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Big football clubs achieve record revenues.
Revenue of €12.4 billion: How do big football clubs make money?
The world’s 20 most profitable football clubs generated a total of €12.4 billion in revenue during the 2024/25 season, but the composition of that revenue is changing.
According to the sports economics platform, 20 clubs on Deloitte’s Football Money League revenue list recorded a combined revenue exceeding €12 billion for the first time in the 2024/25 season.
Deloitte’s 2026 report reveals that these 20 clubs generated €12.4 billion in revenue, an 11% increase from the previous season. Commercial revenue was the largest source of income, totaling €5.3 billion, followed by broadcast revenue at €4.7 billion and matchday revenue at €2.4 billion.
Real Madrid C.F. topped the list with revenue nearing €1.2 billion. Notably, the club’s commercial revenue alone reached €594 million, demonstrating that a major club’s economic value extends beyond broadcasting rights and ticket sales.
Deloitte also highlights the evolving role of stadiums. Clubs are transforming stadiums from mere match venues into year-round economic assets, incorporating restaurants, hotels, shops, entertainment, and non-match events.
This shift in business model sends a clear message to club management: the club’s brand, stadium, fans, and content must all be converted into economic assets simultaneously.
However, major clubs remain heavily reliant on broadcast revenue, which accounted for approximately 38% of the 20 clubs’ total revenue in the 2024/25 season, according to Deloitte.
While Iranian clubs face a significant financial gap compared to these clubs, the economic principles remain applicable: increasing commercial revenue, multi-purpose use of stadiums, developing product sales, and fostering direct fan engagement are strategies that can be tailored to the size of the Iranian market.
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