's not all good news: teams such as Sevilla FC and Real Betis have seen declines in their rankings and brand value, reflecting the challenges facing some Spanish clubs in an increasingly competitive environment.
The Premier League, on the other hand, continues to dominate in terms of the number of clubs in the top 50, with 17 teams and a cumulative value of EUR8.1 billion, compared to EUR4.5 billion for LaLiga. However, Real Madrid's growth in brand value reaffirms its global leadership, showing that, despite fierce competition, the club remains the undisputed benchmark in the soccer industry.
This ranking not only highlights the commercial success of clubs, but also the impact of brand management and sustainability. The growth of German club Bayer 04 Leverkusen, which experienced the highest increase in brand value with a spectacular 72%, demonstrates that good management, such as that of its coach Xabi Alonso, and sporting success, can transform an institution's image and open doors to new commercial opportunities.
In an environment where transfers, stadium renovations and sponsorship deals are key, Real Madrid continues to dictate the pace of world soccer, securing its place at the top.
Source: Brand Finance original note, published on July 17, 2024.
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